Sept. 7, 2005

Build a Volcano

Materials and Equipment

• Newspaper
• Paper cup
• 1/2 cup baking soda
• Coffee mug
• Bowl
• Construction paper
• Scissors
• Tape
• Food coloring
• 1 cup vinegar

Procedure

Cover the work area with several layers of newspaper or work outdoors—this gets messy!

Put baking soda in the paper cup. Slip the cup inside the coffee mug to keep it from tipping over. Set the mug on top of an upside-down bowl. Shape a cone from a large half circle of construction paper. Trim it to fit around the mug and bowl to look like a mountain. Tape it in place.

Squirt a few drops of several different food colors into the baking soda.

Slowly pour vinegar into the baking soda, and the volcano will erupt—you'll have flowing colored foam as long as you keep adding vinegar!

Reprinted with permission from Classical Kids: An Activity Guide to Life in Ancient Greece and Rome by Laurie Carlson. Published by Chicago Review Press, distributed by Independent Publishers Group (www.ipgbook.com). Copyright © 1998 by Laurie Carlson.

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