lava lamp easy science experiment

Science Fun

• A clean plastic bottle, try to use one with smooth sides
• Vegetable Oil (or you could use Mineral or Baby Oil instead)
• Fizzing tablets (such as Alka Seltzer)
• Food Coloring

Watch Scientist Joe as he makes the Lava Lamp Experiment here!

Instructions:

• Fill the bottle up about 1/4th (1 quarter) with water.
• Pour the vegetable oil in the bottle until is almost full. You may want to use a measuring cup with a spout or a funnel. You may have to wait a couple of minutes for the oil and water to separate.
• Add a few drops of your favorite food coloring. Watch as the color sinks through the oil. Did your drops of color mix with the water immediately or float in between for a few minutes?
• Break your fizzy tablet in half and drop part of it into the bottle. Get ready … here come the bubbly blobs!
• You can even get a flashlight, turn off the lights and drop in another half tablet. This time shine the flashlight through the lava lamp while the blobs are bubbling!

WATCH THE QUICK AND EASY VIDEO TUTORIAL!

How it Works:

The oil floats on top of the water because it is less dense or lighter than water. The food coloring has the same density as the water so it sink through the oil and mixes with the water. When you add the tablet it sinks to the bottom then starts to dissolve. As it dissolves it makes gas, carbon dioxide. Gas or air, is lighter than water so it floats to the top. The air bubbles bring some colored water with them to the top. When the air comes out of the colored water blob, the water gets heavy again and sinks. It does this over and over again until the tablet is completely dissolved.

Extra Experiments:

What happens if you put the cap on after dropping the fizzy tablet in? What if you drop a whole tablet in? When it stops bubbling, try sprinkling some salt into your lava lamp. What happens?

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Chemistry project

Make a Lava Lamp

• Flask  or empty water bottle (a clear plastic bottle works well)
• Vegetable oil, cooking oil, or baby oil
• Food coloring
• Alka-Seltzer
• Fill the flask most of the way with your choice of oil.
• Fill the rest of the flask with water. The oil floats and the water sinks to the bottom of the jar under the oil and looks like little, clear blobs.
• Add a few drops of food coloring; your choice of color. The food coloring is water-based, so it will also sink and color the water that is now at the bottom of the flask.
• Break an Alka-seltzer tablet into a few small pieces, and drop them in the flask one at a time.
• Watch your lava lamp erupt into activity! As the chemical reaction slows down, simply add more Alka-seltzer.

A lava lamp works because of two different scientific principles: density, and polarity.

Concept 1: Density

Density  is the measurement of how compact a substance is - how much of it fits in a certain amount of space.

(The scientific equation is  density = mass/volume .)

If you measure an equal volume of oil and water, you'll find that the water is heavier than the same amount of oil. This is because water molecules are packed more tightly; a cup of water actually has more mass than a cup of oil.

Because water is more dense than oil, it will sink to the bottom when the two are put in the same container. Density is affected by temperature—the hotter a liquid is, the less dense it will be.

Concept 2: Polarity

Polarity is the quality of having two oppositely charged poles.

Water molecules are "polar" because they have a lopsided electrical charge that attracts other atoms. The end of the molecule with the two hydrogen atoms is positively charged. The other end, with the oxygen, is negatively charged.

Just like in a magnet, where north poles are attracted to south poles ("opposites attract"), the positive end of the water molecule will connect with the negative end of other molecules.

Oil molecules, however, are non-polar— they don't have a positive or negative charge, so they are not attracted to the water molecules at all. This is why oil and water don't mix!

What Happened:

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Lava Lamp variation

Snowstorm in a Boiling Flask

• Boiling (or Florence) Flask ; or any clear glassware
• White Paint
• Glitter (white or blue)
• Alka-seltzer
• Mix about 1tsp of white paint with about 100 ml of water
• Add a generous amount of glitter to the mixture
• Pour the white, glittered water into the  boiling flask  (or any  clear glassware) . This should fill your  glassware  about 1/5th full
• Fill the rest of the  glassware  with baby oil. The clear baby oil is less dense than the water mixture and will stay on top
• Break an  alka-seltzer tablet  into a few small pieces
• Drop the  alka-selzer pieces  in the flask one at a time.
• Watch as the snowstorm appears!
• As the reaction slows down, simply add more  alka-seltzer.

Just like in the lava lamp project our homemade snowstorm was created when we used  alka-seltzer  to react with the water to produce carbon dioxide gas bubbles. These stick to the water droplets. The water / gas combo is less dense than the oil, so they rise to the top of the flask. At the top, the gas bubbles pop and escape into the air, allowing the dense water to sink back to the bottom again. Refer to the science lesson from the lava lamp project above or print this free lesson. 

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Easy DIY Lava Lamp Science Experiment for Kids

Science Preschoolers Experiment Water Activities 66 Comments

Lava lamps are simple to make. Like crazy easy.

My kids love experimenting! And I love watching them discover the world through science and creativity.

Even I was shocked at what a big hit this easy DIY lava lamp science experiment was with the boys. Just 5 simple supplies are all you need to DIY your own!

To DIY your own lava lamp science experiment, you’ll needL

• Vegetable oil (or get a clear oil)
• Food coloring of your choice
• Alka-Seltzer Tablets  (as many as you choose, the more the merrier!)
• Clear container (the taller and skinnier, the better the effect)

Don’t have Alka Seltzer? See how to make a lava lamp without Alka Seltzer!

4 Simple Steps to Science Fun & Fizzies

• Fill the container with 2 parts oil, 1 part water, leaving some room at the top of the container for a little bit of bubbling
• Drop in a few drops of food coloring
• Add an Alka-Selzer Tablet, start with 1/4 or a half a tablet to begin with
• Watch is fizz and bubble up to the top!

We did three containers of lava lamps. Three different colors, for triple the lava fun!

It took a lot of oil, though. I wish I had more on hand because I didn’t quite have 2/3 for each container.

The oil is essentially the lava lamp portion, so it would have been nice to have more of it. But it still worked!

I also wish I had clear oil on hand instead of vegetable oil. But I’m not sure what kind of oil besides baby oil is clear. Any suggestions?

Henry dropped in tablet after tablet. Over and over, watching it bubble up! 

He used the entire box of Alka-Selzer just for this experiment!

