Science Jam: Playdough Volcano

My son is fascinated by volcanoes right now.  So I decided to capitalize on his interest and introduce a fun science project...making a volcano.   I first went to Amazon to purchase a kit but many of the customer reviews said, "Don't spend your money.  It's easy to make one at home."  I searched the internet and found this cute playdough volcano activity.  It was super easy and super fun!  Best of all, I had all the supplies in my house!

Supplies Needed:

• Tray or container(large tupperware/plastic container works well to catch lots of lava mixture after numerous eruptions)
• Paper cup
• Tin foil
• Scissors
• Playdough

Step 1. 

Instructions
1. Place a paper cup on your tray and wrap tin foil around it, folding the tin foil over the rim of the cup and shaping the remainder tin foil to resemble a mountain. You may need to use 2 or 3 pieces of tin foil for easier shaping.

Steps 2 and 3. 

Instructions continued
2.  Roll out playdough with a rolling pin and place over tin foil. Fold playdough over rim of cup as well. You may need to use 2 or 3 sections of rolled out playdough for easier shaping.
3.  Decorate your volcano with trees, animals and buildings if you wish.

Step 4.

4.  Make the lava mixture:

• 3 tsps Baking soda
• 1/2 to 1 cup white vinegar
• Food coloring

5.  After your volcano is built, put the baking soda into the volcano paper cup. Mix the food coloring with the vinegar in a separate cup. Pour the vinegar/food coloring mixture into the volcano and watch the eruption!

Remember to have lots of lava mixture on hand as kids will want to see this again and again! 

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