Who hasn’t mixed a little baking soda and vinegar to experience an eruption? This is a classic experiment that keeps my children interested in “chemistry” in an informal way. However this was the first time that we incorporated the true parts of a volcano such as side vents.

I made the play dough the night before, creating 2 different colors to resemble the layers of ash, lava and other matter of a composite volcano. We used the kids Sprite bottles and milkshake straws to create vents on the side of their volcanoes. I definitely recommend using trays or to do this experiment outside to protect your table from this mini explosion.

Giving children the actual names and technical terms for the volcanoes deepened their learning so much. Even though by daughter is 4, it taught her the same information I was delivering to my 6 year old, because I know she will absorb what she can and she’ll receive the rest later. We’ve spent so much time discussing how everything has a name (nouns) and that when we use those names, we’re being scientists. 

Simple materials such as safety goggles, transform them from students to scientists. They take themselves much more seriously and I enjoy watching them elevate their exploration. 

The true delight took place though when they poured vinegar into the mixture of baking soda, dish soap and food coloring. Science is meant to be experienced and we’re going to keep plugging away at our weekly experiments.