science project volcano hypothesis

How to Write Up an Elementary Volcano Science Project

Jennifer tolbert, 27 jun 2018.

The baking soda and vinegar volcano is a favorite science experiment among elementary students. It is important to make your presentation stand out from the other students at the science fair with an exceptional presentation. Also be sure to follow the teacher's guidelines or science fair guidelines to ensure that your score is as high as possible.

Write an introduction. The introduction is your first impression. Be sure it is concise and accurately introduces exactly what you studied in the experiment. This is also an excellent place to include fun facts, background information or general volcano information. The reaction is due to the properties of bases and acids and would be important to include in your experiment. Identify the variable that you are testing, such as the ratio to vinegar and baking soda. Or maybe you would like to see what other base-acid combinations would produce similar eruptions.

Write a hypothesis. Remember a hypothesis is an educated guess or prediction. Explain what you believe will happen during the experiment based upon your previous knowledge or research. The hypothesis should be written in a declarative sentence.

List your materials. Provide a detailed list of all of the materials you used when you conducted the experiment. Be sure to also include how much of each material was used. Explain whether you made your own volcano or bought a kit.

Write your procedure. The procedure should be written step-by-step, in detail. If someone else could easily reproduce your experiment, you have probably written a fairly clear procedure. Be detailed, accurate and logical in your explanation. Procedures are usually written in a numerical list format.

Explain your results. Be sure your results reflect exactly what you were testing. You can provide observations or measurements. If applicable, you can create a chart or graph to describe any numerical data you may have taken. You may want to describe what the eruptions looked like, how long they lasted or how explosive the reactions were.

Write a conclusion. Basically, sum up what you learned during the experiment. Say whether or not your hypothesis was correct. Point out patterns in your data and explain if they were consistent with your previous knowledge of the subject. Also, do not forget to relate how that information can be used in the real world. This would also be a good spot to place recommendations if there are changes you would make to the experiment.

• 1 Discovery Education: Science Fair Center
• 2 Science Buddies: Science Fair Project Final Report

About the Author

Jennifer Tolbert currently resides in Magnolia, Texas. She holds a Bachelor of Science in agricultural communications from Texas Tech University and a Master of Science from Texas A&M University. She has written several award-winning special sections as a marketing writer and is currently a special education teacher.

Related Articles

How to Write a Grade 10 Lab Report

How to Write an Essay Regarding a Science Experiment

How to Write a Research Report for a Science Fair

What Do You Do if Your Hypothesis Is Wrong?

Penny Cleaning Science Fair Project for Eighth-Graders

How to Write a Math Report

How to Collect Data From a Science Project

How to Write a Discussion for an APA Style Paper

How To Write a Graph Essay

How to Write an Analysis/Discussion for a Science Project

How to Write Up a Science Experiment in 3rd Grade

How to Test for Bronze With a Magnet

How to Make a Good Presentation of a Case Study

How to Write a Summative Report

What Kind of Human Errors Can Occur During Experiments?

How to Write an Evidence-Based Paper

How to Write a Fieldwork Report

How to Put Together an Ethnographic Research Paper

How to Write the Introduction and Literature Review...

Activities to Teach Students About Seashells

Regardless of how old we are, we never stop learning. Classroom is the educational resource for people of all ages. Whether you’re studying times tables or applying to college, Classroom has the answers.

• Accessibility
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Copyright Policy
• Manage Preferences

© 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Based on the Word Net lexical database for the English Language. See disclaimer .

• Earth Science
• Physics & Engineering
• Science Kits
• Microscopes
• Science Curriculum and Kits
• About Home Science Tools

Science Projects > Earth & Space Projects > Volcanic Eruption Science Project  

Volcanic Eruption Science Project

Volcanoes erupt when magma, red-hot liquid rock, seeps up through a vent in the earth. These vents can be at the top of a mountain or on a flat area. Volcanoes can even erupt underwater if there is a vent in the ocean floor. Magma is formed when part of the earth’s mantle gets hot enough to melt. Violent eruptions can occur when pyroclastic material—a mixture of magma, rocks, ash, and hot gases—explodes upward by pressure caused by underground gases and magma.

There are over 1,500 volcanoes around the world today that are considered active, meaning it can erupt at any time. A dormant volcano (like the one in Yellowstone National Park) may become active again, but not for many hundreds or even thousands of years. An extinct volcano no longer has a lava supply and is very unlikely to ever erupt again.

Volcanic Eruption Science Projects

#1: volcano in a bottle (baking soda + vinegar).

You can demonstrate a volcanic eruption using some simple household items. Kids usually have a great time doing this experiment, and may want to repeat it several times!

To make a big eruption, use a small plastic bottle (the size 20-oz soft drinks come in works well). Fill the bottle halfway (1 to 1.5 cups) of vinegar. To start the eruption, drop a baking soda ‘bomb’ into the bottle—wrap one tablespoon of baking soda into a small piece of tissue paper, tying the ends with string.

You should see an instant eruption—’lava’ will spurt out of the mouth of the bottle. The baking soda, a base, neutralizes the acid in vinegar. This releases carbon dioxide gas, which causes the fizzing action in your volcano.

If you want your volcano to look more realistic, use clay or playdough to make a ‘mountain’ around the bottle. Or, if you’re working outside, you might want to use dirt and pebbles. You can also add red food coloring to the vinegar solution to make it look more like lava.

To learn more about volcanoes, take a look at our Introduction to Volcanoes  Science Lesson (includes two more Volcano Science Projects).

#2: Volcano in a Beaker

You can create an erupting volcano using wax, sand, and water!

What You Need:

• 400 ml glass beaker
• Wax candle (A red or orange candle works best!)
• Sand , well rinsed (so as not to cloud the water)
• Alcohol burner or alcohol lamp
• Safety goggles

Safety Note: Only use a high-quality glass beaker or liquid measuring cup (such as Pyrex) for this experiment! An ordinary glass jar or drinking glass will likely crack under this amount of heat. Never put a glass container directly onto the stovetop!

What You Do:

1. Light the candle wick and let it burn for about 20 seconds. Carefully tilt the candle over the beaker, dripping wax inside. You’ll need 2-3 teaspoons of wax at the bottom of the mug. Blow out the candle.

2. Allow the melted wax to cool and harden. Then pour enough sand into the beaker to cover the wax in a thin layer (about an inch).

3. Carefully fill the beaker up with water, taking care not to disturb the sand. Allow the sand to settle until the water appears clear again (about 30 seconds).

4. Light the alcohol lamp using a wooden match (Or use an alcohol burner for more speedy results!) and wait for the flame to stabilize (about one minute).

5. Place the stand over the alcohol lamp and put the beaker on the stand. Wait for the contents of the beaker to be heated slowly. For the most dramatic results, heat slowly over low heat.

6. As the wax melts, you’ll hear a faint hissing sound and see a bulge in the sand layer. Eventually the bulge will erupt, and hot wax will flow through the sand and the water to the top of the beaker.

What Happened:

Volcanoes erupt when red-hot magma seeps up through a vent in the earth’s crust. In this experiment, the wax represents magma from the earth’s mantle, and the sand represents the earth’s crust. The water is where the crust and the air meet. Once a volcano has broken through the earth’s crust lava can flow all over the earth, or it can even be forced out into an ocean. When the wax “magma” reaches the water, it becomes “lava.” Just as the wax hardened once it reached the water in this experiment, real lava cools and hardens once it reaches earth’s surface.

If you want to see the volcanic reaction again, melt a few drops of wax to stick the used wax to the bottom of a clean beaker. Cover with sand and water, then heat slowly as before. The kind of reaction you will get depends on the levels of sand and wax, as well as how slowly or quickly the alcohol lamp melts the wax. Try to keep the heat as steady as you can for a more dramatic result.

Earth & Space Science

Welcome! Read other Earth & Space Science articles or explore the rest of the Resource Center, which consists of hundreds of free science articles!

Shop for Earth & Space Science Supplies!

Home Science Tools offers a wide variety of earth science products and kits. Find earth science products and space educational supplies for labs and classrooms.

Related Articles

50 Super Summer Science Projects

School’s out! Now what? Make it the best summer yet with these 50 simple science projects to do at home.

Cloud Types Worksheet

Use this Cloud Types Worksheet with the "Types of Clouds" Science Lesson to review the basic types of clouds and what kind of weather they bring. Find weather science projects here and here.

Earth Day Science Worksheet: Word Search

Print this Earth Day word search for your kids.

Solar Energy Matching Game

Print out this page on a sheet of heavy paper or cardstock. Kids can color the pictures and cut out the squares to make a matching game. Half of the squares show a way to use solar energy as an alternative to the picture shown on the other squares. Place all the...

