LAVA JARS

GATHER NEEDED ITEMS

Great Videos to Watch with this Project:
Bubbling Lava Lamp
Lava Lamp Science

This is a pretty simple one, all you need are the following basic items:

Oil, Water, (1) Canning Jar per Kiddo
Food Coloring, Alka-Seltzer Tabs - LOTS
Flashlight
Students

WATER & ALKA-SELTZER

Fill jar half full with water.

Alka-Seltzer can be broken up into little bits for small (lava flows) -- although, we found that full tabs create a better reaction.

FOOD COLORING

Next, add some food coloring to your water. Kiddos can pick any color and use as much or as little as you prefer. No stirring needed - the (lava flow) will mix everything up later on.

ADD OIL TO FILL JAR

Add oil to fill the remainder of the jar, leave a little room at the top for (lava flow) to have plenty of space. You will want to put the lid on your jar eventually so leaving space will plan for this as well.

DROP IN THE ALKA-SELTZER

Drop in the Alka-Seltzer and watch the (lava flow) bubble up through the oil. Small tabs produced a small reaction, full tabs produced a more impressive reaction.

WATCH THE LAVA

As kiddos watch the (lava flow) shine a flashlight on the jar, this creates a (lava lamp) like effect.

M&H LOVED this experiment - they even packed up a gift jar for a friend. We took this over during a dinner party and all the kids who were there loved the (lava flow) then we left the jar and extra Alka-Seltzer so their friend could repeat the experiment. Share the fun is a great skill to foster.