Make an exploding watermelon volcano out of a small watermelon. We love volcano activities and baking soda science! Try a WATERMELON-CANO! Plus, there’s no food waste! Oh, and if you want to learn about real volcanoes…we have that too!
Make an Exploding Watermelon Volcano for Science
In this fun and fruity experiment, kids will create their own “volcano” using a watermelon and baking soda, simulating an exciting volcanic eruption! This experiment teaches about chemical reactions as the baking soda combines with vinegar to produce carbon dioxide gas, causing the “lava” to bubble up and spill out of the watermelon. It’s a great hands-on activity to understand how volcanic eruptions work and the science behind the gases involved.
Science Concepts: Chemical reactions, Gas production (carbon dioxide), Eruptions and pressure, States of matter (solid, liquid, gas)
Recomended Grade Level: All ages will love this fun experiment! (PreK- 5th Grade)
Supplies:
- Small watermelon (personal)
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
- Dish soap
- Food coloring {optional}.
We also used a knife, a melon baller, and a tray to catch the eruption.
💡 We worked hard to clear out the watermelon, so this is not a wasteful food activity! You can also use a regular-sized watermelon, but it will take longer to clean out!
Watermelon Volcano Set Up
To prepare your watermelon, cut a small hole on top. Similar to carving a pumpkin. Make the opening just big enough to scoop out the fruit, but as small as possible to allow for the most exciting eruption.
🔎 TIP: When the reaction occurs, the gas must be forced upwards to exit cool. A smaller opening will give this effect. A larger opening will allow the gas to disperse, creating less of a grand exit!
How To Make a Watermelon Erupt
STEP 1: Hollow out a miniature watermelon with a melon baller tool so you don’t waste the fruit! The kids will have fun with this part too!
💡 Alternatively, you can put a water bottle with baking soda into the watermelon and pour vinegar directly into the bottle.
STEP 2: To make your eruption for the watermelon volcano activity, add a good amount of baking soda to the watermelon. We had a tablespoon measure but put at least a half cup in to start.
Note: If you use a regular-size watermelon, you will need more of everything!
STEP 3: Add a couple of squirts of dish soap.
STEP 4: (Optional) You can squeeze in food coloring if desired.
STEP 5: Pour vinegar straight into the watermelon and get ready to watch your watermelon erupt. The pictures speak for themselves!
For an alternative to vinegar, check out our erupting lemon volcano. We continued to add baking soda, vinegar, and coloring until we ran out of vinegar!
Free Summer Science Guide
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Baking Soda and Vinegar Science
This cool, fizzy chemical reaction occurs when baking soda and vinegar are combined. Mixing a base, baking soda, and acid, vinegar, produces a fizzing gas called carbon dioxide. This reaction is what causes your watermelon volcano to erupt. Did you know you can also blow up a balloon with this chemical reaction?
💡 TIP: Adding dish soap to your chemical reaction will make the eruption froth and bubble!
Please touch! This is cool science for the senses!
Let your kids experiment with this watermelon volcano activity. Kids can pour the vinegar, scoop the baking soda, and add color!
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Non- Newtonian Fluids Science You Can Touch!
This watermelon volcano activity is the kind of science you can hear and see too! Consider the senses involved with this science experiment… sight, touch, sound, and even smell!
If you add enough vinegar at once, you will have an explosion of fizzing foam covering everything.
More Cool Volcanoes for Kids
We have a great selection of the coolest volcanoes to try! If you have a kid who loves baking soda and vinegar volcanoes, check out the list below. Grab the free mini volcano pack in the Volcano Facts for Kids. Plus, there’s a vinegar-free one too.
- How to Make a Volcano
- Volcano Facts for Kids
- Sandbox Volcano
- Pumpkin Volcano
- Apple Volcano
- Lemon Volcano (No Vinegar)
- LEGO Volcano (also great summer fun)
💡 Click on the image below or the link for more awesome summer science ideas.
Thank you so much, its agood steam