The Volcano Experiment

Inspired by the scientific explanation of the Giant's Causeway, we have been thinking about Volcanoes.  Over the course of a few days, we have watched volcanoes, observed how they move, their colors, and more.  Today, we used a scientific experiment to create our very own volcanic eruption.  

​One of the more famous (or most quoted) quotes from Loris Malaguzzi (Reggio Emilia) is, "Nothing without Joy."  In fact, it hangs on my wall next to my desk where I sit for each of our calls.  Today was certainly one of the most joyful days. The joy and excitement was palpable, and quite the family affair. We had whole families, older siblings, caregivers, and there seemed to be joy radiating from each face.  It seems that a little bit of "simple science" brings out the curiosity, playfulness, and excitement in all of us.

“This is the most epic thing we’ve ever done!”
​- Lane, 5.5 years

​Does anyone remember what we're doing today?
“Volcanoes!” - Saul, 3.8 years

We began our call by revisiting some of the live and pre-recorded footage of the volcanoes in Iceland. 

Live Stream Video

“Yeah, there’s two [eruptions].” - Saul, 3.8 years
“I see lava splashing, and smoke climbing.” - Giacomo, 4.4 years 
“The volcanoes are a little tiny.” - Lane, 5.5 years

Footage of an eruption on March 21, 2021

“People are there when there was lava.” - Giacomo, 4.4 years
“These are really little volcanoes.” - Saul, 3.8 years
“They can be about a million gazillion lava inside a volcano.” - Giacomo 
What do you think the lava feels like? What would happen if we touched it?  - Elyse
“It would burn your fingers.” - Lane, 5.5 years
“You would die. That’s how hot it is.” - Giacomo

An experiment

As children explore their world, from birth, they are constantly engaging in the scientific method.  Simply broken down it includes: Making an observation, asking questions and creating hypotheses, testing them out with an experiment, analyzing your data, and reporting conclusions. 

After a few days of observations, we were ready to create some hypotheses about if and  how our experiment would work.

When we’re doing an experiment, we don’t always know what’s going to happen.  Do we already know what’s going to happen with this experiment? - Elyse
“Yes.” - Lane 
“No.” - Giacomo
“Yes.” - Rose
“Hmm I guess that I know.” - Saul 

Do we have any hypotheses about what might happen? What will happen when we mix all of the ingredients together? - Elyse
“It’s going to erupt.” - Lane
“It’s going to explode!” - Saul 

Which ingredient is going to make it erupt? - Elyse
“The baking soda.” - Lane
“Yeah, the baking soda. “The baking soda makes it erupt.” - Giacomo

Do you think it’s going to be a big eruption or just a small eruption? - Elyse
“A big one.” - Giacomo 
“Small.” - Lane 
“No, Elyse. I saw quite little volcanoes.  I couldn’t see the big ones. I just saw the little volcanoes.” - Saul 

The steps/ingredients of our experiment 

1. Jar/Container

We start with our jars, and then add 4-5 spoons of baking soda, and then we add food coloring or paint. 

2. Baking Soda

Everyone had measuring spoons to add their ingredients. 

3. Food Coloring 

“I brought food coloring.” - Lane 
“We bringed food coloring. I have yellow and red. Red is the color for lava.” - Giacomo
So, why do you have yellow? - Elyse​“Because when you mix it it makes orange.” - Giacomo 

4. Dish Soap

7. Add vinegar

5. Water

8. ERUPTIONS!!!

6. Mix it up

Okay, we’ve got the baking soda, food coloring, soap, and water. Do we have an eruption yet?  - Elyse
“No!” - Lane, 5.5 years 
So, if we don’t have an eruption yet.  Which ingredient is going to make the eruption?  - Elyse
“The vinegar.” - Will, 7 years
Alright!  Are you ready? - Elyse
You could see the anticipation on Giacomo’s face. He was grinning ear to ear.
“Should we stay back?” - Giacomo

Giacomo and Rose's eruption was foamy and slower.

