Classic Play Dough Volcano Activity

This play dough volcano is a classic science activity that every kid should try!!!

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It really didn’t take long to set up this activity. Of course you could embellish it with extra decorations, but I kept it simple. We used:

• Old play dough (you won’t get it back to play with after this!)
• Small glass jar
• Foil plate (or any dish with sides would be fine)
• Baking soda
• Food dye
• Vinegar
• Jug

I placed about a tablespoon of baking soda and a few drops of red food dye into the glass jar, then placed it in the middle of the plate. Then I molded the play dough around it in a volcano shape. Previously I have added dye to the vinegar, but I wanted the red “lava” to be a surprise!

I provided F with the vinegar in a jug – about ½ cup – and he seemed to know just what to do! He poured it in…

 

And whooosh!

 

He asked to do it again, but with a different colour. I poured out the vinegar, added more baking soda and dye to the jar, and we tried again. Blue!

 

And then orange!

 

He could have done this many times over but I was running out of vinegar! Want to know WHY this happens? Well, the vinegar and baking soda react together to create carbon dioxide – and this gas makes all the bubbly eruptions! We both loved this classic activity!