Papier Mache Volcano

The kids and I love making papier mache volcanoes.  They are simple and can be made with things found around the house. No two volcanoes ever need to be made exactly the same way. Here are a couple:

This was the first one we ever made.  We took three days - the first to construct and let dry, the second to paint and let dry, the third day the volcano ERUPTED!

Our most recent volcano took two days, we made it one day, then painted and erupted it the next day.  

Here’s what we used:

A piece of cardboard
This served as the base of the volcano
A cookie sheet
This was just to contain the mess from papier mache-ing and the "lava" when the volcano erupts.  We didn't need this for the first volcano because we actually used a the bottom half of a box.
An empty water bottle 
I know that I need to stop buying them, but I haven’t quite yet been able to kick the bottled water habit.
Pink Duct Tape (masking tape works quite well too)
A newspaper
 My dad still gets the newspaper daily (old school lol) so I'm generally able to get my hands on some old newspapers pretty easily.
1 cup of flour
1 cup of water
Paint
1 cup vinegar
4 drops of red food coloring (fun but optional)
4 tablespoons (or something like that) baking soda
A magazine insert (used at the end in lieu of a funnel)

We created the basic shape of the volcano using the water bottle, duct tape, and cardboard.  First we stood the water bottle in the middle and use the tape to hold it in place and also to create the bones of the structure around which to papier mache. Precision is not required.  (Thank goodness!)

 

Then we mixed 1 cup flour with 1 cup water in a bowl, cut the newpaper into strips and papier mache-ed!  

We left our wonderfully messy volcano to dry for the night.  The little lady was a little upset we didn't cover the top of the water bottle this time, but still looks good to me!

The next morning, little lady painted it with my directions to keep the paint thin so it wouldn't take so long to dry.  I wanted to erupt it the same day.  It became a two day project this time instead of 3.

To erupt the volcano we poured a cup of vinegar into the center of the volcano.  This is where the optional food coloring can be used.  Then as I got out the baking soda, I realized I didn’t have a way to get it in the little hole of the water bottle all at one time to make the big eruption.  That’s where the magazine subscription insert came in to play.  I rolled it into a cone shape and we put the baking soda in it.  Then we put the cone into the top of the water bottle and opened it into a cylinder.  The baking soda fell in and the volcano erupted.

 Then as I got out the baking soda, I realized I didn’t have a way to get it in the little hole of the water bottle all at one time to make the big eruption.  That’s where the magazine subscription insert came in to play.  I rolled it into a cone shape and we put the baking soda in it.  Then we put the cone into the top of the water bottle and opened it into a cylinder.  The baking soda fell in and the volcano erupted.

This was so much fun for both of the kids (even though my BMOC refused to be a part of the papier mache-ing process cause he can't stand having yucky hands.)  

I think we are going to do some science experiments examining the chemical reactions created when using different amounts of vinegar and baking soda another day.

I love having fun with things around the house!