Mini Egg Carton Volcanoes

Jun 3, 201443,326 views

Science

Science activities for kids with baking soda and vinegar

by TurkeyMom in Science

Ages2–6 yrs

Prep20 min

Activity20 min

Leveleasy

MessHigh

Works for1:1 · Small group · Class

Turn a clear plastic egg carton upside down into a row of mini mountains, fill them with baking soda, and squirt in colored vinegar for lots of little pastel eruptions and a 'lava river'.

⚠️ Safety first

Adult only: cut the egg carton with the craft knife before the kids arrive, and keep the knife out of reach.
Vinegar stings eyes. Keep squirt bottles pointed down at the carton, especially during 'vinegar rain', and wash hands after.
Baking soda, vinegar and liquid watercolors are not food. Supervise closely with toddlers who mouth things.
Liquid watercolors and food coloring can stain hands, clothes and surfaces.

Before the kids arrive

Adult: cut out the bottom of each egg carton slot with a craft knife and snap off the lid.
Color the vinegar with liquid watercolors or food coloring and fill the squeeze bottles, one color per bottle.

Steps

Adult: cut out the bottom of each slot in the egg carton with a craft knife.
Snap off the lid and flip the carton over to make 'mini mountains'.
Fill the lid with baking soda.
Spoon baking soda into each slot through the hole on top. Add lots so the eruptions spill over.
Grab a squeeze bottle of colored vinegar.
Squirt the vinegar into a hole and watch the mini volcano erupt.
Erupt the volcanoes at the same time with friends and watch the colors run into a lava river.
Try 'vinegar rain': pour the vinegar from up high over the mountains.

Tips

Add lots of baking soda so the eruptions spill over the slots.from the author
With more than one kid playing, you can have simultaneous colorful eruptions.from the author
The children loved the pastel colored 'lava river'. They named the little ones 'baby eruptions'.from the author
The yellow eruptions were by far our favorite.from the author
A reader said it was awesome for her 20-month-olds and their almost-3-year-old friend.from readers

Make it your own

'Vinegar rain': kids pour the colored vinegar from up high.
Try the author's Rainbow Lemon Eruptions or the vinegar-free soapy lemon eruptions next.

Questions readers asked

Can I use food coloring instead of liquid watercolors?

Yes. The author colored the vinegar with liquid watercolor but says food color works if you prefer it.

What makes it erupt?

Vinegar (an acid) reacts with baking soda and makes bubbles of carbon dioxide gas, which foam up and spill over the mountains.

The story behind it

By TurkeyMom · June 2014

Cut the bottom of each slot from a plastic egg carton with a craft knife, snap off the lid, flip it over and spoon baking soda into the mini mountains.

Egg Carton Volcanoes — Cut the bottom of each slot from a plastic egg carton with a craft knife, snap off the lid, flip it over and spoon baking soda into the mini mountains.

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What readers say

💬 5 comments ✍️ 1 answered by the author

🎉 Worked for us

Awesome for toddlers and a preschooler

A parent tried it with her 20-month-olds and their almost 3-year-old friend and said it was awesome.

“we just tried it and it was awesome for my 20 month olds and thier almost 3 year old friend.”
carly, Jul 2014

🛠️ Troubleshooting

No clear plastic egg carton?

A reader had only seen polystyrene or cardboard egg cartons and asked whether small plastic cups would work instead. The question wasn't answered.

“Would this work using small plastic cups? I've never seen plastic egg cartons - only polystyrene or cardboard.”
Paula, Jun 2014

Read all 5 comments

TurkeyMomAuthor · Jul 2014 · replying to carly

Thanks. Glad you all enjoyed it!
carly · Jul 2014

we just tried it and it was awesome for my 20 month olds and thier almost 3 year old friend.
Paula · Jun 2014

Would this work using small plastic cups? I've never seen plastic egg cartons - only polystyrene or cardboard.
Paula · Jun 2014

I should have said that I haven't seen clear plastic egg cartons.