This is one of those classic experiments that you always seem to see on TV sitcoms, but I have yet to ever make one. It is surprisingly easy and it actually works! You need only a few basic supplies:

MATERIALS: A dish (here I used a Pyrex baking dish but for the party I am going to use disposable aluminium trays), playdough (I will be sharing my cheap version for DIY playdough soon as the stuff here in Switzerland is so expensive to buy), a bottle (I used a glass one, but a normal plastic one works great), half a cup of water, a few drops of red or orange food colouring, a quarter of a cup of white vinegar, a quarter of a cup of dishwashing liquid, 2 tablespoons baking powder/bicarbonate of soda/baking soda (here is Switzerland it is Backpulver and one satchet is perfect) and a funnel (I finally found plastic ones at COOP Bau and Hobby, but subsequently saw an idea on Youtube where you just make one from rolling up paper into a conical shape). And we just had to add in a plastic dinosaur (found a whole box at Ottos).

DIRECTIONS: 1. Place the bottle in the centre of the dish and hold it in place with a mountain of playdough around it. Make sure to leave the opening of the bottle visible.

2. Now add the water, vinegar, dish detergent and food colouring. Do not add your baking soda at this stage. Add the baking soda when you are ready for an eruption. 3. Pour the baking soda into a funnel placed into the bottle in the volcano. The baking soda will react with the vinegar and cause the eruption.

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