Yes, you do have a volcano in your house!

It is easy to make and is very messy - so use a large pan to catch the "lava", or build it outside.
Here is a recipe to show you how.  Be sure an adult is there to supervise and enjoy the fun with you.
The instructions tell you how to use foil to "build" your volcano mountain around an empty jar.  You can make a shield volcano shape with long gradual slopes with a small jar or a steep-sided strato volcano shape with a taller jar.(Thanks to Kaboose at:   http://crafts.kaboose.com/erupting-volcano.html)

Erupting Volcano                        you can get as fancy as you want!foil volcano with dinosmnn.com
Difficulty: Easy

Age: 5 and up

Parental supervision is recommended

foil volcano

What you'll need:

For the Volcano:

  • Large paper plate
  • Bathroom disposable cup (3 ounce is best)
  • Aluminum foil
  • Scotch tape
  • Scissors                                                                                                                                              

To Make the Volcano Erupt:

  • Water
  • Baking soda
  • Vinegar
  • Tablespoon
  • Cup
  • Pan or tray

How to make it:                                                                                                               

  1. Attach the paper cup to the plate by taping the bottom of the cup to the middle of the plate.
  2. Tear off a piece of foil large enough to completely cover the cup and plate.
  3. Place the foil over the cup and plate and turn the foil under the plate edge.
  4. Tape the foil in place.
  5. Poke a hole through the foil into the middle of the cup.
  6. Use scissors to make slits from the middle of the cup to the inside edge of the cup. Tape the foil to the inside of the cup. (see photo)
  7. Now make your volcano erupt! (see below)

 To Make Your Volcano Erupt:

  1. Place the volcano on a pan or tray (or you'll get lava all over the place!)
  2. Fill the volcano with 2 tablespoons of water and stir in a tablespoon of baking soda until it dissolves.
  3. Measure 2 tablespoons of vinegar into a separate cup.
  4. Pour the vinegar, all at once into the water/baking soda mixture and watch your lava bubble up!

 WHY'D THAT HAPPEN??

The bubbles that are created are filled with carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is a gas that forms when the vinegar (an acid) reacts with the baking soda (a base). For all you bakers out there, this is also what makes cakes and quick breads (the no yeast kind) get all nice and fluffy.