Today, my seven-year-old is bored. It’s too hot to play outside anymore and he is tired of all the inside stuff. I need to find something for him to do. But what??

I have a closet full of stuff just for this reason! Each year when I am budgeting for our curriculum, I add in about $300 worth of “I’m bored, Mama’s sick, Let’s do something different, or another complaint” items. These can be games, science kits, books, art kits. Usually, it’s a hand-on type things. This is probably the number 1 tip I give out to other homeschool families.  Make sure you have something extra on hand for those days when you just need a break from the norm.

I have a volcano kit. : -) Perfect! Get out the books on volcanoes. Make oldest read them aloud to his younger brothers. Story time for little ones … check! Reading time for older one … check! Science … check! Ohh… loooky here! A book about Pompeii! History …. Check! See … I can school without even trying! The volcano needs to be painted. Yeah! Art … check!

If you don’t have a closet full of complaint day items … you can easily make a volcano. Start with a small bottle. Any will work that have a narrower neck than body. An old 8oz cough syrup bottle would be perfect. Make up a batch of self-drying clay (recipe is in one of the links in the play-doh post). A cheap plastic plate (you know the ones you can purchase for picnics during the summer that are 4 for $1. Keep some handy for projects. You won’t want them back after the kids are done with them!) is the perfect thing to work on.  Set your bottle in the middle and cover in clay.  The sides will end up fairly steep unless you use an insane amount of clay to create a gradual slop. More clay though means keeping the kids busy longer. OR …. You lose them do to lack of attention span. Either way works. Give the clay 24 hours to dry, then paint with acrylic paint. If you don’t paint it, the first eruption will soften the clay and ruin the volcano.

There are different types of eruptions named after specific volcanoes that have erupted in a specific way. For an older child, have them research these volcanoes. Language Arts … check! Chart the differences. Math … check! Where are they located? Geography … check! I think we have all the subjects covered now!

Strombolian Eruption: Constant, non-violent eruption. Put 1 tablespoon of baking soda into the volcano. Add 1 cup of vinegar. Then stand back and watch! Add a few drops of food coloring to the vinegar before pouring to have colored lava.

Hawaiian Eruption: Predictable, least violent eruption. Put 1 tablespoon of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap into the volcano. Add 1 cup of vinegar. Color if desired. Stand back and watch the eruption.

Vulcanian Eruption: Explosive eruption. Put 2 Alka-Setzer tables, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and food coloring (optional) into the volcano. Add ½ cup of water.

Pelean Eruption: Most violent eruption. Put 2 tablespoons of baking soda and food coloring into the volcano. Add ½ cup of boiling water. Stand way back.

Here are a few tips for you when you are enjoying your volcano.

1.       Make sure you do this in an easily cleanable and viewable area. We did ours in the middle of the kitchen floor. Just clean up the mess with the mop when done. I originally tried it in the kitchen sick. Great way to control the mess but it was hard for everyone to see what was happening.

2.       Record the differences. Chart, take pictures, make predictions beforehand.

3.       Experiment with other combinations of ingredients. How does using apple juice instead of vinegar effect the eruption? What about orange juice? Soda?

4.       Have patience. If your kids are anything like mine, they will want to see this happen over and over and over again. Have plenty of materials on hand. Plan for at least 3 rounds of eruptions for each type. That would be a minimum for us.

I hope you all are having a wonderful summer! I am off to play with the volcano some more.

Many Kitchen Blessings,

Misty

Misty Rottmiller is a homeschooling mom of 3 boys in Arizona. Memories are best created in the kitchen is a refrain that is often heard around her home. Martha Stewart she is not! Misty often runs screaming from crafts and avoids most things that require creativity. Join her as she adventures through the kitchen sharing with you the basics, recipes, educational activities, and more. You can also visit her blog at www.homeschoolblogger.com/3boyz/