“It’s an eruption!” - Saul, 3.8 years
“It’s erupting!!” - Lane, 5.5 years
[Rose was squealing with excitement]
“Pour all of it [vinegar]!” - Rose, 8 years 
Rose and Giacomo’s is a slow eruption. - Elyse
“Ours is a fast one.” - Lane, 5.5 years 
“Look! I’m taking cups of it. Yeah! I’m spooning it out. Look it’s so cool.” - Saul, 3.8 years

Throughout the entire call, there was A LOT of sibling team work.  It was really beautiful to witness their willingness to take turns adding ingredients, sharing ideas, and making decisions about how to walk through the steps.  

“Here Giacomo, help me because you don’t want to put too much.” - Rose, 8 years

In the photos to the right you can see some of this, plus their concentration in measuring, scooping, and adding the ingredients. 

Multiple Eruptions

As soon as the first eruptions were made, they began to ask to do it again!  When asked if they wanted to do it again, all together, they shouted in unison, "YES!"  Immediately, plans for new colors began to develop: 

“I’m going to make yellow this time.” - Saul, 3.8 years 
“We’re going to make a purple one.” - Rose, 8 years
“The first thing we need is baking soda.” - Lane, 5.5 years 
“We need the blue and red to make purple.” - Rose
“Will? Can you get the baking soda?” - Lane

Even though they now knew the steps and the outcome, the excitement was high and contagious! 

As Lane was adding ingredients, Will exclaimed “Oh my gosh!” 

​Rose was jumping up and down again with excitement! And who wouldn't be? 

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​As the second eruptions were happening, Riva (9 years), Saul's big sister, joined us! It was clear from her face and jumping that she had caught the excitement as well! 

Giacomo and Rose

Giacomo and Rose chose a different container for their second volcano.  I believe they were testing out the size of container to amount of ingredients ratio to see if they could get a faster eruption.

“Whoa! We did the biggest!” - Giacomo, 4.4 years
“It’s very foamy!” - Rose, 8 years 
“It went really fast.” - Giacomo

“How bout we do this again!” - Giacomo

Lane and Will

“Vinegar here we come.” - Will, 7 years
“No, we had to add soap.” - Lane, 5.5 years 
“Oh, we haven’t put the soap in yet.” - WIll
“Let it explode!” - Lane

Lane and Will began adding more colors their existing reaction.
“Lane, add green.” - Will
Whoa! It looks like a rainbow volcano. - Elyse
“Yeah, that’s what we’re trying to do.” - Will 
Lane, I think you’re achieving the rainbow volcano.  - Elyse
“Im achieving it.” - Lane

“We put the lid on so we could see if the eruption was strong enough to blast it off.” - Lane

Saul and Riva

“I’m making blue.” - Saul

Thank you Naama for sharing this video from home of Saul and Riva's blue eruption!

“It’s exploding! Look! Look!” - Saul

“I’m putting it back in, and then I’m spooning it out. Guys!  This time I’m going to do a volcano in a cup.” - Saul, 3.8 years

Analyzing and discussing conclusions

As we wrapped up our experiment(s), we took a minute to revisit the footage of the active, Icelandic, volcanoes.  
​
I'm going to share the screen.  What do you think? Was it like this volcano? - Elyse
“Yeah.” - Saul, 3.8 years
“No because it didn’t have a little river.” - Lane, 5.5 years
“It didn’t take a certain path down.” - Will, 7 years
“It went all over the tray, but not too far. I learned something about volcanoes. When lava is underground it’s called magma.  When it’s above ground it’s called lava.” - Lane 
“Guys, can we make another lava?” - Saul 

At the beginning, you thought the baking soda would make it erupt. Was that true? - Elyse
“I thought baking soda would make it erupt, but now vinegar would make it erupt.” - Lane, 5.5 years 
“We made it explode.” - Saul, 3.8 years
When we added water, it didn’t erupt.  We added dish soap, and it didn’t erupt.  Once we added the vinegar, it erupted. So, it’s the baking soda and the vinegar when they come together.  - Elyse

“Then [makes explosion sound and moves arms out].” - Giacomo

I’m so glad that you guys like this experiment! - Elyse
“I love it. I want to keep it forever. This is the most epic thing we’ve ever done!” - Lane, 5.5 years 
“It’s science!” - Will, 7 years