Homemade volcanoes are a fun project for the whole family. There are lots of way to make a homemade volcano, but plaster of Paris in particular provides a sturdy shell and is easily painted to look realistic. You will need to set aside some time (about an hour) to complete the project. Whether for a science project or just for fun, a volcano made from plaster of Paris is a great way to spend time with you kids.
Instructions
1. Cut three sides of the box down to 2 inches high.
2. Cut the fourth side into a triangle with a flat top (like the shape of a volcano). This side should be the same height as the bottle you will use.
3. Cover the bottle with a plastic bag to keep the plaster from sticking to it and place it in the center of the back wall of the box.
4. Shape the volcano with strips of cardboard. The strips should be about 1-inch wide and run from inside the lip of the box to the top of the bottle. Staple the strips to the lip of the box but do not attach to the bottle.
5. Stuff the frame. Fill the space between the cardboard strips and the bottle with crumpled newspaper to give the volcano its shape. Tape the strips to the newspaper when finished.
6. Cut up a dozen or so paper towels into 1- to 2-inch strips.
7. Mix the plaster of Paris as instructed on the box (usually 1 cup of water for every 2 cups of plaster of Paris).
8. One by one, dip the paper towels into the mixture. Gently cover the frame with the wet strips of paper towels. Be sure to cover everything except the top of the bottle.
9. Let the whole thing dry. Plaster of Paris dries pretty quickly, but make sure the whole thing is fully dry before moving on. About 30 minutes should do.
10. Paint your volcano. Add color, trees and anything else you like. The back of the volcano is a good place to label the parts and functions of a volcano.
11. Fill the bottle with lava. A common mixture is water, a few drops of detergent and 2 tbsp. of baking soda. Pour vinegar on top and watch your creation erupt!
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