The Best Volcano Ever

Every year the third graders at Keith elementary have an opportunity to build a volcano. In searching for the most creative way of producing "lava" we watched lots of You-tube clips, and did a lot of online searches. However, the best idea came when Leilani was hanging out with Uncle Daniel, our chemistry teacher. He suggested using sodium dichromate with a magnesium band. This was different from the soda and vinegar, or mentos and coke idea so we decided that's what we would use for our lava. The idea for the volcano had been born! Here we are working together as a family on what is to be the best volcano ever!And here is the finished product of the best volcano ever. In addition to the volcano, we did a little landscaping that included trees, sand, and a river. Leilani wanted to put a climber on the side of the volcano, but it would have been too small to identify once we had it to scale. And yes, it was so the climber would become covered in lava...she must be my daughter...

The big day came when all the third graders were able to erupt their volcanoes. Aidyn raced me to the school, her run showing her excitement that the time had finally come and we checked Mia out of school so she could witness the volcano greatness...we were all excited. After waiting for about 10 minutes, Leilani's class walked out, each with their personal volcano in hand. They sat in a circle and the eruptions began. Everyone had a turn at success and then it was Leilani's turn. The wind was blowing and in order for her volcano to erupt she needed to ignite the magnesium band, after a few tries, it caught spark and we had an excited crowd. As quickly as the excitement came, it was taken away with the same swiftness when the wind blew out the sparks seconds later. We could not light it again. So the greatly anticipated moment became a moment of temporary failure and disappointment. Her friends told her "sorry" and we went home. I could feel Leilani's disappointment as her eyes filled with light tears. It was crushing...BUT we would not fail. We got home, placed the volcano in the middle of the sunroom where the wind was not a factor, and lit her up! The feeling of failure and disappointment dissipated and success was on her side as we witnessed the best volcano eruption ever. I hope you enjoy the eruption as much as we enjoyed it in person!