Do you know how to make a volcano model? We've made a snow volcano, papier mache volcano and even a paper volcano before, but never sand until yesterday.
My children came running in the house to tell me they'd made a sand volcano and could we please cover it with cling film ( we did this with the reusable volcano ) and make it erupt. I couldn't say no after they'd been so creative so we collected what we needed and apparently it was a better volcano than mine!
To make a sand volcano you will need
An small empty container
Sand
2 spoonfuls of baking soda (bicarbonate of soda )
1 spoonful washing up liquid
a few drops of red and yellow food colouring
30 ml vinegar
Cling film optional - but does save the sand from getting too messy
How to make a sand volcano
Mould the shape around the water bottle with the sand.
Cover with clingfilm - optional
Add everything except the vinegar to the water bottle.
Add the vinegar and watch the eruption! If it doesn’t work so well add a bit more washing up liquid and vinegar, or give it a good stir!
Top Tips for Volcano Models
Make sure your mixture in the bottle isn’t too thick as this will slow down the reaction. If it does look gloopy, add some water and give it a good stir.
Why does the volcano erupt?
Vinegar (an acid ) and bicarbonate of soda ( an alkali ) react together to neutralise each other. This reaction releases carbon dioxide, a gas that is the bubbles you see, these bubbles make the washing up liquid bubble up to give the appearance of lava erupting from a volcano.
More volcano investigation ideas
Try the reaction without the dish soap, is it less bubbly?
What happens if you add extra dish soap?
Homemade Volcano Challenge
Can you make a volcano with red and yellow lava??
More volcano model ideas
If you haven't got sand, but have snow, how about a snow volcano?
How about making a multi-colour volcano eruption?
We love this tape volcano from Inspiration Laboratories as well.
Or try this lemon volcano from Babble Dabble Do.
Last Updated on May 24, 2021 by Emma Vanstone
Mammasaurus says
Ahhh this is so cool! Mine would love to do this! Bookmarking 🙂
Boo Roo and Tigger Too says
This sounds amazing, I must try this with the children
Emma says
so so cool, I keep telling my science teacher husband that he needs to do experiments with the kids.
Michelle Twin Mum says
You are so cool Emma, so many fabulous ideas. I would just have no idea at all! Mich x
Donna@MummyCentral says
This is just the kind of messy, cool thing my boys will love. Bookmarked and will be trying it out at the weekend.