How to make an erupting volcano

Grab our step by step instructions to make and erupt your own paper mâché volcano!

How to make an erupting volcano

Making a real erupting volcano is a brilliant activity for kids, not only does it incorporate art with the designing and making a paper mâché volcano but it finishes off with a bit of scientific experimentation and a chemical reaction.

A brilliant activity for keeping kids busy during the school holidays.

school boy erupting paper mâché volcano with baking soda and vinegar

What you need to make a paper mâché erupting volcano

a thick piece of cardboard as a base for your volcano
a clean empty bottle - wide neck is easier to drop the bicarbonate of soda into.
sticky tape to seal the bottle lid whilst you create the mountain around it.
paper mache - we used old torn newspapers dipped in a flour and water solution 2 parts plain flour to 4 parts water. Just keep making it up every time you run out - quantity needed depends how big your volcano is going to be.
paints for decorating the paper mache volcano
400ml white vinegar
4 teaspoon red food colouring
5-6 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

How to make and erupt a paper mâché volcano

Stand the bottle onto the piece of cardboard - tape over the opening and start to build up the paper mache mountain around it - you’ll need to do this in several sessions so that it gets chance to dry before the next layers are put on.

kids making a paper mâché volcano — all helping to make the paper mache volcano

Once your paper mache volcano is finished and dry - paint it.
When the paint is dry - ERUPT IT!
Remove the sticky tape from the opening of the bottle - pour in the vinegar and red food colouring.
Tip in the bicarbonate of soda.
Watch the eruption!