White Orchid Flower Meaning

This is one of our elementary science ideas where we are going to make a model of an erupting volcano. Before you make the model you have to explain what a volcano is and how your science project illustrates a real volcano. Even the most elementary science ideas have to be explained if it is to be of any use.

So here are the questions you have to answer first:

What are volcanoes? What do volcanoes produce? What makes a volcano erupt? How does your experiment explain it?

As this is one of our elementary science ideas, we will not go into too much detail. The basics should be enough to make a small kid understand how it works.

Here are the answers in short- if you want more detail it may be a good idea to look further:

Volcanoes are placed where molten rock pushes up from below the earth through cracks in the crust of the earth. Contrary to what people believe, volcanoes do not only produce molten rock or lave, it also produces a lot of gases such as steam and carbon dioxide. Some of the gases are pushed into the air. Some of the other gases are mixed with the lava. It is the gas in the lava which makes the volcano erupts. Your experiment is going to show how the carbon dioxide, which you are going to produce by mixing baking soda and vinegar, makes your volcano "erupts!" What you need for this project:

A large flat plastic tray or a bin lid A seed tray or something similar without holes A measuring jug 4 Tablespoons baking soda 4 Tablespoons flour A stirring rod A funnel A plastic bottle Sand White vinegar Red food coloring How to do this project:

Make very sure your jug is dry to prevent the ingredients from sticking to the sides of the jug Now you empty the baking soda in the jug and you add the flour. Mix it thoroughly with your mixing rod Place a completely dry funnel in the neck of your bottle Pour the mixture through the funnel into the bottle Empty the sand into the seed tray until it is about half full Fill your jug with water and pour it into the tray, just enough to make the sand sticky with out making it too wet. Just enough so you will be able to mold it Mix it with your mixing rod Place your bottle with the soda and flour in the middle of your flat tray or lid. Pack the sand around it to form the shape of a cone to represent the outside of your volcano Pour the vinegar in the jug and pour your red food coloring in, enough to make the vinegar a rich red color Place the funnel in the mouth of your plastic bottle Quickly pour the vinegar into the bottle and remove the funnel from the bottle as fast as you can Watch your volcano erupt! Why does it happen? By mixing the vinegar and soda you are producing carbon dioxide. This gas makes the flower turn frothy and forces it out of the bottle just as the gases in the molten rock in a volcano makes it erupt.

This is one of our elementary science ideas that the kids love because of the spectacular results.

Had fun? Are you looking for more fun and easy science projects for kids to do? Have a look at these two Hubs: and