The green one really captured his attention. 

Maybe because it’s his favorite color. Or maybe because it was the tallest and skinniest, so it had the best reactions.

Have more colorful science fun with an easy magic milk experiment !

It was even interesting from the top of the bottles. Or, at least Henry thought so.

Once we were starting to run out of Alka-Selzer tablets, we started combining the colors and making them bubble together.

We were surprised to see that the colored bubbled remained separate!

Instead of red bubbles mixing with blue bubbles to make purple, everything stayed red or blue. Cool, huh?!?!

Can you see the little red ones in the mix of the big blue bubbles?

We tend to do a lot of science in our house, with tons of easy experiments happening all the time.

The boys love anything that fizzes and bubbles. We also really like this baking soda and colored vinegar science experiment for kids.

What’s your favorite science experiment to do with the kids? Share your ideas in the comments!

About jamie reimer.

Jamie learned to be a hands on mom by creating activities, crafts and art projects for her three boys to do. Jamie needed the creative outlet that activities provided to get through the early years of parenting with a smile! Follow Jamie on Pinterest and Instagram !

More Hands on Kids Activities to Try

Reader Interactions

66 comments.

September 26, 2023 at 11:38 am

Since oil and water separate, you can actually save the oil and use it for future lava lamps. Also, I recommend Alka Seltzer Gold, which has no aspirin.

Pedro walker says

March 25, 2021 at 12:52 am

PeoplePerProjectCom says

May 21, 2020 at 9:57 pm

There are a few different options for making your lava lamp so you can pick the option that works best with your readily available supplies, but let s start with a complete supply list for all the different options. Then you can try them all and see what works best for you!

Elsabe Kruger says

March 2, 2020 at 9:29 pm

Great idea, thank you! Avocado oil is totally clear!

Ivy Bell says

December 31, 2019 at 12:12 pm

I use mineral oil as a good clear, colorless oil. Find it in the pharmacy department.

March 7, 2015 at 4:29 pm

Baby Oil is made of just mineral oil and fragrance. So, mineral oil is just fragrance-free baby oil.

Aleigha says

February 14, 2015 at 9:12 am

What would the age group for the children for this project?

Jamie Reimer says

February 14, 2015 at 11:00 am

I think anywhere from 2 on up can take part in it Aleigha. Just depends on how much you want them to take part. Little kids can just drop the tablet in – that’s the fun part!

abbiee says

February 5, 2015 at 10:19 pm

the ocean waves in a bottle….love that one…

Veronica says

October 22, 2014 at 10:32 am

Would like to try this out, but wondering what do you do with it when the kids are done playing with it? Can you use baby oil instead of cooking oil?

October 22, 2014 at 12:50 pm

Veronica — discard it just like you would the grease from meat that you brown. Yes, you can use baby oil – that would actually have a better look because its clear.

May 9, 2014 at 12:31 am

So in love with this idea. We’ll try coconut oil, there are bunch of them in Thailand. ^^

MARIEL says

May 7, 2014 at 9:38 pm

IT DIDNT WORK.

May 8, 2014 at 11:02 am

Hmmm.. well that’s a bummer Mariel! How come it didn’t work?

May 7, 2014 at 8:48 am

Just a quick question how and where to dispose of the experiment when done?

Heather says

April 3, 2014 at 2:09 pm

You asked about alternative CLEAR OIL to use. I was a teacher of toddlers and preschoolers. MINERAL OIL is clear, cheap, and works. You can find it in pharmacy sections of stores where the laxatives are found. It is meant for possible ingestion so if accidentally swallowed or comes in contact with little mouths.. it is ok… Hope this helps.

April 3, 2014 at 9:22 pm

Thanks Heather! I’ll grab some when I get the Alka-Selzers again! That’s easy enough!

March 10, 2014 at 12:26 pm

Greta idea – looks like so much fun! I can’t wait to try it with my grandchildren! I found bulk white, food grade mineral oil online for only $13.97 for 7 1/2 lbs – and they had even larger, as well. Might be worth the effort for continued explorations!

gemma chadwick says

March 10, 2014 at 4:59 am

I’m sure that Safflower oil (can get in most larger supermarkets) is almost water like in colour bit more expensive than vegetable oil but effects would be great x

Haylie says

December 2, 2013 at 10:33 am

can you use a pop bottle so you can have a lid?

Amanda says

November 20, 2013 at 9:42 pm

Try it with neon food coloring, turn off the lights and then sit the bottle (we use water bottles) on top of a flashlight! Very cool effect. Don’t put the lid back on though until you are through bc it’ll stop your fizzy action. :). We also discovered that the less you shake it, the cooler it looks.

November 28, 2013 at 9:26 pm

Oh very cool. Definitely going on our to do list.

Jen smith says

November 12, 2013 at 11:35 pm

Coconut oil is clear. If you get the one that melts at a lower temp it should work great. I have a 70 or 75 degree one that never gets solid unless I put it in the fridge. :) this is a cute idea!

November 13, 2013 at 10:02 pm

Great tip Jen! Never thought of Coconut oil!

November 11, 2013 at 7:12 am

I have done this for years, but without the Alka Seltzer (very cool addition). This is great to do in empty water bottles, and you can glue the lid shut. My daughter loved this as a baby and still loves her “wave bottle” as a toddler. I can’t wait to do it again as a science project with the Alka Seltzer!

November 13, 2013 at 10:05 pm

Love the simplified version as a sensory bottle for toddlers Amy!

Inez19 says

May 14, 2013 at 1:19 am

Can I use small plastic soda bottles or the liter size ones?

May 14, 2013 at 6:45 am

Inez, I think either would work just fine, just change up the amounts accordingly.

Kaylee says

January 18, 2013 at 11:17 am

Great project! I had a question…does it really matter what material the bottles are? I’m planning on doing this with my preschool class, and I’m debating whether to stock up on glass bottles/containers, or if I can get away with plastic. Thanks!

January 18, 2013 at 12:39 pm

Oh, I think plastic would work just fine. As long as they’re clear. And taller, skinnier bottles work best!

