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Make a Volcano

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Check out the HOME version.

Check out the GIANT version!
You will need

A volcano - Talk to an art teacher about how to make a volcano out of paper mache or plaster. You can also use clay or if you're in a hurry to make your volcano, use a mound of dirt outside.

A container that 35mm film comes in, and old pill bottle, a baby food jar, or similar size container.

Red and yellow food coloring (optional)

Vinegar

Liquid dish washing soap

What to do

1. Go outside or prepare for some clean-up inside

2. Put the container into the volcano at the top

3. Add two spoonfuls of baking soda

4. Add about a spoonful of dish soap

5. Add about 5 drops each of the red and yellow food coloring

Now for the eruption!:
Add about an ounce of the vinegar into the container and watch what your volcano come alive.

A VOLCANO is produced over thousands of years as heat a pressure build up. That aspect of a volcano is very difficult to recreate in a home experiment. However this volcano will give you an idea of what it might look like when a volcano erupts flowing lava. This is a classic experiment in which a CHEMICAL reaction can create the appearance of a PHYSICAL volcano eruption. You should look at pictures of volcanoes to be familiar with the different types. (A SHIELD volcano, for example is the most common kind of volcano, and yet few people know about them) The reaction will bubble up and flow down the side like a real volcano (only much faster!) Look for videos of volcanoes erupting and be sure that you understand how heat and pressure work to really make volcanoes erupt.
MAKE IT AN EXPERIMENT
The project above is a DEMONSTRATION. To make it a true experiment, you can try to answer these questions:

1. Does vinegar temperature affect how fast the volcano erupts?
2. Does the shape of the volcano affect the direction the eruption travels?
3. What can be added to the "lava" to slow it down and make it more like real lava?
4. What combination of vinegar and baking soda creates the biggest eruption?

Science Bob

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Check out the HOME version. Check out the GIANT version! A volcano - Talk to an art teacher about how to make a volcano out of paper mache or plaster. You can also use clay or if you're in a hurry to make your volcano, use a mound of dirt outside.

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A chain of volcanoes surrounds the Pacific Ocean. Because the volcanoes frequently erupt in fiery explosions, the region is known as the Ring of Fire. Many earthquakes occur in the region as well.

The chain passes along the west coast of North and South America. To the north it runs along the Aleutian Islands. From there it extends south along the islands of East and Southeast Asia. Then it runs east and south to New Zealand.

The Ring of Fire surrounds the edges of the giant Pacific Plate. A plate is a section of the rocky outer layer of Earth. Earth's plates move at different rates and in different directions. As the Pacific Plate and the plates around it grind into each other, they cause earthquakes and volcanoes.

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A chain of volcanoes surrounds the Pacific Ocean. Because the volcanoes frequently erupt in fiery explosions, the region is known as the Ring of Fire. Many earthquakes occur in the region as well. The chain passes along the west coast of North and South America. To the north it runs along the Aleutian Islands.

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Pacific Ring of Fire

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Learn Pacific Ring of Fire facts for kids

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Facts about Volcanoes

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What is a Volcano?

A volcano is a landform (usually a mountain) where molten rock erupts through the surface of the planet.

In simple terms a volcano is a mountain that opens downward to a pool of molten rock ( magma) below the surface of the earth. It is a hole in the Earth from which molten rock and gas erupt.

Did you know?

What is the difference between lava and Magma?

Magma is liquid rock inside a volcano.

Lava is liquid rock (magma) that flows out of a volcano. Fresh lava ranges from 1,300° to 2,200° F (700° to 1,200° C) in temperature and glows red hot to white hot as it flows.

How many volcanoes are there in the world?

There are around 1,510 active volcanoes in the world.

We currently know of 80 or more which are under the oceans.

What are the three layers the Earth is made of?

1. Crust
The crust is the outer layer of Earth. It is about 18 miles thick. It is the part we live on.

2. Mantle
The second layer is called the mantle. It is about 1,800 miles thick.

3. Core
The inner layer is called the core.

What causes volcanoes to erupt?

The Earth's crust is made up of huge slabs called plates, which fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. These plates sometimes move.

Between the Earth's crust and the mantle is a substance called magma which is made of rock and gases.

When two plates collide, one section slides on top of the other, the one beneath is pushed down. Magma is squeezed up between two plates.

Did you know?

When magma erupts, what is it called?

When magma erupts through the earth's surface it is called lava

What is the Ring of Fire?

Over half of the world's volcanoes arise in a belt around the Pacific Ocean called the Ring of Fire.

Volcano Eruptions
Largest active volcano Websites
Volcanoes around the World
Each triangle on the map represents a volcano.

Volcano FAQ's -- Learn About Volcanoes
What is a volcano? ... Why do volcanoes erupt? ... Where do volcanoes erupt? ... How hot is a volcano?

