at home experiment volcano

How to Make a Volcano at Home in 3 Easy Steps

By: Author Teresa

Posted on Last updated: May 26, 2021

Categories Kids Games & Activities , STEM

How to Make a Volcano at Home in 3 Easy Steps

If you’re like me you might be a little intimidated about doing science experiments for kids at home. But it’s easier than you think. Your kids will love this simple volcano science experiment.

Follow along and learn how to make a volcano at home with baking soda and vinegar in this step by step guide. An easy Stem activity for kids when their home in summer or during school shutdowns. They will want to do it over and over again.

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How to make a Volcano Science Experiment for kids at home. Just 3 easy steps with items you have in your house. All you need is a jar, baking soda, dish soap, food dye and vinegar. Kids will be in awe and want to do it over and over again. #scienceexperiment #stem #volcano #kidsscience #kidsactivity

Volcano Materials & Ingredients You’ll Need

You will need something to mix up your volcano. I suggest something clear so the kids can see the full impact of the exploding volcano. We used a spaghetti sauce jar but you could also use a clear plastic cup, water bottle or anything else you have at home.

Tip: Pick something you can throw away afterward to make clean up easy.

A foil tray or newspaper to put under your jar. This way when the volcano explodes you have easy clean up. You could also do this out in your yard and spray it down after with a hose.

Ingredients

Water – Fill up your container 2/3 full
4-5 Tbs of Baking Soda
1 tsp Dish Soap
5-6 Drops of Food Dye – any color you like
8 oz (1 cup) Vinegar

Step by Step Guide to Making a Volcano

Fill up your container 2/3 full of water

Add to the water – 4-5 tbs Baking Soda, 1 tsp Dish Soap and last 4-5 drops of Food Dye then stir together.

Tips: Give the kids a minute to watch the food dye mix into the water before you stir it all together. It’s pretty cool to watch the food dye in the jar.

Get the kids ready to see the explosion in this last step. Add in the 8oz of Vinegar and step back.

Yes, it’s that easy to do! When it settles pour out the mixture and do it again with a second food dye color. Kids will love watching it over and over again.

Are you ready now to do this fun Stem activity for kids at your house? Learning how to make a volcano at home is so easy and a great way to mix fun and education for your kids.

More STEM Activities

Looking for more fun STEM experiments at home? Here are some of our reader’s favorites.

Ice Balloons with Dinosaurs hidden inside. A fun science experiment for kids.

Dinosaurs Frozen in Ice . It’s a simple at-home experiment with balloons, water, and small dinosaur figures. Kids will love figuring out how to melt the ice to discover the dinosaurs.

Rain Clouds in a Jar – Teach kids how rain comes from clouds with shaving cream, food dye, and water. Super easy and really cool to watch.

Ice Balloons – Cool Colored Ice Gems kids can explore. Do a fun Salt and Water Melting experiment or add them to their snow castle outdoors.

DIY Cardboard Marble Run – Make a cool Marble run with an old box and paper towel rolls for a fun STEM project at home.

If you looking for more fun STEM experiences at home we love the monthly Tech kits from Creation Crate . Each month you get all the components to create a new electronic project with video & paper instructions.

Our kids look forward to Creation Crate’s arrival every month !

Need More Fun Activities for Kids at Home?

At Happy Mom Hacks we have tons of Kids Activities for both indoors and outdoors to fend off hearing kids say the dreaded I’m Bored. Here are a few Reader Favorite Activities:

Fun Outdoor Activities for Kids with Water Toys – Cool Water Toys for Your Backyard for Toddler to 10-Year-olds.

Minute to Win It Games for Kids – Kids can play these by themselves racing the clock or against family and friends.

Fun Rainy Day Indoor Activities for Kids – Fun games to play when your stuck indoors for the day.

60 Fun & Free Things to Do with Kids Screen-Free – Entertaining activities for kids at home and in their local community.

Easy Coffee Filter Butterflies Kids Craft – Simple at-home craft for kids.

Fun Sidewalk Chalk Drawing Ideas & Shadow Art for Kids – The kids will love this fun outdoor art activity

Summer Camp at Home

Don’t stress about keeping the kids busy this summer! Plan a fun Summer Camp at Home . It’s easier than you think with our complete Summer Camp Planner . 30+ printable pages with 8 weeks of pre-planned themes, activities, schedules & more. Check it out and be ready for an unforgettable summer.

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Bonus , you’ll get our free printable Would You Rather Game to use as a hilarious birthday party game or fun family game night.

Hilarious Would You Rather Questions for Kids. A fun party game for kids to play at classroom parties, birthday parties & virtual parties. How to play the game and free printable pdf cards. #wouldyourather #kidsparty #partyforkids #gamesforkids #kidsgames #pdf

Follow me on Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram for kid’s activities, household hacks, family travel, and fun parenting humor to give you a laugh on your tough days.

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Kid Favorite Volcano Science Experiment at home. A Super Easy Stem experiment to make with items you have in your house. Kids will be in awe of this cool exploding volcano. #volcano #scienceexperiment #stem #elementaryschoolstem #scienceathome #kidsactivity

16 Red-Hot Volcano Science Experiments and Kits For Classrooms or Science Fairs

Kids will erupt with excitement!