October 18, 2012 at 10:30 am

This looks amazing! My daughter is constantly asking for more science projects and I think she will love this. :)

October 17, 2012 at 6:46 pm

Just did this with my kids. They loved it! Thanks!

blackpaws says

February 1, 2012 at 12:50 am

Thanks for this! Emily loved this experiment and like your Henry she kept looking from the top of the bottle to watch the reaction.

I used aspro clear and baby oil so not sure if that is why we had mostly little bubbles of lava but still fun to watch. Emily kept wanting to add more and to shake.

http://blackpaws.wordpress.com/2012/02/01/more-l-craft/

Oh, How Happy We Are says

January 22, 2012 at 10:11 pm

Charlotte: says

January 22, 2012 at 4:59 pm

Oh yeah, we need to do this! I have such a mental block when it comes to science-y things but I think this looks ace

January 22, 2012 at 1:51 pm

Wonderful idea! Can't wait to try this out with my little guy.

January 20, 2012 at 11:49 am

Great idea, I love the bright colours you made.

Science Sparks says

January 19, 2012 at 10:12 pm

Oh lava lamps are fab! it was one of our first experiments! Yours are so colourful. Brilliant!

Thanks for linking to science sparks fun sparks!

The Iowa Farmer's Wife says

January 19, 2012 at 2:42 pm

this is so neat! I'm buying alka selzer today! :) I have a huge bottle of vegetable oil I need to use up. Mineral oil is also clear, but I've only seen it in small bottles. I'm sure it comes larger though!

Jill @ A Mom With A Lesson Plan says

January 19, 2012 at 2:04 pm

One of my goals for this year is to get over my fear of science! This one would be awesome… and easy!

Jamie @ hands on : as we grow says

January 18, 2012 at 9:58 pm

@Rosie – as long as you have Alka Seltzer Tablets, you can keep adding to it! The vinegar/water will stay good for as long as you want!

January 18, 2012 at 9:52 pm

how long does it last? do you have to throw it away after ur done?

Melissa @ The Chocolate Muffin Tree says

January 17, 2012 at 10:10 pm

Great post! I love that your ad above is advertising real lava lamps!

Raising a Happy Child says

January 17, 2012 at 8:40 pm

It was on my "to do" list for a long time! So pretty.

Chrissy @ The Outlaw Mom Blog says

January 17, 2012 at 5:38 pm

My kids will absolutely love this! Can't wait to try it!

Anna @ The Imagination Tree says

January 17, 2012 at 5:10 pm

gorgeous pics!! definitely on our to-do list!

Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas says

January 17, 2012 at 1:23 pm

aww, thanks for mentioning us! What fabulous photos you got of the reactions!

Also I found that the cheaper ($$$) the oil the clearer it was. I got a cheapy, cheapy one and it was not as yellow and worked perfectly – just a tip to test for next time!

Cerys @ Rainy Day Mum says

January 17, 2012 at 1:15 pm

This looks a lot of fun will try it when J is a little bit older I think

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Lava Lamp Experiment

Create your very own lava lamp using materials found at home in this fun and simple science experiment.

February 2018

You Will Need:

• Vegetable Oil
• Food Colouring
• Empty Water Bottle
• Alka-Seltzer Tablets

The Experiment

• Fill the empty water bottle ¾ full with oil
• Fill the remaining ¼ of the bottle with water
• Wait for the layers of water and oil to separate and settle
• Add several drops of food colouring into the bottle which will pass through the oil and colour the water
• Break the Alka-Seltzer tablet into 3-4 smaller pieces and drop a piece in. Here come the bubbles!
• When the bubbling stops, drop another piece in for more bubbles!

The Science

The oil and water separate and oil stays above the water because it is lighter and less dense. This also occurs because water is a polar molecule and the oil is a nonpolar molecule so they do not mix.

The food colouring has the same density as the water so it sinks through the oil into the water at the bottom of the bottle. 

Once you add the Alka-Seltzer tablet, it sinks into the water, fizzes, and dissolves because the citric acid and baking soda in the tablet react with water, creating sodium citrate and carbon dioxide gas. 

The gas is lighter than the water so it rises to the top in the form of bubbles. Some of the coloured water attaches to the bubbles. The bubbles reach the top and pop as the gas escapes, and the colour sinks back down into the water.

This continues to occur until the Alka-Seltzer finishes reacting and you add more Alka-Seltzer to keep the reaction going.

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Lava Lamp Simple Science Experiment

Introduction: Lava Lamp Simple Science Experiment

We are creating our own Lava lamp in this science experiment for kids. We only use common household ingredients that you most likely find in your kitchen. And it takes only a minute to set up.

All we need for this is: a glass, vegetable oil, water, food coloring mixed with water and a fizzy tablet or a bath tablet.

Step 1: Pour Water and Oil Into the Glass

First, we fill the glass about 25 percent with water. The we carefully add vegetable oil, about 75 percent.

Step 2: Add Food Coloring

Then we add a few drops of food coloring. You can also add another color like blue then we can see how the colors mix.

Step 3: Add Fizzy Tablet

Finally, we add a fizzy tablet into the glass and watch as the reaction between the tablet and the water causes the food coloring to move and swirl through the oil.

Why does it work?

The food coloring, which is denser than the oil moved down in the glass and mixes throughout the water. As the fizzy tablet dissolves in the water, it releases carbondioxide gas, which rises to the top of the bottle and pushes the denser oil downwards.

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Lava lamp experiment

This lava lamp experiment is one of my favorites. It is so easy and fun, and all kids love it!

Having my students conduct an experiment in class often leads to unexpected moments of pure wonder, and that’s precisely what happened when I introduced my students to the Lava Lamp Experiment. As an educator, there’s nothing quite like witnessing the spark of curiosity and excitement in young minds. Picture this: a classroom filled with eager faces, eyes fixed on their mesmerizing lava lamps, as colorful blobs of liquid gracefully danced up and down. The room buzzed with noise and laughter, and in that moment, I knew I was doing something right. This is exactly how I want my lessons to be. Its true, there was a lot of noise in the class. But it was “good” noise of students really enjoying science.

This experiment is more than just a lesson in fluid dynamics, density, and chemistry; it’s a testament to the power of hands-on learning and the magic of science.

Materials :

• a small Bottle
• food coloring
• Alka seltzer or sweetener tablets

What to do?