Information on Volcanoes including volcanoes and climate

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Facts and information on Mountains for kids, including the five different types of mountains that exist.

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Cool images of Volcanoes

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Volcanoes for Kids | A fun and engaging introduction to volcanoes for children

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Volcanoes

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Volcano | The Dr. Binocs Show | Learn Videos For Kids

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Definitions and meanings

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Weather Wiz Kids weather information for kids

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Weather Wiz Kids is a fun and safe website for kids about all the weather info they need to know. It contains tools for weather education, including weather games, activities, experiments, photos, a glossary and educational teaching materials for the classroom.

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Is it just us or is it getting hot in here, gang? Prepare to delve into the depths of the earth and uncover these seriously hot volcano facts - if you dare!
1. Put simply, a volcano is an opening in the Earth's surface.

Usually found in a mountain, the opening allows gas, hot magma and ash to escape from beneath the Earth's crust.

2. The word "volcano" comes from the Roman name "Vulcan".

"But who was Vulcan?" you might ask. He was the Roman god of fire!

(AD)

3. Volcanoes are often found at meeting points of "tectonic plates".

These plates are pieces of the Earth's surface that fit together just like a jigsaw puzzle.

4. Volcanoes can also occur over "mantle plumes".

Ever heard of mantle plumes? They're super-hot areas of rock inside the Earth!

Did you know that we have a FREE downloadable Volcanoes of Ecuador primary resource? Great for teachers, homeschoolers and parents alike!

5. Approximately 350 million people live within "danger range" of an active volcano.

That means that around one in 20 people live in an area at risk of volcanic activity.

6. Volcanoes are classified as active, dormant or extinct.

This refers to the amount of volcanic activity. " Active" means there's regular activity, " dormant" means there's been recent activity but the volcano is currently quiet, and " extinct " means it's been so long since the last eruption that it's unlikely to ever erupt again.

7. Volcanoes can be a variety of shapes.

These geographical wonders come in various shapes and sizes, but there are two main types - composite volcanoes, which are cone-shaped with steep slopes, and shield volcanoes, which are wide with gentle slopes.

8. Magma and lava are two different things!

Magma is the name given to hot liquid rock inside a volcano. Once it leaves the volcano, it's known as lava.

Psst! Make sure you download our awesome volcano facts infographic - show your friends, family, or stick it on your wall!

9. Volcanoes don't just occur on land.

They can be found on the ocean floor and under ice caps, too!

10. Lava from a volcano can reach 1,250°C!

Lava is so hot it can burn everything in its path. If you used a glass thermometer to take the temperature it would melt!

11. The world's largest active volcano is Mauna Loa in Hawaii.

Standing a whopping 4,169m tall, this geological giant last erupted in 1984.

12. Volcanoes exist throughout the solar system!

Other planets and moons have volcanoes, too! The largest volcano in our solar system is Olympus Mons, found on Mars.

13. In A.D. 79, the Italian town of Pompeii was destroyed and buried by a volcano called Mount Vesuvius.

Incredibly, the ash deposits preserved the town and the remains of the people within it. Today, it's one of 's most popular historical sites!

14. About 1,900 volcanoes on Earth are considered active, likely to explode again. Yikes!

Most of the world's active volcanoes are found on the " Ring of Fire", a 40,000 km horseshoe shaped area of the Pacific Ocean.

15. The loudest sound in recorded history was made by a volcano called Krakatau.

Found in Southeast Asia, when Krakatau erupted in 1883 it released 200 megatrons of energy - that's the equivalent of 15,000 nuclear bombs. Boom!

16. Volcanoes can produce rich, fertile land.

Over time, lava and ash break down to produce nutrient-rich soil, great for growing crops! That's why some people like to set up home on the slopes of a volcano.

17. It's not just humans that makes use of volcanoes - birds do, too!

Maleo birds bury their eggs in the sand or soil near volcanoes to keep them warm. When the chicks hatch they claw their way up to the surface!

Check out this explosive video, full of exciting facts and information about volcanoes!

Discover other forces of nature with our geography features, including tornado facts, hurricane facts, tsunami facts and more!

What did you think of our volcano facts, gang? Let us know by leaving a comment below!

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Volcano facts | National Geographic Kids

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Is it just us or is it getting hot in here, gang? Prepare to delve into the depths of the earth and uncover these seriously hot volcano facts - if you dare! Usually found in a mountain, the opening allows gas, hot magma and ash to escape from beneath the Earth's crust .

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Volcanoes - useful for school work

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To get the best possible experience using our website we recommend that you upgrade to a newer version or other web browser. Upgrade your browser now To register for a Scoilnet Account you will need to have a Teaching Council number and a roll number for your school in Ireland.