Simple Spring Break Science Projects

Spring break is here! What will you do with your time off? Perhaps you're looking forward to a family vacation, or a few days of down time at home. Either way, find a quick and easy project that's sure to put a sparkle in the eye of any science lover, or win over a...

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

Get project ideas and special offers delivered to your inbox.

It’s a wonderful world — and universe — out there.

Come explore with us!  

Science News Explores

Study acid-base chemistry with at-home volcanoes.

Baking soda volcanoes are a fun demonstration, and with a few tweaks they can be an experiment, too

A few kitchen chemicals can give you an at home volcano. But you’re going to need more than one volcano for an experiment.

PeopleImages/E+/Getty Images

Share this:

• Google Classroom

By Bethany Brookshire

October 7, 2020 at 6:30 am

This article is one of a series of  Experiments  meant to teach students about how science is done, from generating a hypothesis and designing an experiment to analyzing the results with statistics. You can repeat the steps here and compare your results — or use this as inspiration to design your own experiment.

It’s a science fair staple: the baking soda volcano. This simple demonstration is easy to do. That clay mountain “smoking” in front of a poster board can be kind of sad, though. The whole thing looks like it was put together the morning of the fair.

But it’s not too difficult to turn this easy science demo into a science experiment. All that’s needed is a hypothesis to test — and more than one volcano.

A baking soda volcano’s foamy rush is the result of a chemical reaction between two solutions. One solution contains vinegar, dish soap, water and a little food coloring. The other is a mix of baking soda and water. Add the second solution to the first, stand back and watch what happens.

The reaction that occurs is an example of acid-base chemistry. Vinegar contains acetic acid . It has the chemical formula CH 3 COOH (or HC 3 H 2 O 2 ). When mixed with water, acetic acid loses a positively charged ion (H+). The positively charged protons in the water make the solution acidic. White vinegar has a pH of about 2.5.

Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate. It has the chemical formula NaHCO 3.  It is a base , which means that when mixed with water, it loses a negatively charged hydroxide ion (OH-). It has a pH of about 8.

Acids and bases react together. The H+ from the acid and the OH- from the base come together to form water (H 2 O). In the case of vinegar and baking soda, this takes two steps. First the two molecules react together to form two other chemicals — sodium acetate and carbonic acid. The reaction looks like this:

NaHCO 3  + HC 2 H 3 O 2  → NaC 2 H 3 O 2  + H 2 CO 3

Carbonic acid is very unstable. It then breaks apart quickly into carbon dioxide and water.

H 2 CO 3  → H 2 O + CO 2

Carbon dioxide is a gas, which makes the water fizz like soda pop. If you add a little dish soap to your acid solution, the bubbles will catch in the soap. The reaction produces a big fwoosh of foam.

Acids and bases will react together until there are no excess H+ or OH- ions present. When all the ions of one type are all used up, the reaction is neutralized. This means that if you have a lot of vinegar, but very little baking soda (or vice versa), you’ll get a small volcano. Varying the ratio of ingredients can change the size of that reaction.  

This leads to my hypothesis — a statement I can test. In this case, my hypothesis is that more baking soda will produce a larger explosion .

Educators and Parents, Sign Up for The Cheat Sheet

Weekly updates to help you use Science News Explores in the learning environment

Thank you for signing up!

There was a problem signing you up.

Blowing it up

To test this, I need to make volcanoes with different amounts of baking soda while the rest of the chemical reaction remains the same. The baking soda is my variable — the factor in the experiment that I am changing.

Here’s the recipe for a basic baking soda volcano:

• In a clean, empty 2-liter soda bottle, mix 100 milliliters (mL) of water, 400mL of white vinegar and 10mL of dish soap. Add a few drops of food coloring if you want to make your explosion a fun color.
• Place the bottle outside, on a sidewalk, driveway or porch. (Do not put it on grass. This reaction is safe, but it will kill the grass. I learned this the hard way.)
• Mix together half a cup of baking soda and half a cup of water. Pour the mix into the 2-liter bottle as quickly as you can and stand back!

(Safety note: It’s a good idea to wear gloves, sneakers and eye protection such as glasses or safety goggles for this experiment. Some of these ingredients can be uncomfortable on your skin, and you don’t want to get them in your eyes.)

To turn this demonstration into an experiment, I’ll need to try this again, with three different amounts of baking soda. I started small — with just 10 mL, mixed with 40 mL of water. My middle dose was 50 mL of baking soda mixed with 50 mL of water. For my last amount, I used 100 mL of baking soda, mixed with about 50 mL of water. (Baking soda has a similar volume and mass, in that 10mL of baking soda weighs about 10 grams, and so on. This meant I could weigh the baking soda on a scale rather than have to measure it by volume.) I then made five volcanoes with each amount of baking soda, for a total of 15 volcanoes.

The explosion happens very quickly — too fast to mark its height accurately on a wall or yardstick. But once the eruption happens, the foam and water fall outside the bottle. By weighing the bottles before and after the reaction, and adding in the mass of the baking soda and water solution, I can calculate how much mass got ejected from each eruption. I could then compare the mass lost to show if more baking soda produced a larger explosion.

When I used only 10 grams of baking soda, the bottles lost 17 grams of mass on average. The eruptions were so small that most never made it out of the bottle. When I used 50 grams of baking soda, the bottles lost 160 grams of mass on average. And when I used 100 grams of baking soda, the bottles lost almost 350 grams of mass.

But that’s not quite the whole story. Because I added different amounts of baking soda and water to the bottles, there might not be as big of a difference here as I think. The extra mass from the 100-gram bottles, for instance, could just be because the reaction started out heavier.

To rule that out, I converted my numbers to the percent of mass lost. The 10-gram bottles lost only about three percent of their mass. The 50-gram bottles lost 25 percent of their mass, and the 100-gram bottles lost more than half of their mass.

To confirm that these results are different, I need to run statistics. These are tests that will help me interpret my results. For this, I have three different amounts of baking soda that I need to compare to each other. With a test called a one-way analysis of variance (or ANOVA), I can compare the means (in this case, the average) of three or more groups. There are calculators on the internet where you can plug in your data to do this. I used this one . 

The test will give me a p value. This is a probability measure of how likely I would be to get a difference between these three groups as large as the one I have by chance alone. In general, scientists think of a p value of less than 0.05 (five percent probability) as statistically significant . When I compared my three baking soda amounts, my p value was less than 0.00001, or 0.001 percent. That’s a statistically significant difference that shows the amount of baking soda matters.

I also get an F ratio from this test. If this number is around one, it usually means that the variation between the groups is about what you would get by chance. An F ratio bigger than one, though, means the variation is more than you’d expect to see. My F ratio was 53, which is pretty good.

My hypothesis was that more baking soda will produce a larger explosion . The results here seem to agree with that.

Of course there are things that I could do differently next time. I could make sure that my bottle weights were all the same. I could use a high-speed camera to measure explosion height. Or I could try changing the vinegar instead of the baking soda.

I guess I’m just going to need to make more explosions.

• White vinegar (2 gallons) ($1.92)
• Food coloring: ($3.66)
• Nitrile or latex gloves ($4.24)
• Small digital scale ($11.85)
• Roll of paper towels ($0.98)
• Dish soap ($1.73)
• Glass beakers ($16.99)
• Baking soda (three boxes) ($0.46)
• Two-liter soda bottles (4) ($0.62)

More Stories from Science News Explores on Chemistry

Here’s why teens’ body odor can be especially strong

To limit pollution, new recipe makes plastic a treat for microbes

Air pollution can make it harder for pollinators to find flowers

Turning jeans blue with sunlight might help the environment

At last: How poison dart frogs ship defense toxins to their skin

Let’s learn about graphene

Chemists make device to destroy planet-warming methane pollution

Scientists Say: Calorie

How to Do the Classic Baking Soda Volcano Science Experiment

Categories Science Experiments

For our creative STEM activities for kids series, I wanted to do science experiments for kids that were easy, but also impressive at the same time. This made a volcano science experiment a must.

We’ve made a volcano science experiment before, but this time, we decided to make it look a little more impressive by adding a play dough mountain around our bottle and making the inside of the volcano a deeper red.

Although everyone has does the volcano science experiment at least once (at least everyone should!), it still remains a classic science fair project. If your student(s) haven’t tried this project yet, add this activity to your list of elementary school science fair projects .

The Classic Volcano Science Experiment for Kids

Every child should get to make a volcano as a science project at least once! Follow along with these instructions if you’re making a ketchup and baking soda volcano!

How to Turn the Volcano Science Experiment into a Science Fair Project

A science fair project requires variables. Good variables for this project is to test if different acids create bigger or smaller eruptions. Kids may also want to try different bases or what happens when they add other materials to the volcano to see how the reaction changes with each variation.

What Makes the Baking Soda and Ketchup Reaction?

What causes the volcano to explode in the volcano science experiment is the reaction between the baking soda and vinegar.

Baking soda is a base and vinegar is an acid. When a base and an acid are mixed, it creates a byproduct of carbon dioxide, which causes the mixture to overflow just like a shaken soda bottle.

When dish soap is added to the mix, it makes things even more foamy and bubbly.

Supplies for the Volcano Science Experiment

Here is what you will need to complete the volcano experiment as an addition to classic science fair projects .

• Ketchup or tomato paste
• Baking soda
• Small bottle

What You Need for a Science Fair

You’ll want to have these supplies on hand before doing your science fair project. Shop the included Amazon storefronts to make things easier and don’t forget to download the free science fair planning checklist before getting started!

Science Fair Project Planning

When you’re planning your project, you want to keep everything organized. Click the image below to get my free science fair project checklist so you can start organizing your project from the start.

You may also want to check out this list of science fair project research supplies.

Supplies for a Science Fair Project

There are so many supplies for science fair projects that are individual to each project, but if you want a general list of possible supplies and inspiration for your project, check out my selection of science fair experiment supplies on Amazon.

Supplies for a Science Fair Presentation

Your science fair presentation is important! It should look presentable and eye-catching. Check out this list of my favorite science fair presentation supplies.

How to Make a Baking Soda Volcano

Place about 2 tablespoons of baking soda into a bowl. Add about 10 drops of dish soap on top of the baking soda and about ¼ of a cup of ketchup or tomato paste.

Mix together gently with a spoon so you don’t make too many suds at once.

Cover the bottle with play dough and place it on a tray. We put ours in a garden box. Carefully pour the baking soda mixture into the bottle using a funnel.

Add vinegar to the bottle slowly, a little at a time. We ended up adding too much vinegar to ours (as you can see in the video), which made our eruption a little less impressive.

Monkey loved seeing the science demonstration and had a lot of fun setting up the volcano and watching the reaction.

If you want to go further with this experiment, you can experiment with various additives to the vinegar and baking soda mixture to see if you can make the eruption more impressive or change the speed at which it leaves the bottle.

More Volcano Experiments for Kids

Colorful Snow Volcano Experiment Using Real Snow

Pumpkin Volcano Experiment for Kids

Easy DIY Volcano Slime Recipe that Really Erupts!

Apple Volcano Experiment

Share this project with a friend!

• Free Resources
• Project Search
• Featured Projects
• Member Benefits

1059 Main Avenue, Clifton, NJ 07011

The most valuable resources for teachers and students

(973) 777 - 3113

[email protected]

1059 Main Avenue

Clifton, NJ 07011

07:30 - 19:00

Monday to Friday

123 456 789

[email protected]

Goldsmith Hall

New York, NY 90210

• Why We’re Unique

Cross Section of a Volcano

Introduction: (Initial Observation)

There are many active volcanoes worldwide. Is there anything we can do to predict how and when they will erupt? As the world’s population grows, more and more people are living in potentially dangerous volcanic areas. Volcanic eruptions continue–as they have throughout history–posing ever-greater threats to life and property. This project is another effort toward learning about volcano structure and eruption.

Draw or make a model to show the cross section of a volcano with all details including vents for magma as it rises to the earth’s surface where it erupts as gas, ash, and lava, a magma chamber, alternating layers of ash and lava, parasitic cone of ash and lava, crust, either oceanic or continental.

This project guide contains information that you need in order to start your project. If you have any questions or need more support about this project, click on the “Ask Question” button on the top of this page to send me a message.

If you are new in doing science project, click on “How to Start” in the main page. There you will find helpful links that describe different types of science projects, scientific method, variables, hypothesis, graph, abstract and all other general basics that you need to know.

Project advisor

Information Gathering:

Gather information about volcanoes. you may find good books in your local library about active volcanoes and recent volcanic eruptions. search the website of u.s. geological survey for volcano information. read their online publication about volcanoes. find out about different volcano observatories , their locations, and what they do., pbs website also has a good page about seismic signals of volcanoes with image and sound., keep track of where you got your information from., following are samples of information that you may gather:.

A volcano constitutes a vent, a pipe, a crater, and a cone.

A cone which is formed above and around a vent by accumulations of erupted volcanic materials such as ash, pumice, lava flows, and other volcanic rocks. “Volcano” can refer to both the vent and the cone.

The vent is an opening at the Earth’s surface.

The pipe is a passageway in the volcano in which the magma rises through to the surface during an eruption.

The crater is a bowl-shaped depression at the top of the volcano where volcanic materials like, ash, lava, and other pyroclastic materials are released.

Solidified lava, ashes, and cinder form the cone. Layers of lava alternate with layers of ash to build the steep sided cone higher and higher.

An eruption begins when pressure on a magma chamber forces magma up through the conduit and out the volcano’s vents. When the magma chamber has been completely filled, the type of eruption partly depends on the amount of gases and other material in the magma.

I am text block. Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Calderas are huge bowl-shaped craters, usually formed by volcanic activity.

Calderas are formed because eruptions of huge volumes of pyroclastic materials had left the roof of the magma chamber unsupported, causing it to fracture and fall downwards into the chambers.

• Plate Tectonics
• Mount Rainer

Question/ Purpose:

What do you want to find out? Write a statement that describes what you want to do. Use your observations and questions to write the statement.

The purpose of this project is to make a model to show the cross section of a volcano.

Identify Variables:

When you think you know what variables may be involved, think about ways to change one at a time. If you change more than one at a time, you will not know what variable is causing your observation. Sometimes variables are linked and work together to cause something. At first, try to choose variables that you think act independently of each other.

This is not required for display projects.

Hypothesis:

Based on your gathered information, make an educated guess about what types of things affect the system you are working with. Identifying variables is necessary before you can make a hypothesis.

Experiment Design:

Design an experiment to test each hypothesis. Make a step-by-step list of what you will do to answer each question. This list is called an experimental procedure. For an experiment to give answers you can trust, it must have a “control.” A control is an additional experimental trial or run. It is a separate experiment, done exactly like the others. The only difference is that no experimental variables are changed. A control is a neutral “reference point” for comparison that allows you to see what changing a variable does by comparing it to not changing anything. Dependable controls are sometimes very hard to develop. They can be the hardest part of a project. Without a control you cannot be sure that changing the variable causes your observations. A series of experiments that includes a control is called a “controlled experiment.”

Experiment/ Activity:

To construct a cross section of a volcano, start by building a cube using Styrofoam sheets that can be purchased at hardware and craft stores. This can also be a wooden box; however Styrofoam is lighter. A carton box or shoe box may also be used instead.

Cover all the seams with white paper, and white glue or latex caulk until you get a smooth surface.

Then use molding clay to form mountains and a volcano landscape. Make sure that at least one volcanic cone is being constructed on the edge (so you will have only half of the cone).

Give time for everything to dry. You should then be ready for painting. Use latex paint or other water based paints to finish your model.

In the center of volcanic cone draw a vent and continue it down to a magma chamber. Show all these with red color because molten magma is orange/red.

Sow the boundary between two different types of rocks or soil. This boundary line leads to the magma chamber.

When the surface water gets down to the magma chamber, it will create large amounts of high pressure steam and increases the pressure in the magma chamber. This pressure forces the magma to go up the vent and the flow down from the top of the cone just like lava. Label different parts of your model with correct names.

Materials and Equipment:

• Latex paint
• Utility knife for cutting Styrofoam

Results of Experiment (Observation):

Experiments are often done in series. A series of experiments can be done by changing one variable a different amount each time. A series of experiments is made up of separate experimental “runs.” During each run you make a measurement of how much the variable affected the system under study. For each run, a different amount of change in the variable is used. This produces a different amount of response in the system. You measure this response, or record data, in a table for this purpose. This is considered “raw data” since it has not been processed or interpreted yet. When raw data gets processed mathematically, for example, it becomes results.

Calculations:

No calculation is required for this project.

Summery of Results:

Summarize what happened. This can be in the form of a table of processed numerical data, or graphs. It could also be a written statement of what occurred during experiments.

It is from calculations using recorded data that tables and graphs are made. Studying tables and graphs, we can see trends that tell us how different variables cause our observations. Based on these trends, we can draw conclusions about the system under study. These conclusions help us confirm or deny our original hypothesis. Often, mathematical equations can be made from graphs. These equations allow us to predict how a change will affect the system without the need to do additional experiments. Advanced levels of experimental science rely heavily on graphical and mathematical analysis of data. At this level, science becomes even more interesting and powerful.

Conclusion:

Using the trends in your experimental data and your experimental observations, try to answer your original questions. Is your hypothesis correct? Now is the time to pull together what happened, and assess the experiments you did.

Related Questions & Answers:

What you have learned may allow you to answer other questions. Many questions are related. Several new questions may have occurred to you while doing experiments. You may now be able to understand or verify things that you discovered when gathering information for the project. Questions lead to more questions, which lead to additional hypothesis that need to be tested.

Possible Errors:

If you did not observe anything different than what happened with your control, the variable you changed may not affect the system you are investigating. If you did not observe a consistent, reproducible trend in your series of experimental runs there may be experimental errors affecting your results. The first thing to check is how you are making your measurements. Is the measurement method questionable or unreliable? Maybe you are reading a scale incorrectly, or maybe the measuring instrument is working erratically.

If you determine that experimental errors are influencing your results, carefully rethink the design of your experiments. Review each step of the procedure to find sources of potential errors. If possible, have a scientist review the procedure with you. Sometimes the designer of an experiment can miss the obvious.

References:

List of References

http://www.udel.edu/dgs/

Volcano Glossary

Cross Section of a volcano

Volcano World

Make a cross section of volcano using paper

Question: Can I make a volcano the erupts?

Answer: It takes you some time to make a cross section of volcano, so you don’t want to ruin it by an eruption experiment. Models that are made for displaying eruption are often constructed around a plastic bottle – half filled with baking soda. Later you can add vinegar to the bottle to show the eruption. Detail instructions for an erupting volcano is available in Volcano Mode l project guide.

It is always important for students, parents and teachers to know a good source for science related equipment and supplies they need for their science activities. Please note that many online stores for science supplies are managed by MiniScience.

Testimonials

" I called School Time and my husband and son came with me for the tour. We felt the magic immediately."

- Robby Robinson

" My husband and son came with me for the tour. We felt the magic immediately."

- Zoe Ranson

Contact Info

Our address, working hours.

Week Days: 07:00-19:00

Saturday: 09:00-15:00

Sunday: Closed

Science Project

How to Create a Volcano Science Fair Project: Step-by-Step Guide to Investigating Volcanic Phenomena

Volcanoes are fascinating natural phenomena that have captured the attention of scientists and the general public alike for centuries. A volcano is an opening in the Earth’s surface through which molten rock, ash, and gas can escape. Volcanoes can be found all over the world, and they come in many different shapes and sizes.

What Causes Volcanoes?

Volcanoes are caused by the movement of tectonic plates. When two plates collide, one can be forced under the other, creating a subduction zone. The subducting plate melts and rises to the surface, causing a volcano to form. Volcanoes can also form at hotspots, where magma rises from deep within the Earth and creates a volcano.

Why Study Volcanoes?

Studying volcanoes can help us understand more about the Earth’s interior and the processes that shape our planet. It can also help us better predict and prepare for volcanic eruptions, which can have devastating consequences for people and communities living near active volcanoes.

In this article, we will provide a step-by-step guide to creating a volcano science fair project. Whether you are a student looking for a fun and engaging project or a teacher looking to inspire your students, this guide will provide you with all the information you need to investigate volcanic phenomena.

Step 1: Research

When it comes to creating a volcano science fair project, research is essential. Before you can start building your volcano, you need to understand the science behind it. This will not only help you create a more accurate and impressive project, but it will also help you understand the significance of your findings.

Why Choose a Volcano Science Fair Project?

Volcanoes are fascinating natural phenomena that have captured human interest for thousands of years. Studying volcanoes can help us understand the Earth’s structure, the processes that shape our planet’s surface, and the potential dangers associated with volcanic activity.

Additionally, creating a volcano science fair project can be a fun and engaging way to learn about science. It allows you to get hands-on experience with scientific concepts and can help spark a lifelong interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields.

Finding Reliable Resources

When researching for your volcano science fair project, it’s important to use reliable resources. This ensures that the information you gather is accurate and up-to-date. Here are a few tips for finding reliable resources:

• Use reputable science websites, such as National Geographic, NASA, and the Smithsonian.
• Check the author’s credentials and affiliations.
• Look for sources that have been peer-reviewed or published in reputable scientific journals.

By using reliable resources, you can be confident in the accuracy of your research and ensure that your volcano science fair project is based on sound scientific principles.

Step 2: Formulating a Hypothesis

Once you have gathered all the necessary background information on volcanoes, it’s time to start formulating your hypothesis. Your hypothesis should be a statement that explains your prediction or explanation for the phenomenon you are investigating. A hypothesis is not a guess, but rather an educated prediction based on your research and observations.

What is a Hypothesis?

A hypothesis is a statement that explains your prediction or explanation for the phenomenon you are investigating. It is a tentative explanation for an observation or phenomenon that can be tested through further investigation.

How to Formulate a Hypothesis

To formulate a hypothesis, start by identifying the problem or question you want to investigate. Then, review your research and observations to come up with a statement that explains your prediction or explanation for the phenomenon you are investigating.

For example, if you are investigating the effect of different types of lava on volcanic eruptions, your hypothesis could be:

• If the viscosity of the lava is higher, then the eruption will be more explosive.
• If the temperature of the lava is lower, then the eruption will be less explosive.

Remember, your hypothesis should be testable and falsifiable. This means that you should be able to design an experiment or observation that can either support or refute your hypothesis.

Why is a Hypothesis Important?

A hypothesis is important because it guides your investigation and helps you stay focused on your research question. It also helps you design an experiment or observation that will test your prediction or explanation.

Additionally, a hypothesis allows you to make predictions about what you expect to find during your investigation. This can help you identify potential sources of error and plan for how to address them.

Step 3: Materials and Equipment

Before you start creating your volcano science fair project, it is important to gather all the materials and equipment you will need. Below are the essential and optional materials and equipment you will need for this project.

Essential Materials

• Baking soda
• Red food coloring
• Vegetable oil
• Large mixing bowl
• Small plastic bottle
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Newspaper or plastic tablecloth
• Small funnel

Optional Materials

• Modeling clay
• Decorative materials (e.g., fake grass, rocks, trees)
• Plastic dinosaurs or other animals

Most of the equipment you will need for this project is basic kitchen equipment. However, if you want to create a more elaborate volcano, the following equipment may be useful:

By gathering all the essential and optional materials and equipment, you can ensure that you have everything you need to create a successful volcano science fair project.

Step 4: Experimentation

Now that you have built your volcano model and created the eruption, it’s time to record and analyze your data. This is where experimentation comes in.

Recording Data

When recording data, it is important to keep track of all the variables involved in the experiment. This includes the amount of baking soda and vinegar used, the time it took for the eruption to occur, and the height and width of the eruption. You can record this information in a notebook or on a spreadsheet.

Analyzing Data

Once you have collected your data, you can begin to analyze it. Look for patterns and trends in your results. For example, does the amount of baking soda used affect the height of the eruption? Does the temperature of the vinegar affect the time it takes for the eruption to occur?

You can also create graphs and charts to help visualize your data. This can make it easier to identify any correlations between the variables you tested.

Experimenting with Variables

If you want to take your experiment to the next level, you can try experimenting with different variables. For example, you can try using different types of vinegar or adding food coloring to the mixture to see how it affects the eruption.

Remember to only change one variable at a time, so you can accurately determine its impact on the eruption. Keep detailed records of your experiments and results, so you can compare them later.

By experimenting with different variables, you can gain a better understanding of the volcanic phenomena and how it works. This will make your science fair project stand out and impress the judges!

Step 5: Conclusion

Interpreting the results of your volcano science fair project is crucial in drawing conclusions. At this stage, you need to analyze your data and observations to determine the significance of your findings. This process involves identifying patterns, trends, and relationships that exist in your data.

Interpreting Results

When interpreting your results, you should consider the following questions:

• What patterns or trends do you see in your data?
• Are there any significant differences or similarities between your experimental and control groups?
• What factors may have influenced your results?

Answering these questions will help you to understand the implications of your findings and their relevance to your hypothesis.

Drawing Conclusions

Once you have interpreted your results, you can draw conclusions based on your findings. Your conclusions should be based on the evidence you have gathered and should be supported by your data and observations.

When drawing conclusions, you should consider the following:

• Do your findings support or refute your hypothesis?
• What new insights have you gained from your research?
• What are the implications of your findings for future research in this area?

By answering these questions, you can develop a clear understanding of your findings and their significance. This will help you to communicate your results effectively and to make a valuable contribution to the field of volcanology.

Tips for Success

Creating a volcano science fair project can be a fun and exciting experience, but it’s important to keep some key tips in mind to ensure success. Here are some tips to help you create a standout project:

Practice and Patience

Practice makes perfect, and this is especially true when it comes to creating a volcano science fair project. Take the time to practice building and testing your volcano before the big day. This will help you identify any potential issues and make any necessary adjustments. Additionally, be patient during the process. Creating a volcano can be a bit messy and time-consuming, but the end result will be worth it.

Safety First

When creating a volcano science fair project, safety should always be your top priority. Be sure to read and follow all instructions carefully, and use caution when handling any materials or substances. Always wear protective gear, such as gloves and goggles, and work in a well-ventilated area. Keep in mind that some chemicals and materials can be harmful if ingested or inhaled, so be sure to keep them out of reach of children and pets.

Be Creative

Creating a standout volcano science fair project means being creative and thinking outside the box. Consider using unique materials, such as colored sand or glitter, to make your volcano stand out. You can also experiment with different eruption methods, such as using baking soda and vinegar or dry ice and water. The more creative and unique your project is, the more likely it is to catch the judges’ attention.

Present with Confidence

Finally, when presenting your volcano science fair project, be sure to do so with confidence. Practice your presentation beforehand and be prepared to answer any questions the judges may have. Remember, the more confident and knowledgeable you appear, the more likely you are to impress the judges and earn a top prize.

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

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

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

1. Learn about volcanoes

2. prepare your crater, 3. make your volcano erupt, 4. form the lava flow, 6. make more eruptions, 7. trade your volcano, 8. take core samples, 9. record your findings, 10. compare your map.

Learning Space

Teachable Moments

Stay Connected

Make a Volcano

Make a volcano with baking soda, vinegar and play dough. Then, add multiple layers that you can investigate like a NASA scientist. Test your family and friends to see if they can guess what's inside your volcano!

Watch the Tutorial

See below for materials and step-by-step instructions. For more video tutorials and activities like this one, visit Learning Space .

Watch en Español : Seleccione subtítulos en Español bajo el ícono de configuración.

In this episode of Learning Space, you will make a volcano with baking soda, vinegar and play dough. Then, add multiple layers that you can investigate like a NASA scientist. | Watch on YouTube

Piece of cardboard OR a cookie sheet

3 or more colors of play dough ( download recipe ) or soft clay

Baking soda

Paper towels

Colored pencils OR crayons (ideally matching the colors of the play dough)

2 sheets of graph paper OR plain paper

1-3 clear plastic drinking straws

Find out how volcanoes form and what causes them to erupt . Then click the planets in this interactive image to learn about volcanoes on planets throughout our solar system. Get inspired before you create your own volcano by checking out these images of volcanoes on Earth .

› Learn more about this image

Cut off the top of the paper cup so it's only about 0.5 inches (1-2 cm) tall. Place the paper cup at the center of your piece of paper and trace around the bottom to make a circle. The circle and the cup represent the crater inside your volcano. Tape the cup to the piece of cardboard or a cookie sheet. Mark north, east, south and west on both the paper and the cardboard or cookie sheet.

Fill the cup with a spoonful of baking soda. Then, slowly pour in enough vinegar to make the mixture foam up and flow out of the cup. This simulates an eruption and lava flowing out of your volcano.

If possible, use a colored pencil to trace around the edge of where the lava flew out of your volcano. Dab up the fluid with a paper towel. Then, cover the area inside the line you traced with a thin layer of one color of play dough to mark where the lava flowed.

On your graph paper, use a colored pencil that matches the color of the play dough you put down to draw the shape of your lava layer. This is the start of a map that will show where lava flowed during each eruption of the model volcano. Be sure the orientation of the cardinal directions on your map match the ones on your model volcano.

Repeat steps 3-5 three or four more times. Each time, put down a new layer of play dough and then map it out by drawing the shape of that layer on your graph paper. If you have more than one color of play dough, change colors between eruptions so it's easier to see the different layers.

If possible, trade your volcano with another person, so you can investigate one that is unknown! If you can't trade with anyone, find a family member who didn’t watch you build the volcano and challenge them to do the next steps.

Cut a plastic straw into thirds or fourths. Push an open end of the straw straight down through the play dough lava flows until you reach the bottom. Twist the straw in place and lift out a sample. This is what's called a core sample.

Looking through the clear straw, you can see the layers underneath the surface of the volcano. You can use this sample to investigate how the layers of the volcano formed over time. Repeat this step with each of your three or four straw pieces. Think about the best places to collect samples so that you can get as much information as possible.

On a blank piece of graph paper, draw a circle and cardinal directions like you did in Step 2. Use your core samples to make a prediction of where each layer of the volcano you’re studying begins and ends.

Then, use colored pencils that match the colors you find in the volcano to draw the layers on your graph paper. Try to get as close as you can with as few samples as possible!

Once you’ve created a map of your predictions, compare it with the known map from steps 2-6.

• Grades 6-12
• School Leaders

Free end-of-year letter templates to your students 📝!

16 Red-Hot Volcano Science Experiments and Kits For Classrooms or Science Fairs

Kids will erupt with excitement!

Is there any school science project more classic than the exploding volcano? Every generation of kids loves this explosive (and messy!) experiment, which is usually a take on acid-base reactions. Here are our favorite volcano science experiments and projects, along with some well-reviewed DIY kits that make the process easier.

(Just a heads up—WeAreTeachers may collect a small share of sales from links on this page. We only recommend items our team loves!)

1. Classic Baking Soda Volcano Experiment

This classic experiment teaches kids about simple chemical reactions and physical properties. The best part? It’s easy to do and uses only a few basic ingredients. Check out the link below for a step-by-step guide and free printable student recording sheet.

Learn more: Baking Soda Volcano Experiment

2. Papier-mâché Volcano Experiment

Here it is, the original papier-mâché volcano! The volcano is built around a jar inside that holds the vinegar and baking soda for the eruption itself. Add a little dish soap to make the “lava” foamier and more impressive.

Learn more: Craft Cue

3. Salt Dough Volcano Experiment

Salt dough is a little easier to work with than papier-mâché, and you can make your volcano pretty realistic looking. Otherwise, the process is the same, and so is the fun!

Learn more: Teach Beside Me

4. National Geographic Ultimate Volcano Kit

Make things easier by getting all the supplies you need in a volcano science experiments kit. This one has thousands of positive reviews on Amazon and comes with a volcano mold you can use again and again.

Learn more: National Geographic Ultimate Volcano Kit/Amazon

5. Playdough Volcano Experiment

Want a quick version of the volcano experiment? Use playdough to build a volcano around a small beaker, then create the baking soda and vinegar reaction. Fast and fun!

Learn more: Life Over Cs

6. Snow Volcano Experiment

Volcano science experiments can be messy, there’s no doubt about it. That’s why this snow volcano is so brilliant! Take the mess outside and let nature help with cleanup.

Learn more: Science Sparks

7. Playz Volcanic Eruption & Lava Lab Science Kit

This volcano science kit comes with not one but two erupting volcanoes! There are enough supplies for multiple eruptions too.

Learn more: Playz Volcanic Eruption & Lava Lab Science Kit/Amazon

8. Lemon Volcano Science Experiment

Lemon juice is full of acid, so this fruit is the perfect material for volcano science experiments. Just add a little dish soap (and food coloring for fun). Then top with baking soda and watch the fizzy eruption! Enjoy this one? Try it with apples too!

Learn more: Lemon Volcano/Beyond the Playroom

9. Learning Resources Beaker Creatures Bubbling Volcano Kit

This kit is perfect for the younger crowd. It includes several different fizzing experiments, including a “reactor pod” that you drop into your volcano to reveal a collectible little Beaker Creature.

Learn more: Learning Resources Beaker Creatures Bubbling Volcano Kit/Amazon

10. Pop Rocks Volcano

Watch a volcano video and you’ll hear all sorts of popping and cracking sounds. You can recreate that effect in your DIY experiment by adding Pop Rocks candy to make a sound volcano!

Learn more: Growing a Jeweled Rose

11. Stemclas Volcano Science Kit

If you’re looking for a truly basic volcano kit, this is the one. No frills, no extras—just a model volcano and the materials you need to make it erupt.

Learn more: Stemclas Volcano Science Kit/Amazon

12. Rainbow Volcano Experiment

Lava can take on different colors depending on the temperature and chemical composition. So make a rainbow of fizzing “lava” of your own using food coloring!

Learn more: Green Kids Crafts

13. Underwater Volcano Experiment

Not all volcanos erupt on land—some are found underwater. This experiment uses the different densities of hot and cold water to make the volcano “erupt.”

Learn more: Mombrite

14. Fizzing Volcano Lava Slime

Volcanoes plus slime? It’s every kid’s dream! Mix up some fizzing lava slime that’s much safer to play with than real molten lava! (Make this project even easier by getting all the supplies you need in the Volcano Slime Kit from KiwiCo .)

Learn more: Little Bins for Little Hands

15. Look Inside a Volcano Experiment

This volcano science experiment digs deeper, laying out items like the magma chamber, crater, and central and secondary vents. The eruption is impressive, and now you can see how happens!

Learn more: 123Homeschool4Me

16. Pumpkin Volcano Experiment

When is a pumpkin not a pumpkin? When it’s a volcano! This is an awesome project to take out onto the playground on a sunny fall day.

Learn more: Hillary’s Teaching Adventures

Want more hands-on science fun? Try these Incredible Electricity Experiments .

Plus, get all the latest teaching tips and tricks straight to your inbox when you sign up for our newsletters , you might also like.

How To Make a Baking Soda Volcano With Free Observation Sheet

This experiment will have kids erupting with applause! Continue Reading

Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved. 5335 Gate Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32256

Science Fun

How to make a Volcano

• 10 ml of dish soap
• 100 ml of warm water
• 400 ml of white vinegar
• Food coloring
• Baking soda slurry (fill a cup about ½ with baking soda, then fill the rest of the way with water)
• Empty 2 liter soda bottle

Instructions:

NOTE: This should be done outside due to the mess.

• Combine the vinegar, water, dish soap and 2 drops of food coloring into the empty soda bottle.
• Use a spoon to mix the baking soda slurry until it is all a liquid.
• Eruption time! … Pour the baking soda slurry into the soda bottle quickly and step back!

WATCH THE QUICK AND EASY VIDEO TUTORIAL!

How it Works:

A chemical reaction between vinegar and baking soda creates a gas called carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is the same type of gas used to make the carbonation in sodas. What happens if you shake up a soda? The gas gets very excited and tries to spread out. There is not enough room in the bottle for the gas to spread out so it leaves through the opening very quickly, causing an eruption!

Extra Experiments:

1. Does the amount of vinegar change the eruption? 2. Does the amount of water change the eruption? 3. Does the amount of baking soda change the eruption?

EXPLORE TONS OF FUN AND EASY SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS!

SUBSCRIBE AND NEVER MISS A NEW SCIENCE FUN VIDEO!

previous experiment

Next experiment.

Baking Soda and Vinegar Chemical Volcano

Nicholas Prior / Getty Images

• Projects & Experiments
• Chemical Laws
• Periodic Table
• Scientific Method
• Biochemistry
• Physical Chemistry
• Medical Chemistry
• Chemistry In Everyday Life
• Famous Chemists
• Activities for Kids
• Abbreviations & Acronyms
• Weather & Climate
• Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
• B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College

The baking soda and vinegar volcano is a fun chemistry project you can do to simulate a real volcanic eruption or as an example of an  acid-base reaction . The chemical reaction between baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and vinegar (acetic acid) produces carbon dioxide gas, which forms bubbles in dishwashing detergent. The chemicals are non-toxic (though not tasty), making this project a good choice for scientists of all ages.

Baking Soda and Vinegar Volcano Materials

eskaylim / Getty Images 

• 3 cups flour
• 1 cup water
• 2 tablespoons cooking oil
• Empty 20-ounce drink bottle
• Deep plate or a pan
• Gel food coloring
• Dishwashing detergent
• Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)
• Vinegar (dilute acetic acid)

Make the Volcano Dough

Laura Natividad / Moment / Getty Images

You can cause an eruption without making a "volcano," but it's easy to model a cinder cone. Start by making the dough:

• Mix together 3 cups flour, 1 cup salt, 1 cup water, and 2 tablespoons of cooking oil.
• Either work the dough with your hands or stir it with a spoon until the mixture is smooth.
• If you like, you can add a few drops of food coloring to the dough to make it volcano-colored.

Model a Volcano Cinder Cone

JGI / Jamie Grill / Getty Images

Next, you want to shape the dough into a volcano:

• Fill the empty drink bottle most of the way full with hot tap water.
• Add a squirt of dishwashing detergent and some baking soda (~2 tablespoons). If desired, you can add a few drops of food coloring.
• Set the drink bottle in the center of a pan or deep dish.
• Press the dough around the bottle and shape it to look like a volcano.
• Be careful not to plug the opening of the bottle.
• You may wish to dribble some food coloring down the sides of your volcano. When the volcano erupts, the "lava" will flow down the sides and will pick up the coloring.

Cause a Volcanic Eruption

Hero Images / Getty Images

You can make your volcano erupt over and over again.

• When you are ready for the eruption, pour some vinegar into the bottle (which contains hot water, dishwashing detergent, and baking soda).
• Make the volcano erupt again by adding more baking soda. Pour in more vinegar to trigger the reaction.
• By now, you probably see why it is important to use a deep dish or a pan. You may need to pour some of the "lava" into the sink between eruptions.
• You can clean up any spills with warm soapy water. If you used food coloring, you could stain clothes, skin, or countertops, but the chemicals used and produced are generally non-toxic.

How a Baking Soda and Vinegar Volcano Works

Jeffrey Coolidge / Getty Images

The baking soda and vinegar volcano erupts because of an acid-base reaction:

baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) + vinegar (acetic acid) → carbon dioxide + water + sodium ion + acetate ion

NaHCO 3 (s) + CH 3 COOH(l) → CO 2 (g) + H 2 O(l) + Na + (aq) + CH 3 COO - (aq)

where s = solid, l = liquid, g = gas, aq = aqueous or in solution

Breaking it down:

NaHCO 3 → Na + (aq) + HCO 3 - (aq) CH 3 COOH → H + (aq) + CH 3 COO - (aq)

H + + HCO 3 - → H 2 CO 3 (carbonic acid) H 2 CO 3 → H 2 O + CO 2

Acetic acid (a weak acid) reacts with and neutralizes sodium bicarbonate (a base). The carbon dioxide that is given off is a gas. Carbon dioxide is responsible for the fizzing and bubbling during the "eruption."

• How to Make a Baking Soda Volcano
• 10 Examples of Heterogeneous and Homogeneous Mixtures
• Take Your Volcano Science Project to the Next Level
• Fizzy Potion Recipe
• 10 Cool Chemistry Experiments
• Equation for the Reaction Between Baking Soda and Vinegar
• How to Make a Volcano Using Pop Rocks
• Ketchup and Baking Soda Volcano
• Baking Soda Science Projects
• You've Got Ingredients for a Chemical Volcano
• Modeling Clay Recipes Using Home Ingredients
• Frankenworms Dancing Gummy Worms Science Experiment
• Fizzy Sparkling Lemonade Made With Science
• Color Change Chemical Volcano Demonstration
• How Baking Soda Works to Make Baked Goods Rise
• Have a Vinegar and Baking Soda Foam Fight

How to Make an Awesome Volcano Science Project

This post may contain affiliate links.

Want to know how to make a volcano with your kids? Making a volcano that erupts is one of those good old classic science projects that kids just love doing! I am surprised that I don’t have this one on my site yet, because it’s a favorite! Also, grab your free printable Volcano Diagram Worksheets, too!

My husband found an old book this past week for my son called  101 Cool Science Experiments  by Glen Singleton. We flipped through the book together marking all of the pages of the experiments that we want to try. He is a little bit of a science fanatic like me. We both get excited about new experiments! He was most excited to try making a volcano!

It’s funny, so many of my experiments were done with my two older kids and now we are really enjoying recreating them with the younger half of the family. This was a favorite of my oldest son snd now the younger kids had a blast with it! Get ready for mess.

Also check out out our Erupting Dinosaur Extinction Slime !

How to Make a Volcano

Watch it all here, or read on for the written instructions.

We made our volcano model with salt dough. Salt dough is super simple to make and can be air dried if you want to make it ahead and save it for a science fair project.

Salt Dough Recipe

6 cups of Flour

2 cups of Salt

2 cups of Water

2 Tbsp of Cooking Oil

Coloring (you can use food coloring or liquid water color)

Mix the best you can with a spoon, but you may need to just dig in with your hands. That’s what I had to do. This is a hard dough so you can mold it and make it stand up around the bottle for your volcano filling. You may need to add a little bit more water depending on your climate. I added 1/4-1/3 cup more after I got into it.

You may notice the gray swirls in our dough. We tried to color our dough with some black  liquid watercolors , but it would have taken the whole bottle, so we gave up!

Building the Volcano

You will need a bottle in the center. You can use a soda bottle a water bottle or a glass bottle like we used. Whatever you have on hand that has a smaller opening on top should work just fine!

Place the bottle in the center of a large cookie sheet. Mold the salt dough into a volcano shape around the bottle making sure to leave an opening at the top to add your volcano’s “lava” filling.

This is tons of fun to shape it to look like an amazing volcano. My kids were creating paths for the lava to flow through.

How to Make a Volcano Erupt (With Baking Soda & Vinegar)

Now to make the eruption solution! Making the volcano erupt is fun, messy and is over pretty quick, so don’t blink! 😉

Ingredients to Make your Volcano Erupt:

Red Food Coloring- Or red  liquid watercolors

A few drops of Dish Soap- about a Tablespoon

2 Tbsp Baking Soda

Mix the red coloring, water, and some dish soap together. We used about 2 cups of water, but you’ll just need to fill your bottle about 3/4 of the way full.

Put 2 Tbsp of baking soda into the bottle.

Pour in your vinegar and watch the eruption go! Now is the perfect time to teach about the chemical reaction between the baking soda and vinegar.

Can we do it again?!  (That’s what your kids will say.)

I am loving that I captured their excited expressions!

Have you done this fun, classic experiment with your kids?

Volcano Variations:

Make a volcano erupt with smoke by adding dry ice! Check out my  smoking dragon post  for tips.

Make a thicker lava by trying  elephant toothpaste  in the bottle!

Volcano Diagram Worksheets

Extend the learning with these Printable Volcano Diagram worksheets!  This printable set includes color and black and white diagrams with both labeled and unlabeled versions. You can use them for learning and for quizzing later!  Download your Volcano Diagrams now!

Learn about Real Volcanos and how they really erupt by reading some books on Volcanoes!

Volcanoes! Mountains for Fire by Eric Arnold is a great place to start.

We also like the Magic School Bus Blows its Top by Gail Herman

You may also enjoy:   30 More  Baking Soda and Vinegar Experiments! It has some more fun ways to experiment with this chemical reaction.

Check out my Science Book! Science Art and Drawing Games for Kids

Former school teacher turned homeschool mom of 4 kids. Loves creating awesome hands-on creative learning ideas to make learning engaging and memorable for all kids!

Similar Posts

Origami Basketball Math Game

Craft foam bath play.

Licorice Shapes and Angles

Printable Paper Insect Display

60 Elementary Hands-On Math Teaching Ideas

Early Learning Books That Spark Creativity

One comment.

I couldn’t find the instructions but some how i found out how to do it with now instructions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

• Science Notes Posts
• Contact Science Notes
• Todd Helmenstine Biography
• Anne Helmenstine Biography
• Free Printable Periodic Tables (PDF and PNG)
• Periodic Table Wallpapers
• Interactive Periodic Table
• Periodic Table Posters
• How to Grow Crystals
• Chemistry Projects
• Fire and Flames Projects
• Holiday Science
• Chemistry Problems With Answers
• Physics Problems
• Unit Conversion Example Problems
• Chemistry Worksheets
• Biology Worksheets
• Periodic Table Worksheets
• Physical Science Worksheets
• Science Lab Worksheets
• My Amazon Books

5 Ways To Make a Volcano

There is more than one way to make a chemical volcano. Actually, there are several methods. Here are some of the best, from the tried-and-true baking soda and vinegar volcano to the most exotic dry ice volcano.

Make the Volcano Cone

You can use a bottle or can or really any container for your volcanic eruption, but it’s easy to make the volcano shape by coating your container with clay or papier mache. Here is a simple recipe for a homemade clay volcano:

• 6 cups flour
• 2 cups salt
• 2 cups water
• 4 tablespoons cooking oil
• Mix the ingredients together in a large bowl. It’s easiest if you stir the flour, salt, and oil together first and then mix in the water. You can add more water if needed. You want a firm, smooth dough.
• Stand an empty soda bottle or can in a pie tin or baking pan (so your ‘lava’ won’t make a mess) and mold the dough into a volcano shape. Be sure you don’t drop dough into the bottle or cover the opening.
• If you want to paint the volcano, wait until the dough is dry.

Now for the recipes! Most use common ingredients that you have at home.

Baking Soda and Vinegar Volcano

This is the classic science fair project volcano. The baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) reacts with the vinegar (weak acetic acid) to produce carbon dioxide gas. The detergent traps the gas, which is heavier than air, so it flows down the side of the volcano.

• liquid dishwashing detergent
• red or orange food coloring
• baking soda
• Pour warm water into the volcano until it is 1/2 to 3/4 of the way full.
• Add several drops of food coloring.
• Add a squirt of detergent. This helps the ‘lava’ foam up and flow.
• Add a couple of spoonfuls of baking soda.
• When you are ready to start the eruption, pour vinegar into your volcano.
• You can recharge the volcano with more baking soda and vinegar.

Note: If you don’t have vinegar, you can use another acidic liquid, like lemon juice or orange juice.

Yeast and Peroxide Volcano

• packet of quick-rise yeast
• hydrogen peroxide (3% sold in stores or can use 6% from beauty supply stores)
• food coloring
• Pour the hydrogen peroxide solution into the volcano until it is nearly full. The 3% household peroxide is safe to handle, but wear gloves and use extreme caution if you use the 6% peroxide, which can give you chemical burns!
• Add several drops of food coloring for your lava.
• When you are ready for the eruption, add the packet of yeast to the volcano.

Ketchup and Vinegar Volcano

This volcano bubbles and oozes lava. The eruption is not so dramatic, but is interesting and long-lasting. The acidity of the vinegar and tomatoes in the ketchup reacts with the baking soda to produce carbon dioxide gas, which gets trapped as bubbles by the detergent.

• dishwashing liquid
• Mix together ketchup, warm water, and a squirt of detergent to make lava.
• Pour the mixture into the volcano so it is nearly full.
• When you are ready for the eruption, add baking soda.

Mentos and Diet Soda Volcano

This volcano erupts instantly and spectacularly. For a truly memorable volcano, use diet tonic water instead of diet cola and shine a black light on the volcano. This produces a vivid blue glowing eruption!

• diet soda (regular soda works too, but produces a sticky mess)
• Mentos candies
• Fill the volcano full of soda (or you could have molded the volcano around a full soda bottle.
• When you are ready for the eruption, drop all of the Mentos candies into the mouth of the bottle at once. One easy way to do this is to roll a sheet of paper around the candies, put your finger beneath them to hold them in place, and release the candies over the hole. Be prepared for a major splash!

Dry Ice Volcano

This volcano appears to smoke, releasing a cascade of bubble lava.

• Fill the volcano with warm water.
• Add a bit of dishwashing liquid.
• When you are ready to start the eruption, use gloves or tongs to drop a piece of dry ice into the volcano.

Do you need more ways to make a volcano ? You can bake a souffle to model the geological processes or make a realistic wax volcano .

Related Posts

Get Your ALL ACCESS Shop Pass here →

Erupting Lemon Volcano Experiment

Learn how to make a lemon volcano with this super easy-to-set-up kitchen science experiment! Watch their faces light up, and their eyes widen when you test out cool chemistry with this erupting lemon volcano with dish soap. You will definitely get a positive reaction from the kiddos (pun intended). We enjoy all kinds of simple science experiments using common household ingredients.

Volcano Science

Do you know this lemon volcano experiment was one of our top 10 experiments of all time? Check out more fun science experiments for kids .

We love everything that erupts! We have been exploring different ways to create eruptions while having fun through play.  Science that fizzes, pops, erupts, bangs, and explodes  is pretty awesome for kids of all ages!

Some of our favorite volcanos here include apple volcano , pumpkin volcano , and a Lego volcano ! We have even tried erupting volcano slime .

One of the things that we strive to do here is to create playful science setups that are extremely hands-on, maybe a little messy, and a whole lot of fun. They may be somewhat open-ended, contain an element of play, and definitely a whole lot of repeatability!

Also, we have experimented with citrus reactions, so an erupting lemon volcano experiment is a natural fit for us! You only need a few common kitchen ingredients to make your lemon juice volcano. Read on for the complete supply list and setup.

NOTE: If you want to learn more about how real volcanoes work, learn volcano facts and set up a volcano demonstration here.

Watch the Lemon Volcano Video

Make an Erupting Lemon Volcano

Ensure the following supplies are on your next grocery shopping list, and you will be ready for an afternoon of exploration and discovery with your kids.

• Lemons (grab a few!)
• Baking Soda
• Food Coloring
• Dawn Dish Soap
• Plate, Tray, or Bowl
•  Craft Sticks
• Lemon Juice (optional: pick up a small bottle or use the juice from another lemon)

LEMON VOLCANO SCIENCE EXPERIMENT SET UP

STEP 1: First, you need to place half of a lemon into a bowl or plate that will catch the mess when it erupts.

You can juice the other half of the lemon to add to the erupting lemon volcano which you will read about below. Or you can set up two at a time! 

EXPERIMENT: Try this with a variety of citrus fruits to see which produces the best eruption! What’s your guess?

STEP 2: Next, take your craft stick and poke holes in the various sections of the lemon. This will help get the reaction started in the beginning.

STEP 3: Now you can place drops of food coloring around the different sections on the top of the lemon.

Alternating with different colors of food coloring will give a fun effect. However, you can also stick with just a couple of colors or even one-color! 

STEP 4: Pour some Dawn dish soap all over the top of the lemon.

What does dish soap do? Adding dish soap to a reaction like this produces some foam and bubbles! It’s not necessary, but a fun element to add if you can.

STEP 5: Go ahead and sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda onto the top of the lemon.

Then use a craft stick to press some of the baking soda down into the different sections of the lemon to get the eruption going.

Wait a few minutes for the reaction to begin taking place. Slowly, your lemon will begin to erupt into a variety of colors. Additionally, you can use the craft stick to mash the lemon and baking soda around a bit more!

Did you know that you can make fizzy lemonade for edible science?

You can add some baking soda after the first round of erupting takes place to continue the reaction !

This experiment produces a very slow eruption of color. If you would like things to move a bit faster or to be more dramatic, you can pour a little extra lemon juice on top of the lemon as well.

Your erupting lemon volcano will be a big hit, and I am pretty sure your kids are going to want to keep testing it out! That’s what makes it great for playful science.

CHECK OUT >>> 35 Best Kitchen Science Experiments

What is the Science Behind the Lemon Volcano?

Let’s keep it basic for our younger or junior scientists! When you mix the baking soda with the lemon juice, they react and form a gas called carbon dioxide, producing the fizzing eruption you can see.

This chemical reaction occurs because an acid {the lemon juice} mixes with a base {baking soda}. When the two combine, the reaction takes place, and the gas is created.

If you add dish soap, you will notice a more foamy eruption like in our  watermelon volcano .

Our exploding lemon volcano is simple chemistry you can do at home or in the classroom that isn’t too crazy, but is still lots of fun for kids! Check out more chemistry activities .

What is the scientific method?

The scientific method is a process or method of research. A problem is identified, information about the problem is gathered, a hypothesis or question is formulated from the information, and the hypothesis is put to test with an experiment to prove or disprove its validity. Sounds heavy…

What in the world does that mean?!? The scientific method should be used as a guide to help lead the process. It’s not set in stone.

You don’t need to try and solve the world’s biggest science questions! The scientific method is all about studying and learning things right around you.

As kids develop practices that involve creating, gathering data, evaluating, analyzing, and communicating, they can apply these critical thinking skills to any situation.

💡 To learn more about the scientific method and how to use it, click here.

Even though the scientific method feels like it is just for big kids…

This method can be used with kids of all ages! Have a casual conversation with younger kids or write a more formal notebook entry with older kids!

What Else Can You Do With Lemons?

Grab the free instant lemon activities guide below to get started!

More Fun Science Experiments

Check out our big list of science experiments for even more ideas!

• Homemade Lava Lamp
• Egg in Vinegar Experiment
• Oobleck Recipe
• Salt Water Density with Eggs
• Osmosis Science Projects

Printable Science Projects For Kids

If you’re looking to grab all of our printable science projects in one convenient place plus exclusive worksheets and bonuses like a STEAM Project pack, our Science Project Pack is what you need! Over 300+ Pages!

• 90+ classic science activities  with journal pages, supply lists, set up and process, and science information.  NEW! Activity-specific observation pages!
• Best science practices posters  and our original science method process folders for extra alternatives!
• Be a Collector activities pack  introduces kids to the world of making collections through the eyes of a scientist. What will they collect first?
• Know the Words Science vocabulary pack  includes flashcards, crosswords, and word searches that illuminate keywords in the experiments!
• My science journal writing prompts  explore what it means to be a scientist!!
• Bonus STEAM Project Pack:  Art meets science with doable projects!
• Bonus Quick Grab Packs for Biology, Earth Science, Chemistry, and Physics

• Pingback: Erupting Apple Science and Apple Volcano Chemistry Activity for Kids
• Pingback: 100 Awesome Chemistry Experiments For All Ages - The Homeschool Scientist
• Pingback: Earth Cadet Mission #1 Junior Eco-Domestic Technician! ⋆ Earth Cadets Education
• Pingback: The BEST Very Simple Science Experiments for Kids to Try Anywhere
• Pingback: Easy Kids Arts & Crafts Projects You Can Do Right in Your (Tiny) Kitchen – WebsFavourites.Com
• Pingback: Volcano (of your kid’s) Dreams

Hi thanks for this. We had fun noticing the lemons needed to be poked a lot! One point we would like to add is slicing the tip of the lemon off Would help it would sit better. Also, citric is spelled incorrectly.

Comments are closed.

~ Projects to Try Now! ~

‘Buoyant’ magma offers clues about the power of volcanoes

Studying deeper molten rock reservoirs may help scientists better forecast eruptions.

By Laura Baisas | Published May 10, 2024 2:00 PM EDT

Studying the molten rock simmering about 12 miles below the Earth’s surface could help scientists better predict volcanic activity . According to a study published May 10 in the journal Science Advances , these underground reservoirs where rocks are first melted down into liquid magma may help forecast just how explosive an eruption may be. Better predictions of volcanic eruption could potentially save lives and give people more time to get out of danger.

Deeper magma

Predicting when an eruption might occur is still pretty difficult for scientists. Volcanoes do not exhibit the same behavior for long. Many of their eruption histories go back before humans even existed, so it is difficult to follow their eruption intervals . Eruptions are typically predicted based on the activity of the volcano and the upper few miles of the crust beneath it . This layer of crust contains molten rock that is potentially ready to erupt. However, the activity in the deeper magma reservoirs has not been as well studied. 

To learn more about these magma reservoirs further underground, a team from the Imperial College London and the University of Bristol studied the frequency, composition, and size of volcanic eruptions around the world. They reviewed data on 60 of the most explosive volcanic eruptions in nine countries : Argentina, Chile, El Salvador, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Russia, and the United States.

[Related: A volcanologist shows what makes magma go boom .]

“We looked at volcanoes around the world and dug deeper than previous studies that focused on shallow underground chambers where magma is stored before eruptions,” study co-author and Imperial College London geoscientist Catherine Booth said in a statement . “We focused on understanding magma source reservoirs deep beneath our feet, where extreme heat melts solid rocks into magma at depths of around 10 to 20 kilometers [6.2 to 12.4 miles].”

Scientists combined this global data with advanced computer models to look closer at the composition, structure, and history of rocks deep beneath the Earth’s crust . They compared it with information gathered from active volcanoes to better understand how the magma builds up and behaves deep underground, before rising through the Earth’s crust to volcanoes.

Buoyant magma

Using this data, the researchers created computer simulations that mimic the complex processes of magma flow and storage deep within the Earth. Through these simulations, they gained new insight into a critical piece that may be driving eruptions–buoyancy.

“Contrary to previous beliefs, our study suggests that the buoyancy of the magma, rather than the proportion of solid and molten rock, is what drives eruptions,” said Booth. “Magma buoyancy is controlled by its temperature and chemical composition compared to the surrounding rock–as the magma accumulates its composition changes to make it less dense, making it more ‘buoyant’ and enabling it to rise.”

When the magma becomes buoyant enough to float, it rises up and creates fractures in the solid rock on top. It then furiously flows through these fractures, causing an eruption. 

Magma behavior

In addition to identifying magma buoyancy as an important factor driving volcanic eruptions, the team also looked at how the magma behaves when it reaches more shallow underground chambers just before erupting. According to the team , if the magma is stored here longer, it leads to smaller eruptions. 

[Related: Volcano on island in the Galapagos spews lava into the sea .]

Larger reservoirs may be expected to fuel bigger and more explosive eruptions, but the study found that these large reservoirs disperse more heat. This dispersal slows down the process of melting solid rocks into liquid magma. The team believes that the size of the reservoirs is another key to more accurately predicting how big an eruption will be. 

The study also found that eruptions are rarely isolated. Instead, they are part of a repetitive cycle of activity. The magma released by the volcanoes that they studied was also high in silica . This natural compound is known to play a part in determining how viscous–or sticky–and explosive magma is. High-silica magma tends to be more viscous, resulting in a more intense eruption. 

“By improving our understanding of the processes behind volcanic activity and providing models that shed light on the factors controlling eruptions, our study is a crucial step towards better monitoring and forecasting of these powerful geological events,” study co-author and Imperial College London geologist Matt Jackson said in a statement .

Using magma to make better predictions

According to the team, some of the study’s limitations include that their model focused on how magma flows upwards. The source reservoirs in their model also only had molten rock and crystals. 

“However, there is evidence that other fluids such as water and carbon dioxide are also found in these source reservoirs, and that magma can swirl and flow sideways,” said Jackson.

In future studies, the team would like to refine these models by incorporating three-dimensional magma flow and accounting for different fluid compositions. They hope that this will ultimately allow scientists to predict volcanic eruptions more accurately and better prepare for future natural disasters. 

Laura is a science news writer, covering a wide variety of subjects, but she is particularly fascinated by all things aquatic, paleontology, nanotechnology, and exploring how science influences daily life. Laura is a proud former resident of the New Jersey shore, a competitive swimmer, and a fierce defender of the Oxford comma.

Like science, tech, and DIY projects?

Sign up to receive Popular Science's emails and get the highlights.