• Fill a quarter of the bottle with warm water (the water should be warm not hot).
• Add food coloring. make sure the water gets a strong color. Darker colors work best.
• Fill the rest of the bottle with oil
• Add a few tablets of sweetener or half a tablet of Alka seltzer.
• Look at the bottle and see what happens.
• Additional tablets can be added for a stronger effect.

**Please note that the bottle stays open until all the tablets have dissolved!

Why does this happen?

First you can see that when you pour oil on water the oil floats on top of the water. The reason for this is the fact that oil is less dense than water, which means there are more spaces between the molecules. Dense materials will sink to the bottom and less dense materials will float above them.  Another experiment demonstrating density  is the rain in a jar experiment

Second, we can see that oil and water do not mix. In nature there are two types of substances, those that dissolve in water and those that do not dissolve in water. Salt for example dissolves in water and you can mix the salt and water together. Oil does not dissolve in water and therefore it is impossible to mix oil with water and they always return to two separate layers .

Sweetener or Alka seltzer tablets: these tablets have a base and also a little acid in them. When you drop such a tablet into the warm water, it sinks and starts to dissolve. The acid and base in the tablet mix and a chemical reaction begins that emits carbon dioxide gas. The gas collects on the way up water that rises with it. As soon as the bubble that “carried” the water is released from the oil into the air, the dense water sinks back to the bottom of the bottle. This is how we get an impressive colorful and beautiful “lava lamp “.

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If you liked this experiment, make sure you checkout my E xplosions underwater experiment!

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Let me introduce to you a fantastic and easy variation of the Lava Lamp Experiment. It needs only 4 ingredients that you would likely have at home right now (or just 3 if you don’t have any food colouring!). We added a cool light underneath our potion to make it a Light Up Lava Lamp – with great effect. Read on to see how we did it, watch the video too.

—–

Light-up lightning lava lamp.

• A medium sized glass or plastic container
• Cooking oil (any kind)
• Baking soda (also known as Bicarbonate of soda or Sodium bicarbonate)
• Clear vinegar
• Red food colouring (optional or use another colour)
• Coaster light – these aren’t cheap (about £2) and this is optional, instead you could use your phone light underneath.

The coaster light kit looks like this:

the kit components for the coaster light which sticks uderneath the bottle for added lightning effect

• Into the container I put 2 heaped dessert spoons of baking soda, then poured in the oil, to about 2/3rds up, making sure to leave a room for vinegar.
• I dyed the clear vinegar red with some food colouring, and then poured it in, almost to the top, and left the lid off!
• Very quickly the bubble started to appear, and rose up through the oil.
• I turned on the coaster light that we’d bought for a light-up effect, it looked so cool. It was like bubbling lava erupting from a volcano during a lightning storm!

Try this activity at night with the room’s main light switch off – soooo effective, really fun!

The science bit!

Baking soda is Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and is a  alkali. It reacts with vinegar (acetic acid – an acid) to produce the gas is carbon dioxide (CO2), which bubbleS upwards through the oil. The substance left behind – a white gloopy substance – is called sodium acetate and water:

sodium bicarbonate + acetic acid ——–> carbon dioxide + sodium acetate + water

As these 2 products build up (sodium acetate and water) the reaction slows down and, so to repeat it you’ll need to add more baking soda and vinegar.

Had as much fun as we did? Then feel free to share your pictures with us on Facebook.

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Good luck and have a happy science-ing.

If you tackle this activity at home you do so at your own risk. If you have as much fun as we did, feel free to share your pictures with us on Facebook. Bye for now Ruth

Chief Scientist at Devon Science

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Purposeful play, christmas lava lamp science experiment for kids, stem activity for kids.

The Christmas Lava Lamp Science Experiment is a magical way to explore Science this Christmas with kids while at home!

Lava Lamp Science Experiments are really simple to make and are an excellent way to keep your kids engaged and learning.

This Christmas Lava Lamp is a festive spin off of the classic lava lamp experiment and is perfect for Preschool, Kindergarten and Elementary aged kids.

The Christmas Lava Lamp STEM activity explores water properties, cause and effect, density and polarity. It’s also a fun way to introduce the scientific method to kids!

Alka Seltzer Tablets

Food Coloring

Jingle Bells

Fascinating and hands-on way to explore science

Explores cause and effect

Hands-on way to explore density and polarity

Safe way to experiment with carbon dioxide

Screen-free fun

Introduces new vocabulary words

Exciting way to explore the scientific method

scientific method

Ask a question, research your question and gather information, form a hypothesis, conduct experiment to test hypothesis, analyze data, draw conclusions, share results, shop this experiment.

How to do the Christmas Lava Lamp Science Experiment with Kids

Step 1: add water.

Fill three mason jars with water (We filled our jars about 1/8 with water)

Step 2: Add oil

Fill each jar 3/4 full with baby oil OR vegetable oil

Step 3: Add food coloring

Add several drops of green food coloring to each jar

Step 4: Add extras

Add jingle bells to one jar, sprinkles to another and glitter to the third jar

Step 5: hypothesis

Before you add the Alka-Seltzer talk to your child about the experiment and the items being used

Research and gather information about each component (water, food coloring, oil and alka-seltzer)

After researching and gathering information, ask your child what they think will happen in each jar!

What will happen to the jingle bells, glitter and sprinkles?

What will happen with the food coloring?

What about the oil and water?

Encourage your child to write down their hypotheses for each jar.

Step 6: Drop in alka seltzer

Now it’s time to test their hypotheses!

Break the Alka Seltzer Tablets into fourths

Invite your child to drop in a tablet to each jar and watch the magic!

Step 7: continue

Keep adding Alka Seltzer tablets and watch the magic continue!

Talk about what you see in each jar

Were your child’s hypotheses correct? 

What do your observations tell you about the items in each jar?

See below for the scientific explanations

What is the science behind the Christmas Lava Lamp Science Experiment?

After the water and oil are added to the jar, the oil floats above the water because it is lighter than water (it has a lower density).

The water and oil do not ever mix because of polarity. Water is polar and oil is non-polar.

When the food coloring is added-it shoots through the oil and goes straight to the bottom because it is heavier than oil.

When the tablet is added and dissolves-a gas is created (carbon dioxide).

Carbon dioxide is lighter than water so it floats up to the surface bringing a little of the colored water with it as it does.

