Backyard science: Volcano

It's that time of the year when the children are out having fun in the sun. While they're outside, encourage them to explore one of the best science classroom: their own backyard. Using a few materials from around the house you can create a volcano.

Materials

* 16-ounce soda bottle

* Cup

* Soil

* Vinegar

* Baking soda

* Red food coloring

* Water

Instructions

STEP 1: Find a place in the backyard where you are allowed to dig. Dig up some soil and add some water to make the soil wet.

STEP 2: Place the soda bottle in the center of the dirt pile. Form a mountain around the bottle by using the wet soil.

STEP 3: Add two tablespoons of baking soda into the soda bottle.

STEP 4: Place one cup of vinegar into the cup and add the red food coloring to change the color of the vinegar to red.

STEP 5: Pour the red vinegar into the soda bottle.

Explanation

When you mixed the baking soda with the vinegar, you caused a chemical reaction that caused the eruption.

Jason Lindsey is a Science Outreach Educator with Hooked on Science. Check out his website "Hooked On Science" at hookedonscience.org for webcasts and experiments that might get you hooked on science. Send him your science questions at jlindsey@hookedonscience.org. More science experiments can be found at www.semissourian.com.