Mini Volcanos

This is a new fan favorite in our house.  I got the idea from this amazing mom blog - she does her own preschool, lesson plan and all, at home with her kids.  She does it around the alphabet, and V is for volcano.  She originally got the idea from here.  (I have this really strange need to make sure I give credit where it's due.)

This activity is pretty simple.  All you need is:

• baking soda
• vinegar
• pipettes
• food coloring
• rimmed baking sheet

This is pretty self explanitory right?  A little vinegar in each glass, a little food coloring in each vinegar, some baking soda dumped on the tray, and there you go!  Let them have at it.  You can't really tell, but Gavin loved this!  I can always tell when he loves an activity because he asks to do it again.

One thing though.  And maybe this is just a note to myself since it is probably obvious to everyone else.  Don't leave your four year old with his three year old bestie while doing mini volcanoes so that you can put the baby down for a nap.  You might come back to find that they have dumped the vinegar into the tray, smooshed it around with their fingers, made "Pirate Stew," and left a nice fine coating of baking soda and vinegar all over your table and floor.  Those two are so lucky they are so cute.

Edited to add one last picture:  My genius friend Cathy, mother of the three year old bestie, came up with this idea - doing the mini volcanoes in mini muffin tins!!