The science fair is one of the favorite times of year for kids and teacher alike. There are always very interesting things and one of the greatest ones is invariably a model volcano. Volcanoes have fascinated people for thousands of years and now is your chance to make one of your own. Here are some more tips on making model volcanoes that will help you succeed with your model.
Planning is one of the most important things you need to do when it comes to your volcano. You need to make sure that you have all of the supplies you need before you begin, because if you are delayed, it may cause problems with your volcano later on. You don’t want to run out of supplies either so it is also important to make sure you have enough of everything as well. In order to determine this, you should know how big you want your volcano to be when it is finished.
Make sure that you start building your volcano from the bottom up. It will not work well if you start with different parts and complete them and then they don’t fit together. You also want to make sure that the volcano is much wider at the bottom than at the top so it will be stable and create a realistic lava flow when you have it all working. Having a solid plan will also help you avoid these types of problems. When you start making your volcano or the plaster or papier-mâche you will use, wear clothes that have been designated for doing special projects or that you don’t care about getting messy. Make sure that you give the volcano a chance to dry completely before you paint it. If you plan ahead enough, it is great to have it dry for a day or two before you paint. This will help the paint to adhere better and will also give better colors. You can use almost any kind of paint you want, but some are water soluble and may bleed or wash off when your lava flow happens. Choose a paint that you think will give you the best results. If you want extra texture on the volcano you can sprinkle on sand or another coarse material while the paint is still wet.
When you are making your plaster for the volcano, make sure that you follow the instructions for preparing it so it will dry correctly and also be formable. Some plasters don’t give you much time to work with them and make changes before they are set and dry. This can be particularly problematic if you don’t have enough plaster and have to run to the store to get more. When you arrive home, half of the volcano will be dry and it will be very difficult to match the consistency or to make the two halves bond very well. Even though plaster is a fairly safe material to work with, it’s a good idea to wear gloves and safety goggles so your skin and eyes are protected from the dust of the plaster. If you have sensitive skin, the plaster and also quickly strip the moisture from your hands. You also want to make sure and wear gloves when you are preparing your lava materials. Even food coloring can stain and make a big mess if it isn’t used properly. The last thing that you want is a lava explosion in your house or school, so it is important to keep all of the items used for the lava sealed well in separate containers until it is time to erupt.
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