Once the gas bubble reaches the surface it breaks and the colored water floats back to the bottom of the jar!

What about the jingle bells, glitter and sprinkles? What happened in your experiment? Did they float up along with the colored water? Did they stay on the bottom of the jar?

Discuss with your child what it means that the glitter and sprinkles floated but the jingle bells did not.

Christmas Printables

Keep you kids having fun and learning while avoiding the screen time battle this christmas season., christmas printables bundle, more christmas activities for kids.

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Hello there! I'm Sarah Britton and I am so excited you stopped by! Join me as we explore simple yet effective ways to create purposeful play opportunities for your child.

Summer Bucket List

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Coffee Cups and Crayons

Simple play ideas, learning activities, kids crafts and party ideas, plus acts of kindness for kids!

August 14, 2020

How to Make a Lava Lamp

We are big fans of cool science experiments , especially when they are simple to set up!

This lava lamp science project doesn’t make a real lava lamp, but it is a great way to talk about density while watching your homemade lava lamp swirl.

You know you’ve always wanted to know how to make a lava lamp!

• bottle (check your recycling bin)
• oil (use whatever is cheapest)
• food coloring

Lava Lamp Science Experiment

• Fill the bottle 1/4 to 1/3 of the way full with water.
• Next add the oil. Fill it almost all the way to the top.
• Add the food coloring.

This part is almost as cool as the lava lamp itself!

The food coloring is more dense than the oil so falls right through the oil and mixes with the water. This is a great time to talk about the density of different liquids .

Now it’s time for the action!

      4. Break up the Alka-Seltzer tablet and add it to the top of the bottle.

Once it slows down you can keep adding new Alka-Seltzer tablets to start it again and again!

Science Behind the Homemade Lava Lamp

Oil does not dissolve in water so when they are added to the jar they separate. The less dense oil rises to the top while the more dense water stays at the bottom.

Food coloring dissolves in the water, but not the oil. As it is added to the bottle it “falls” through the oil and then begins to mix with the water.

Once the Alka-Seltzer is added to the water a reaction occurs and the tablet pieces begin to release carbon dioxide bubbles. This causes little bubbles to temporarily swirl the colored water throughout the oil making it look like a lava lamp.

It’s so much fun to watch!

Don’t let the fun and discovery stop there!

Try our online science camp !

We also have TONS of science experiments your kids will love on our Super Cool Science Experiments for Kids page! 

Take me to the experiments –> Super Cool Science Experiments for Kids

Pin it for later–> Huge List of the Very Best Science Experiments for Kids

About Megan Sheakoski

Megan is the creator of Coffee Cups and Crayons, a blog full of simple fun and learning. She believes that kids’ activities don’t have to be complicated to be fun and that learning is better with play.

March 5, 2015 at 5:21 pm

Looks like a GREAT activity to share with my kindergarten class! They will LOVE it! Thanks!

March 5, 2015 at 8:34 pm

They really will! And we just keep adding alka-seltzer to the same bottle and it keeps working!

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North State Parent magazine

A MAGAZINE SERVING FAMILIES IN BUTTE, GLENN, SHASTA, SISKIYOU & TEHAMA COUNTIES SINCE 1993

A free monthly publication

Steve Davala

Simple science experiments: homemade lava lamp.

An empty glass bottle (preferably one with a wide mouth for dropping something into it), water, oil, food coloring, Alka-Seltzer tablets. Extra: glitter.

• Fill a glass bottle halfway with water
• Put an equal amount of cooking oil in (make sure to leave some space near the top)
• Drop some food coloring into the bottle and watch it slide through the oil until it hits the water and then mix together
• Add some glitter to the liquids if you want!
• Place a light behind the glass bottle if you want to see more clearly
• Drop the Alka-Seltzer tablet into the bottle and enjoy watching what happens

Explanation:

A lava lamp works because it has two liquids that don’t mix together. An actual lava lamp uses water and wax. The lamp inside heats up the wax until it melts then it becomes slightly less dense than water and will float up. When it cools down, it gets denser and then sinks. The process repeats.

This homemade version relies on two liquids, oil and water, that also don’t mix. The water has a greater density than the oil and sinks. (Density is a property of matter that shows how much stuff is in a space. Metal has a big density… really heavy for its size!).

When the tablet bubbles in the water, it makes the water less dense, in a sense, so it floats up to the top of the oil. When it gets there, the air escapes and the water, denser again, sinks to the bottom.

Experiment further:

Good scientists think of questions they can ask and ways to change a system. Can you? How about if you change the size of the container? The size of the tablet? The number of tablets? What if you put more oil in than water? Ask a question and test it out! If you are using this as something to show a teacher at school, write down some observations you make.

I hope you enjoyed this simple experiment and learned a little bit about science. Contact me if you have questions about this, or need tips about science fair ideas around this topic (or others).

Posted in : Education

Steve Davala is a high school chemistry and physics teacher who likes to write and work with Photoshop. He’s got two kids of his own and subjects them to these science activities as guinea pigs.

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Lava  Lamp Science Experiment

– Glass bottle or jar – Alka-seltzer tablets – Food coloring – Vegetable oil – Water

Materials Needed:

Fill a glass 1/2 full of vegetable oil and 1/4 full of water.

Add 5-6 drops of liquid food coloring to the mixture.

Drop in an Alka-Seltzer (or any effervescent ) tablet and watch the lava lamp come to life!

Watch as the colorful bubbles of water make their way up through the oil.  Add more food coloring to make the bubbles more vibrant.

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Lava Lamp Experiment, Science At Home

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4 comments:.

Oooh ... I want to do this with my kids! What's the alka-seltzer for? I pinned this so I won't forget to do this in our next science activity day :) http://www.pinterest.com/plantingpeas/science-activities/

HA!! I forgot to write that very important piece of information:) It's there now!! The tablets are used for heartburn and acid indigestion :) Ohhh visiting your boards!

Fun experiment

It was! Thank you!!

