The dough will be hard to mix after a few minutes, so you might want to ask for help from a parent, teacher, or older sibling.
Make sure to knead the dough on a sturdy surface, such as a table or counter. 4 Using a rolling pin to flatten and knead the dough may also be helpful.
If the dough is still dry, add 1 teaspoon of water at a time until it sticks together. Be careful not to add too much water or the dough may become sticky!
If the dough still feels sticky, add 1 more tablespoon of flour and knead. Keep doing this until it feels smooth and does not stick to your hands. Don’t add too much flour or the dough will not stick together.
If you are using a tray, make sure to ask your parent or guardian first. Don’t use one that you might want to use again because attaching your volcano to the tray will ruin it. The lid of a cardboard box will also work, but make sure to ask a parent or guardian first!
Ask for help from an adult or older sibling if the dough is too stiff to shape! There are several different types of volcanoes. Some have steeper slopes than others, and some are even flat at the top. You can shape the dough to look like a specific type of volcano, but keep in mind that most will have an uneven surface and won’t be completely flat.
This part can be hard. Ask for help from your parents or someone else with strong hands if you cannot get the cup or jar to go down into the dough. Make sure to ask for your parent or guardian’s permission before you use a cup or jar! It will become part of the volcano and you won’t be able to use it again.
Keep in mind that volcanoes are not perfectly smooth! They are rocky and rough on the outside, so it is okay if your dough is a bit bumpy. Remember that you can make your volcano look like a specific type of volcano if you want to get technical, or just make a standard volcano. Search for images of volcanoes on the internet to find 1 that you would like to model your volcano after.
The clay will feel hard to the touch when it is dry. Check it after about 8 hours by pressing it. If the dough is still soft after 8 hours, give it a few more hours to dry.
Make sure to put down some old newspapers or paper towels before painting to protect your work surface. You might also want to put on an old t-shirt.
Opt for a bright orange for a vivid contrast to your brown or black paint on the outside of the volcano. You can make orange paint by mixing equal amounts of red and yellow paint.
Place the volcano out of the reach of pets, such as up on a high shelf or closed room. You can touch the paint to see if it is dry. It will feel tacky if it is wet and smooth if it is dry.
Baking soda is a common household item, so you probably have some. Ask a parent or guardian before you use the baking soda.
Any type of dish soap will work! Use whatever is in your kitchen. Make sure to ask for permission from your parent or guardian first!
If you have orange food coloring, you can also use this to color the lava.
Don’t add the vinegar until you are ready for the eruption! You can leave the other ingredients in the volcano for as long as you need until you are ready to make the volcano erupt. You can pour in extra vinegar if there is still some baking soda in the bottom of the jar.
