Building our Volcano ....

We started by using the left over paper from our Alphabet Adventure B1 sculpted a volcano shape around an old plastic bottle stuck to a sweet tin lid, we then left it to dry in the greenhouse. This took some time as it was quite sodden!

B1 and I then did a couple of layers of proper paper mache to cover the volcano and give a good painting base... some more drying time later .... We took it outside and painted it after looking at pictures on Google and discussing what colours to do. Mummy found some moss for added effect!

Then we used it in our Prehistoric Play and made it erupt using warm water, food colouring, bicarbonate of soda, washing up liquid and vinegar!!

In a jug mix: warm water (enough to fill 3/4 of volcano bottle) and add food colouring and a few drops of washing up liquid. Next mix in a couple spoonfuls of bicarbonate of soda ...then pour the liquid mixture into the bottle in the volcano ...then when you are ready pour in some vinegar and watch it 'erupt'!!!!

Fab fun for little monkeys!!!

Prehistoric Play!

Following on from the last tuff spot we made a volcano!! ... Building our Volcano! and what is best with messy volcanoes?? 

Dinosaurs!!!

This idea was inspired from the blog of an old friend Mrs Tutey's Blog and I just had to try it as my boys aren't quite into dinosaurs etc so thought some extra learning may help! Mummy gathered bits and bobs and made the scene for the dinos (it was raining outside so quicker for mummy to do the hunter gatherer!) and then surprised the boys with it...

We talked about when we thought dinosaurs existed (next week apparently!), where they are now (they aren't here yet!) and what the planet looked like when they were alive (jungle!). We have a large garden ornament fossil and we discussed what they think fossils are, the boys had some Happyland cave men figurines and we talked about humans and their clothes and how they might have lived ... ok for all the fellow nerds out there I know there issues in exact timelines here but for B1 & M1's sake go with it :P

We then had roaring competitions on who could roar the loudest - B1 won!

Next came the volcano eruption: So here is a link on how to do it DIY Volcano Eruption 

This wowed the boys, and mummy too because mummy wasn't quite expecting it to work! (daddy however was depressed there wasn't an actual explosion :P) Then we had a little talk about lava, where it comes from and do they think it is hot or cold ... great all round experiment and fun for the monkeys!

After some more free play it was then time for a wash and of course the dinos came into the bath for their wash too (saves mummy a job!) Good fun was had on a rainy afternoon in August and hopefully a little bit of history & chemistry learnt along the way :)