A Mom's Year

Hi, I’m Will. Welcome to my Science Lab. Today I’m going to show you how to make a volcano using just a few materials that you probably have around the house.

First, make a volcano out of clay. My sister used most of the clay for American Doll food, so I had to make a small volcano. But it’ll work. Make sure there’s a deep hole in the middle for the lava to come out of.

Next, gather the rest of your materials. You’ll need a cup or two of white vinegar, a few drops of red or orange food coloring, and a few tablespoons of baking soda.

Pour a few tablespoons of baking soda into the hole in your volcano. It’s okay if some spills out over the sides.

Pour some white vinegar into a measuring cup. Add a few drops of food coloring to make the vinegar look like lava. I’m using red.

Now pour the vinegar into the volcano.

Lava!

When the baking soda and vinegar mix, it causes a chemical reaction that makes a gas called carbon dioxide. The gas pressure builds until the “lava” bubbles out of the volcano. Give it a try.

This is the Love Bucket, faithful companion to under-the-weather Taylor children. Lexie came home sick from school today and I tucked her in with a warm blanket, “Cats and Dogs 2”, and this old warhorse. I don’t remember what inspired this particular project. Maybe it was the helplessness I felt as a new mother watching my toddler suffer through his first bout with the flu. I couldn’t wave a magic wand to make him feel better, but at least I could give him a plastic purple bucket covered with heart stickers. I like to think it helped a little. Traditions come in all shapes and sizes, and it’s kind of nice to pull out something old and familiar when someone hollers “Mom! I think I’m gonna be sick!”

Do you have special rituals or comforts for your child when he or she is sick?