Erupting Volcanoes: Home Science Project #1

 

We got this book for RM22 from Big Book Shop Sale recently.  A good book for science projects at home I would say.  My boy chose Erupting Volcanoes to kick-start the book. 

 

 

 

You will need:

 

Jug

Baking Soda (we use baking powder)

Flour (we use corn flour)

Stirring Rod

Funnel

(we cut a small bottle into half, turn the upper part upside down as funnel)

Plastic Bottle

Sand (we use soil)

Tray

Large plastic tray

Vinegar

Red food colouring

(we make do with none, hence the white frothing bubbles)

 

Step 1:

Pour some baking soda and flour into the jug and mix thoroughly.

 

Step 2:

Pour the mixture of baking soda and flour into the plastic bottle.

 

Step 3:

Put sand into the large plastic tray and add in water to make the sand sticky but not too wet.

Mix well.

 

Step 4:

Stand the plastic bottle containing the baking soda and flour mixture in the centre of a tray.

Start packing the wet sand around it. Make the sand into a cone shape.

 

Step 5:

Pour vinegar into the jug and add enough food colouring to make the vinegar

a rich red colour. (We don't have red colouring, so just make do with none).

 

Step 6:

Now, pour the red-coloured vinegar into the plastic bottle through the funnel.

Remove the funnel from the bottle and observe.

 

 

 

The sandy volcano we have made begins to erupt. Countdown

3.... 2...... 1.......!!

 

 

Erupting!

 

More 'lava' flowing out!

 

And more... and more!!

 

The vinegar and baking soda mix to give off carbon dioxide.  This makes the flour turn frothy and forces it out of the bottle as lava.

 

Try it, it's fun!  My boy was so in awe and thrilled to have witnessed the whole process of a volcano erupting! :)