I greatly appreciate your friendly comments and feedback. I love to see what others are making, so please feel free to include a links and share your site with us!!! If you have any questions regarding any of the materials we have made...I'd love to help!!! Thank you for visiting us:)

Hi there! I'm the author and creator of Making Montessori Ours. We are a busy home learning family sharing our favourite learning resources, road trips and travel, crafty fun, home diy projects, sewing, and tons more! I am not as active in posting about our children as they have grown, and their interests are their own. When they give permission I shall create posts that include them. Our interests as a family continue to grow, and we share our news and daily updates on Facebook and Instagram, if you wish to catch up with us there please do! As requested I will continue to develop materials and products for our shops, as I love the creative process. There are so many things that our children loved that I would love to share. For those who have been with us for many years we thank you! For those who are new to us we welcome you! In the spirit of transparency ~ We are an amazon affiliate. If you click on any amazon link on this site and make a purchase (at no cost to you) we receive a small sum. It's important that you know! Thanks for stopping by! ~ Cherine

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Have fun making a Lava Lamp in your kitchen this Easter. SFI presents simple science activities for all ages

Sfi highlights free online science resources this easter.

9th April 2020: If you are looking for something a little different to entertain the kids at home over the Easter break, Science Foundation Ireland has free, easy to follow online science and maths simple home experiments for children of all ages.

The online resources help parents and guardians to explore science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) with their children at home in a practical, hands-on, enjoyable and interactive way.

The helpful instructions for each activity are easy to follow and do not require previous science experience. Activities cover a whole range of topics, from making rockets to racing magnets and can be selected from SFI’s new STEM at Home webpage .

Director of Science for Society, Science Foundation Ireland, Ruth Freeman said: “Our aim is to support families across Ireland as we all adjust to being together full time at home, especially during this school holiday period. While our trips outside are curtailed, it might be nice to spend some of the Easter weekend having fun exploring science. Being curious, experimenting and making are all parts of being a scientist and engineer. Don’t be turned off if you haven’t thought about science since school.  The Discover Primary Science and Maths online resources are easy to follow, with ingredients that will hopefully be readily available in your kitchen cupboards. It should make for great fun for all ages.”  

To kickstart people’s fun with STEM, SFI have recommended two experiments to try over the Easter break: Design and Make a Lava Lamp and Investigate How Plants Drink.

Design and Make a Lava Lamp

• Plastic bottle
• Vegetable oil
• Food colouring
• Alka Seltzer tablet
• Fill the flask most of the way with vegetable oil.
• Fill the rest of the flask with water. The water will sink to the bottom under the oil.
• Add a few drops of food colouring; your choice of colour. The food colouring is water-based, so it will also sink and colour the water that is now at the bottom of the flask.
• Break an alka-seltzer tablet into a few small pieces, and drop them in the flask one at a time.
• Watch your lava lamp erupt into activity! As the reaction slows down, simply add more alka-seltzer.

Investigate How Plants Drink

• 1 white carnation
• 1 stick of celery with leaves
• Red food colouring 
• 2 glasses or 2 plastic cups
• Half fill each glass with water
• Add enough red food colouring to the two glasses of water to make two dark red glasses of water. You now have two glasses of red water.
• Cut the stem off each plant about 1cm from the end.
• Place the celery stick into one glass of water as in the diagram.
• Place the white carnation into the other glass of water as in the diagram.
• Mark the level of water in each glass with your marker. Leave the two glasses for a day or two on a shelf. Regularly check the glasses to a see what is happening. What do you think will happen?

The Discover Primary Science and Maths Programme (DPSM) is part of Science Foundation Ireland’s Education and Public Engagement Programme, which aims to increase interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) among students, teachers and members of the public. For additional online access to easy to follow science and maths activities, aimed primarily at 8 – 12 year olds, click here

DIY Lava Lamp Experiment: Simple Science for Kids

Oil & Water Lava Lamp Experiment for Kids

• Clear jar or container
• Food coloring
• Alka Seltzer tablets

Experiment Procedure:

1. Begin by filling your jar or clear container about 2-3 of the way full with canola oil.

2. Pour in a little bit of water, no more than a fourth of a cup is needed for a large jar.

3. Drop in some food coloring, this works best with at least 40 drops for a large container.

4. Add two Alka Seltzer tablets to the jar, and watch as they react to create a lava lamp display with the drops of food coloring.

5. If the movement in the jar stops and you want to start it back up again, simply drop another tablet in, and the movement will continue.

Why Does a Homemade Lava Lamp Work?

If you’ve already checked out our Oil and Water Experiment , you’ll know that oil and water aren’t the best of friends – they just don’t mix. Oil is less dense than water and rests on the water’s surface (our density experiment with liquids is fabulous for exploring this phenomena). As you add the Alka-Seltzer tablets to your homemade lava lamp, they react chemically with the water to produce bubbles of carbon dioxide gas. This gas is less dense then both the water and the oil and so the bubbles rise up through the liquids. As the bubble moves through the water into the oil layer it takes a small amount of water with it and then when the bubble reaches the surface of the oil and pops, the water falls back through the oil (because of it’s heavier density). Watching this process is super cool – so fascinating!

For more science fun with Alka-Seltzer, check out these Exploding Rockets at Little Bins for Little Hands. And if you don’t have Alka-Seltzer, Hands On As We Grow shows you how to make a lava lamp without it .

Christie Burnett is a teacher, presenter, writer and the mother of two. She created Childhood 101 as a place for teachers and parents to access engaging, high quality learning ideas.

Fun Science Experiments for Kids

These science activities and science experiments are sure to be a hit with kids in preschool and elementary! You will find so many easy and fun science projects that require just a few items found around your house.

From lava lamps to magic milk to eruptions and more, these simple science experiments and STEM activities will WOW the kids and keep them engaged.

So pick a science activity and try one out with the kids today!

Best Science Activities and Experiments for Kids

My kids love science activities and so do I, so we find ourselves doing them quite often lately. I love that they are learning while having so much fun.

Science experiments are a great, hands-on way for kids to explore scientific concepts. They are super engaging and exciting, so kids are really drawn into learning.

Plus, I find that they learn more when they are engaged with interactive, hands-on ways.

The experience becomes more memorable than simple reading about science or doing a workbook page on a scientific concept.

I really try to find science experiments that are simple and use supplies we already have or can easily get. I find that the easier they are to set up, the more we do them.

So if you are looking for simple science fun too, these will be perfect for you.