Is there any school science project more classic than the exploding volcano? Every generation of kids loves this explosive (and messy!) experiment, which is usually a take on acid-base reactions. Here are our favorite volcano science experiments and projects, along with some well-reviewed DIY kits that make the process easier.

(Just a heads up—WeAreTeachers may collect a small share of sales from links on this page. We only recommend items our team loves!)

1. Classic Baking Soda Volcano Experiment

This classic experiment teaches kids about simple chemical reactions and physical properties. The best part? It’s easy to do and uses only a few basic ingredients. Check out the link below for a step-by-step guide and free printable student recording sheet.

Learn more: Baking Soda Volcano Experiment

2. Papier-mâché Volcano Experiment

Papier-mâché model volcano erupting with blue lava

Here it is, the original papier-mâché volcano! The volcano is built around a jar inside that holds the vinegar and baking soda for the eruption itself. Add a little dish soap to make the “lava” foamier and more impressive.

Learn more: Craft Cue

3. Salt Dough Volcano Experiment

Student pouring vinegar into a salt dough volcano (Volcano Science Experiments)

Salt dough is a little easier to work with than papier-mâché, and you can make your volcano pretty realistic looking. Otherwise, the process is the same, and so is the fun!

Learn more: Teach Beside Me

4. National Geographic Ultimate Volcano Kit

National Geographic Volcano Science Kit with volcano mold and chemicals

Make things easier by getting all the supplies you need in a volcano science experiments kit. This one has thousands of positive reviews on Amazon and comes with a volcano mold you can use again and again.

Learn more: National Geographic Ultimate Volcano Kit/Amazon

5. Playdough Volcano Experiment

Model volcano made from blue playdough with white foam erupting (Volcano Science Experiments)

Want a quick version of the volcano experiment? Use playdough to build a volcano around a small beaker, then create the baking soda and vinegar reaction. Fast and fun!

Learn more: Life Over Cs

6. Snow Volcano Experiment

Model volcano built from pile of snow with red lava foam erupting from the top

Volcano science experiments can be messy, there’s no doubt about it. That’s why this snow volcano is so brilliant! Take the mess outside and let nature help with cleanup.

Learn more: Science Sparks

7. Playz Volcanic Eruption & Lava Lab Science Kit

Playz Volcanic Eruption & Lava Lab Science Kit with safety equipment, plastic model volcanoes, chemicals, and more

This volcano science kit comes with not one but two erupting volcanoes! There are enough supplies for multiple eruptions too.

Learn more: Playz Volcanic Eruption & Lava Lab Science Kit/Amazon

8. Lemon Volcano Science Experiment

8 lemon halves in a white tray with various colors of fizzing foam on top (Volcano Science Experiments)

Lemon juice is full of acid, so this fruit is the perfect material for volcano science experiments. Just add a little dish soap (and food coloring for fun). Then top with baking soda and watch the fizzy eruption! Enjoy this one? Try it with apples too!

Learn more: Lemon Volcano/Beyond the Playroom

9. Learning Resources Beaker Creatures Bubbling Volcano Kit

Beaker Creatures Volcano Kit with plastic volcano, rubber ball, tablets, and info cards

This kit is perfect for the younger crowd. It includes several different fizzing experiments, including a “reactor pod” that you drop into your volcano to reveal a collectible little Beaker Creature.

Learn more: Learning Resources Beaker Creatures Bubbling Volcano Kit/Amazon

10. Pop Rocks Volcano

Students watch a model volcano erupt (Volcano Science Experiments)

Watch a volcano video and you’ll hear all sorts of popping and cracking sounds. You can recreate that effect in your DIY experiment by adding Pop Rocks candy to make a sound volcano!

Learn more: Growing a Jeweled Rose

11. Stemclas Volcano Science Kit

Stemclas Volcano Kit with basic volcano model

If you’re looking for a truly basic volcano kit, this is the one. No frills, no extras—just a model volcano and the materials you need to make it erupt.

Learn more: Stemclas Volcano Science Kit/Amazon

12. Rainbow Volcano Experiment

Girl looks on as rainbow colored foam erupts from glass jars (Volcano Science Experiments)

Lava can take on different colors depending on the temperature and chemical composition. So make a rainbow of fizzing “lava” of your own using food coloring!

Learn more: Green Kids Crafts

13. Underwater Volcano Experiment

Red water forming a cloud in a glass of regular water

Not all volcanos erupt on land—some are found underwater. This experiment uses the different densities of hot and cold water to make the volcano “erupt.”

Learn more: Mombrite

14. Fizzing Volcano Lava Slime

Student playing with orange bubbling slime over a cookie sheet

Volcanoes plus slime? It’s every kid’s dream! Mix up some fizzing lava slime that’s much safer to play with than real molten lava! (Make this project even easier by getting all the supplies you need in the Volcano Slime Kit from KiwiCo .)

Learn more: Little Bins for Little Hands

15. Look Inside a Volcano Experiment

Volcano model cut in half with bottle for magma chamber and other areas like the crater and central vent labeled

This volcano science experiment digs deeper, laying out items like the magma chamber, crater, and central and secondary vents. The eruption is impressive, and now you can see how happens!

Learn more: 123Homeschool4Me