After too many snowy days spent on Pinterest, a serious case of cabin fever, and a peek into the pantry, I decided to try out a toddler-friendly volcano experiment.
It's a sign that February is nigh when I start building natural disasters within the (sometimes) natural disaster which I call my home. Ahem. These walls close in a little more with each icy-cold day, I think.
It's a sign that February is nigh when I start building natural disasters within the (sometimes) natural disaster which I call my home. Ahem. These walls close in a little more with each icy-cold day, I think.
Digging in the snow!
As I mentioned in my post a few weeks ago with our lava lamp experiment, The Little Outdoorsman is obsessed with volcanoes right now. His two-year-old cousin, Matt, is also volcano-crazy. Time for a volcano party!
On the bright side, this toddler-free volcano, or "BALL-cano," according to Matt, sets up and cleans up quickly and easily. Also, the ingredients are probably in your pantry already. On the other hand, it doesn't actually look a ton like a volcano. We didn't do paper mache or decorate it. Luckily, that didn't matter to the boys.
On the bright side, this toddler-free volcano, or "BALL-cano," according to Matt, sets up and cleans up quickly and easily. Also, the ingredients are probably in your pantry already. On the other hand, it doesn't actually look a ton like a volcano. We didn't do paper mache or decorate it. Luckily, that didn't matter to the boys.
I constructed the whole volcano in about 5 minutes on a TV tray. It is seriously SO easy to do. I have all of the ingredients pictured above: vinegar, baking soda, aluminum foil, food coloring, a plastic cup, and a paper or plastic plate.
Side note: you can definitely use real cups or plates if you need/want to. The paper stuff just makes clean-up much easier.
Side note: you can definitely use real cups or plates if you need/want to. The paper stuff just makes clean-up much easier.
To begin, tape the cup to the center of the paper plate. It won't do to have the volcano toppling over!
Next, cover the cup with a couple of sheets of foil. Securely tuck the foil underneath the rim of the plate.
The magnetic attraction begins.
"Whatcha doin', Becka?"
The magnetic attraction begins.
"Whatcha doin', Becka?"
Next, cut an "x" in the foil with a knife or scissors...
and push the pieces of foil down into the cup.
Add a few spoonfuls of baking soda to the bottom of the cup.
I have the attention of both boys now, and they want to help!
I love it when that happens.
Add some food coloring to the baking soda. We decided to go with red this time just to make it more realistic. Other colors would be great, too.
We are ready for the "explosion"! They were a little nervous and VERY excited. I placed the volcano inside of a big Tupperware container.
No mess... no worries.
Please don't forget this step!
No mess... no worries.
Please don't forget this step!
Time to bring in the big guns- vinegar! Buy the biggest jug. It's worth it, I promise. Plus, they're going to want you to make another volcano ASAP.
With a flair, pour the vinegar in the volcano, and watch the magic happen!
Dude.
Even Oliver wass engrossed in the spectacle!
I live for these moments!
Looks like a volcano to me!
This "experiment" was a huge success! The boys were involved in the setup and were riveted during the "explosion". Best of all, the cleanup took literally 30 seconds.
As I write this post a week or so later, we've created a couple more of these no-mess volcanoes. Here are some fun activities you might like to include with your volcano time:
- Read a book about volcanoes. I recommend this one. It's a little old for my three-year-old, but he still really enjoys it.
- Watch a video about volcanoes. Just be sure to pre-screen it for violence/casualties/language. Yup, found that out the hard way.
- Use volcanoes to talk about the letter "V", a difficult letter to relate to sometimes. You can do a letter tracing sheet, make a sandpaper letter, or draw pictures and talk about other things that begin with the letter "V". Vinegar, violin, vegetables, anyone? Because I am totally sick of "vase". What kid relates to a vase?
- Add more baking soda to the vinegar in the volcano when it is finished to let it bubble again. Spend some time scooping out old vinegar from the bottom of the container with a measuring cup, filling the volcano, stirring it with a spoon, and listening to it fizzle. We used blue coloring in our last volcano, and Reed sat for at least an extra half-hour just playing in the container. Or should I say experimenting, researching, and learning?
Gotta love it when that happens. This was definitely a mom-win! Let me know if you try it out!
- Read a book about volcanoes. I recommend this one. It's a little old for my three-year-old, but he still really enjoys it.
- Watch a video about volcanoes. Just be sure to pre-screen it for violence/casualties/language. Yup, found that out the hard way.
- Use volcanoes to talk about the letter "V", a difficult letter to relate to sometimes. You can do a letter tracing sheet, make a sandpaper letter, or draw pictures and talk about other things that begin with the letter "V". Vinegar, violin, vegetables, anyone? Because I am totally sick of "vase". What kid relates to a vase?
- Add more baking soda to the vinegar in the volcano when it is finished to let it bubble again. Spend some time scooping out old vinegar from the bottom of the container with a measuring cup, filling the volcano, stirring it with a spoon, and listening to it fizzle. We used blue coloring in our last volcano, and Reed sat for at least an extra half-hour just playing in the container. Or should I say experimenting, researching, and learning?
Gotta love it when that happens. This was definitely a mom-win! Let me know if you try it out!
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