Science Experiments That Will Excite Your Kids

If you want to excite your kids and explore scientific concepts, then you will definitely want to check out these simple science activities!

For each experiment, I explain the science behind them. So not only will the kids explore science in fun, engaging ways, but you will easily be able to explain the “why” behind each experiment.

Grab some simple household supplies and you will be well on your way to lots of science fun with kids.

This list of science activities and experiments is sure to save you tons of time when planning science lessons for your students.

Top 20 Fun Science Experiments for Kids

Rainbow walking water science experiment.

This might be our favorite science experiment! This Rainbow Walking Water science experiment will be a favorite for both kids and adults alike! We couldn’t believe how fast the water traveled up the paper towel and mixed the colors!

Skittles Rainbow Science Experiment

This Skittles Rainbow science experiment is fun and easy! It comes with a free recording sheets too.

Lava Lamp Science Experiment

Your kids will absolute love this Lava Lamp Science Experiment ! This one is always a hit for our kids! You just need water, oil and a surprise third ingredient!

Oobleck Science Activity

This oobleck recipe makes a great science activity for kids! With the correct ratios and just 2 ingredients you will be ready for lots of fun sensory play.

Pepper and Soap Experiment

This may be the easiest science activity on this list and your kids will love it! They may even think it is magical. That is, until they learn the science behind this Pepper and Soap science experiment !

Color Changing Flowers Experiment

We love this Color Changing Flowers experiment! It’s super easy to do and the kids will love watching the flowers change colors. This is a perfect spring activity!

Fireworks in a Jar Experiment

Your kids will really love watching the colorful reactions in this fun Fireworks in a Jar experiment.

Magic Milk Science Activity

This Magic Milk science activity always amazes the kids! You’ll just need a few household supplies and milk to get started with this simple and fun experiment!

Floating Dry Erase Marker Science Activity

This floating dry erase marker science activity is super fun! You just need dry erase markers and water!

Fizzy Rainbow Science Experiment

This Fizzy Rainbow Science Experiment will bring some fun and color to your kids day! This just takes a few simple ingredients you probably already have.

Catapult Activity

This catapult activity is a fun and easy STEM activity that your kids will love!

Dancing Raisins Science Experiment

Your kids will get a kick out of watching Dancing Raisins in this simple and fun science experiment!

Disappearing Color Wheel Science Experiment

This disappearing color wheel science experiment is a fun way for kids to explore light and physics!

Rain Cloud in a Jar

This Rain Cloud in a Jar science experiment gives kids a chance to explore rain and clouds in a hand-on, fun way!

Leak Proof Bag Experiment

This Leak Proof Bag science experiment will wow your kids. All you need is two household items and you can do this fun experiment too!

Keep Paper Dry Under Water Science Experiment

This simple keep paper dry under water science experiment is a blast. Your kids will be amazed when the paper doesn’t get wet!

Grow a Rainbow Experiment

Grow a rainbow with this fun experiment! All you will need is markers, a paper towel and two glasses of water! Your students will be amazed to see capillary action at work with this experiment.

Oil and Water Science Activity

This Oil and Water Science Activity is an easy experiment that your kids will really enjoy. Any time our kids can squirt water with droppers they always have a great time!

Dancing Corn Science Activity

This dancing corn activity is incredibly fun! All you need is a few ingredients from around your house!

Chromatography Science Activity

This chromatography science activity is a fun way to learn about separating colors using coffee filters and markers.

More Fun Science Activities!

I hope you were able to find some amazing science activities to do with the kids! We have been having a blast with them, so I hope your kids will too!

Salt Painting Activity for Kids Pumpkin Candy Science Activity for Kids Winter Blizzard Lava Lamp Experiment River Habitat Water Play in a Rain Gutter Ocean Play Dough Invitation Ladybug Life Cycle with Play Dough Pond Life Play Dough Invitation Explore Clouds and Rain for Fine Motor Practice

Seasonal Science Experiments and Activities

Simple Summer Science Experiments and STEM Activities Simple Spring Science and STEAM Activities 20+ Awesome Christmas Science Experiments for Preschoolers

Science Activities by Category

Easy STEM Activities for Kids Kindergarten Science Experiments

Looking for more science experiments or STEM?

Check out these science experiments for preschoolers . They are great for kids in elementary too.

Or check out this list of easy science activities for kids!

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50 Fun Kids Science Experiments

Science doesn’t need to be complicated. These easy science experiments below are awesome for kids! They are visually stimulating, hands-on, and sensory-rich, making them fun to do and perfect for teaching simple science concepts at home or in the classroom.

Top 10 Science Experiments

Click on the titles below for the full supplies list and easy step-by-step instructions. Have fun trying these experiments at home or in the classroom, or even use them for your next science fair project!

Baking Soda Balloon Experiment

Can you make a balloon inflate on its own? Grab a few basic kitchen ingredients and test them out! Try amazing chemistry for kids at your fingertips.

Rainbow In A Jar

Enjoy learning about the basics of color mixing up to the density of liquids with this simple water density experiment . There are even more ways to explore rainbows here with walking water, prisms, and more.

This color-changing magic milk experiment will explode your dish with color. Add dish soap and food coloring to milk for cool chemistry!

Seed Germination Experiment

Not all kids’ science experiments involve chemical reactions. Watch how a seed grows , which provides a window into the amazing field of biology .

Egg Vinegar Experiment

One of our favorite science experiments is a naked egg or rubber egg experiment . Can you make your egg bounce? What happened to the shell?

Dancing Corn

Find out how to make corn dance with this easy experiment. Also, check out our dancing raisins and dancing cranberries.

Grow Crystals

Growing borax crystals is easy and a great way to learn about solutions. You could also grow sugar crystals , eggshell geodes , or salt crystals .

Lava Lamp Experiment

It is great for learning about what happens when you mix oil and water. a homemade lava lamp is a cool science experiment kids will want to do repeatedly!

Skittles Experiment

Who doesn’t like doing science with candy? Try this classic Skittles science experiment and explore why the colors don’t mix when added to water.

Lemon Volcano

Watch your kids’ faces light up, and their eyes widen when you test out cool chemistry with a lemon volcano using common household items, baking soda, and vinegar.

Bonus! Popsicle Stick Catapult

Kid tested, STEM approved! Making a popsicle stick catapult is a fantastic way to dive into hands-on physics and engineering.

