• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Menu
  • Science Experiments For Kids
  • Science Fair Projects
  • Science Facts
  • Science Questions
  • About
    • Emma Vanstone
    • About Science Sparks
Science Experiments for Kids
Menu
  • STEM Challenges
    • STEM Challenges
    • FREE STEM Challenge Templates
  • Early Years Science
    • Preschool Science
    • Sensory and Messy Play
    • Understanding of the World
    • Pirate Science Experiments
  • Primary Science
    • Baking Soda Experiments
    • Candy Experiments
    • Biology
    • Climate Change for Kids
    • Coding for Kids
    • Chemistry
    • Electricity for Kids
    • Magic Science Experiments
    • Harry Potter Experiments
    • Human Body Science
    • Air Pressure Experiments
    • Life Cycles
    • LEGO Science Experiments
    • Kitchen Science
    • Famous Scientists
    • Forces and Motion
    • Science Sparks Snippets
    • Key Stage 1 Science
      • Animals
      • Everyday Materials
      • Plants
      • Coding Activities
      • Humans and Health
      • Fine Motor skills
      • Science and Literacy
    • Key Stage 2 Science
      • Animals, Including Humans
      • Electricity
      • Light
      • Plants
      • Materials and their Properties
  • Holiday Science
    • Christmas Science
    • Halloween Science
    • Easter Science
  • Storybook Themed Science Experiments
  • Wonderful Women in STEM
  • FREE Science Resources
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • FREE Experiments
  • Science for Kids
    • Kitchen Science
    • Climate Change
    • Egg Experiments
    • Fairy Tale Science
    • Edible Science
    • Human Health
    • Chemistry
    • Inspirational Women
    • Forces and Motion
  • Science Fair Projects
  • STEM Challenges
  • Science Sparks Books
  • Contact Science Sparks
  • Science Resources for Home and School

×
Home » Science Experiments for Kids » Chemistry » How to make a multicoloured volcano

How to make a multicoloured volcano

Modified: Jun 6, 2020 · Published: Jan 8, 2017 by Emma Vanstone · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

This multicoloured volcano is slightly different to the usual single coloured versions and allows the addition of  a mini design and engineering aspect for older children.

multicoloured volcano eruption

The volcano used in the photo above is a model available from Learning Resources. I just split the eruption container in half to make the lava multicoloured.

Buy from AMAZON now!!
UK: http://amzn.to/1ReGhpe
US: http://amzn.to/1LYKdXy

How to make a multicoloured volcano

What you’ll need

Large tray

Sand, play dough, snow

Empty effervescent vitamin tablet canister or other tube/container

Thick card

Washing up liquid

Vinegar

Red and yellow liquid food colouring

Baking soda

2 Squeezy bottles

Small stick to mix

Instructions

Construct a volcano shape around your tube or container. You could use sand, papier mache, snow, mud or anything at all.

sand volcano

Cut out a piece of thick cardboard so it fits tightly inside the canister and place inside so the canister is split in half.

Add a tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda to each side of the cardboard inside the canister.

Add half a tablespoon of washing up liquid, a teaspoon of red food colouring and about 30 ml vinegar to one squeezy bottle.

Repeat using yellow food colouring for the other bottle. If the colours don’t look vibrant add a little more food colouring.

Squeeze a very small squirt of each coloured vinegar mixture into different sides of the canister and mix both with your stick.

volcano mix

Watch the eruption!

multicoloured volcano

Things to think about

How could you make the eruption more explosive?

Could you add a third colour?

Links with maths

Can you time how long the reaction takes from start to finish?

Try adding twice as much vinegar, is the reaction twice as fast?

Links with English

Research a real volcanic eruption and write about the long term effects on the environment.

See this post for more easy volcano ideas.

multicoloured volcano

Contains affiliate links

Last Updated on June 6, 2020 by Emma Vanstone

More Chemistry

  • Pancake Syrup Viscosity Experiment
  • Clean Jewellery with Science
  • Ballon covered in pepper from a separating salt and pepper science activity
    Separate Salt and Pepper with Static Electricity
  • Two glasses on top of each other filled with water, food colouring and different amount of salt. One colour floats on top of the other.
    10 Science Experiments Using Salt for Home and School

Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Steffi

    March 08, 2017 at 9:15 pm

    Chris – you are a moral coward. Those photos are of people who are fighting for thier country. Even after this, they still keep lining up to serve as policemen and in the Army.And, the Americans closest to this, US Military members, see this everyday and choose to stay and help. Your smug comments simply iltatlruse the decadance of your detached point of view.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Welcome!

Imagine a world where science education is accessible to everyone and is all about hands-on, exciting discoveries. That’s the world I want to create.

More about me

Around the World in 50 Experiments

50 experiments about countries of the world

Footer

↑ back to top

Science Sparks - FREE science experiments for kids

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Services
  • Media Kit
  • FAQ

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 Science Sparks - Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd