Volcano Science Project - How To Make Your Own

Most elementary kids will be assigned a volcano project at some point in their grade school career. Students will study the earth and how it changes. A volcano erupting is one of the most fascinating and exciting changes that happens on Earth. There are three types of volcanoes (active, dormant, and extinct). Your child will learn about the three layers of the earth (core, mantel, and crust), the reason a volcano forms, and the parts of a volcano (magma chamber, central vent, and crater).Your child may also learn about the different types of volcanoes, including shield volcanoes, composite volcanoes, and cinder volcanoes. Your child will also learn lots of new volcano vocabulary including ash, ash cloud, conduit, cinder cone, crater, dike, lava, magma, throat, and vent. Who doesn't remember the Brady Bunch episode where Peter made his own volcano?

Your child may be asked to design a model of an erupting volcano to be presented to the class. There are endless possibilities for supplies needed for your child's volcano. Of course, your child may have lots of other and better ideas besides these. Here are just a few:

*A strong base for the volcano to rest on with sides to prevent fluid from running over after the "eruption". This can be heavy cardboard, a cookie sheet, a piece of plywood, etc.) This should not be oversized or obnoxious. The student should be able to transport it without much ado to and from school. You will most likely have to take your child to school on the day the assignment is due, as these projects can be cumbersome to take on the bus and the vinegar smell can be ghastly.

*A cone or mountain shape for the volcano. This can be a plastic funnel, cup, plastic water/soda bottle, etc.

*A covering for the shape such as clay, paper mache, dirt, sand, or modeling clay, playdoh

*Background details such as trees, small rocks, sand, dirt, plastic dinosaurs, cavemen, etc.)

*A plastic baggie with baking soda inside the volcano

*Red and/or yellow food coloring (to add color to the "lava" erupting)

*Vinegar which causes the baking soda to "erupt" from the volcano

Gather the materials and plan for the project well ahead of the due date. This will be an elementary school memory that will last a lifetime! The kids love to see the variations on this timeless science project and never tire of seeing them "erupt".