Grab the handy Top 10 Science Experiments list here!

Free Science Ideas Guide

Grab this free science experiments challenge calendar and have fun with science right away. Use the clickable links to see how to set up each science project.

Get Started With A Science Fair Project

💡Want to turn one of these fun and easy science experiments into a science fair project? Then, you will want to check out these helpful resources.

• Easy Science Fair Projects
• Science Project Tips From A Teacher
• Science Fair Board Ideas

50 Easy Science Experiments For Kids

Kids’ Science Experiments By Topic

Are you looking for a specific topic? Check out these additional resources below. Each topic includes easy-to-understand information, everyday examples, and additional hands-on activities and experiments.

• Chemistry Experiments
• Physics Experiments
• Chemical Reaction Experiments
• Candy Experiments
• Plant Experiments
• Kitchen Science
• Water Experiments
• Baking Soda Experiments
• States Of Matter Experiments
• Physical Change Experiments
• Chemical Change Experiments
• Surface Tension Experiments
• Capillary Action Experiments
• Weather Science Projects
• Geology Science Projects
• Space Activities
• Simple Machines
• Static Electricity
• Potential and Kinetic Energy
• Gravity Experiments

Science Experiments By Season

• Spring Science
• Summer Science Experiments
• Fall Science Experiments
• Winter Science Experiments

Science Experiments by Age Group

While many experiments can be performed by various age groups, the best science experiments for specific age groups are listed below.

• Science Activities For Toddlers
• Preschool Science Experiments
• Kindergarten Science Experiments
• First Grade Science Projects
• Elementary Science Projects
• Science Projects For 3rd Graders
• Science Experiments For Middle Schoolers

How To Teach Science

Kids are curious and always looking to explore, discover, check out, and experiment to discover why things do what they do, move as they move, or change as they change! My son is now 13, and we started with simple science activities around three years of age with simple baking soda science.

Here are great tips for making science experiments enjoyable at home or in the classroom.

Safety first: Always prioritize safety. Use kid-friendly materials, supervise the experiments, and handle potentially hazardous substances yourself.

Start with simple experiments: Begin with basic experiments (find tons below) that require minimal setup and materials, gradually increasing complexity as kids gain confidence.

Use everyday items: Utilize common household items like vinegar and baking soda , food coloring, or balloons to make the experiments accessible and cost-effective.

Hands-on approach: Encourage kids to actively participate in the experiments rather than just observing. Let them touch, mix, and check out reactions up close.

Make predictions: Ask kids to predict the outcome before starting an experiment. This stimulates critical thinking and introduces the concept of hypothesis and the scientific method.

Record observations: Have a science journal or notebook where kids can record their observations, draw pictures, and write down their thoughts. Learn more about observing in science. We also have many printable science worksheets .

Theme-based experiments: Organize experiments around a theme, such as water , air , magnets , or plants . Even holidays and seasons make fun themes!

Kitchen science : Perform experiments in the kitchen, such as making ice cream using salt and ice or learning about density by layering different liquids.

Create a science lab: Set up a dedicated space for science experiments, and let kids decorate it with science-themed posters and drawings.

Outdoor experiments: Take some experiments outside to explore nature, study bugs, or learn about plants and soil.

DIY science kits: Prepare science experiment kits with labeled containers and ingredients, making it easy for kids to conduct experiments independently. Check out our DIY science list and STEM kits.

Make it a group effort: Group experiments can be more fun, allowing kids to learn together and share their excitement. Most of our science activities are classroom friendly!

Science shows or documentaries: Watch age-appropriate science shows or documentaries to introduce kids to scientific concepts entertainingly. Hello Bill Nye and the Magic Schoolbus! You can also check out National Geographic, the Discovery Channel, and NASA!

Ask open-ended questions: Encourage critical thinking by asking open-ended questions that prompt kids to think deeper about what they are experiencing.

Celebrate successes: Praise kids for their efforts and discoveries, no matter how small, to foster a positive attitude towards science and learning.

What is the Scientific Method for Kids?

The scientific method is a way scientists figure out how things work. First, they ask a question about something they want to know. Then, they research to learn what’s already known about it. After that, they make a prediction called a hypothesis.

Next comes the fun part – they test their hypothesis by doing experiments. They carefully observe what happens during the experiments and write down all the details. Learn more about variables in experiments here.

Once they finish their experiments, they look at the results and decide if their hypothesis is right or wrong. If it’s wrong, they devise a new hypothesis and try again. If it’s right, they share their findings with others. That’s how scientists learn new things and make our world better!

Go ahead and introduce the scientific method and get kids started recording their observations and making conclusions. Read more about the scientific method for kids .

Engineering and STEM Projects For Kids

STEM activities include science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. In addition to our kids’ science experiments, we have lots of fun STEM activities for you to try. Check out these STEM ideas below.

• Building Activities
• Self-Propelling Car Projects
• Engineering Projects For Kids
• What Is Engineering For Kids?
• Lego STEM Ideas
• LEGO Engineering Activities
• STEM Activities For Toddlers
• STEM Worksheets
• Easy STEM Activities For Elementary
• Quick STEM Challenges
• Easy STEM Activities With Paper  

Printable Science Projects For Kids

If you’re looking to grab all of our printable science projects in one convenient place plus exclusive worksheets and bonuses like a STEAM Project pack, our Science Project Pack is what you need! Over 300+ Pages!

• 90+ classic science activities  with journal pages, supply lists, set up and process, and science information.  NEW! Activity-specific observation pages!
• Best science practices posters  and our original science method process folders for extra alternatives!
• Be a Collector activities pack  introduces kids to the world of making collections through the eyes of a scientist. What will they collect first?
• Know the Words Science vocabulary pack  includes flashcards, crosswords, and word searches that illuminate keywords in the experiments!
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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

16. Pumpkin Volcano Experiment

When is a pumpkin not a pumpkin? When it’s a volcano! This is an awesome project to take out onto the playground on a sunny fall day.

Learn more: Hillary’s Teaching Adventures

Want more hands-on science fun? Try these Incredible Electricity Experiments .

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How To Make a Baking Soda Volcano With Free Observation Sheet

This experiment will have kids erupting with applause! Continue Reading

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