The Science Fair is fast approaching, prompting you to rummage through ideas and text books for a science project that can stamp your claim as the best junior scientist of your class. You see your other classmates create concoctions by mixing a few chemicals here and there. Confident, you are not threatened despite not having any idea as to what to make.

You suddenly see your main rival already halfway done with his model rocket. As far as you know, his project can easily fly to the farthest ends of your school. You’re now worried. You need a science project that can send your rival’s masterpiece away from the spotlight. You must make a paper mache volcano.

The paper mache volcano comes as both a science item and an artistic structure. It is a miniature replica of an actual volcano, complete with rocky grooves and lava-spewing action. The imminent thing in question here is the makeshift volcano’s ability to suddenly discharge lava.

Using real lava is certainly out of the question since it can burn through the paper structure. Instead, you need baking soda, vinegar and food coloring to produce a perfectly safe lava representation. If you plan to create this wonderful structure, be prepared to marry chemistry with art. To make things easier for you, let’s separate the procedures for building the volcano and making the volcano erupt.

Materials Used:

• water bottle
• old newspaper
• masking tape
• paper mache glue
• thin strip of cardboard
• baking soda
• vinegar
• red food coloring
• paint
• wooden board

Building the Paper – Mache Volcano

You can start by cutting off the top of the water bottle. Stretch out a piece of cardboard around the water bottle and shape it like a mountain. To form the outline of the makeshift volcano, tape the edges of the stretched cardboard then tape the cardboard mountain to the mouth of the water bottle.

Now comes the fun part, creating paper mache. Get several strips of newspaper and attach them to the cardboard mountain using paper mache glue. Continue this process of sticking newspaper strips until you successfully copy the contours and the surface of an actual volcano. It is advisable that you have a picture of a volcano while doing this project, since it will serve as a reference point.

When you finish creating the general exterior of your paper mache volcano, you can paint it to look like a real volcano. Tape the entire structure on a wooden board and wait for a few hours. When the paint dries, your paper mache volcano will be ready.

Makeshift Volcanic Eruption

Recreating a volcano’s eruption is, surprisingly, very easy. First, get some vinegar and mix it with red food coloring. Stir the mixture until the red color settles. Now, grab a generous amount of baking soda and slide it in the opening of your paper mache volcano, which falls into the water bottle.

Pour the vinegar-food coloring mixture in the volcano’s opening. After a few moments, you will see something that is part-miracle and part-science. Foamy lava will suddenly flow out of the mouth of your volcano, much to the delight of your proud science professor.

The paper mache volcano is as beautiful as it is amazing. Make one and marvel.

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How to Make a Volcano - easy and mess free

How to Make A Volcano