Review: National Geographic Build Your Own Volcano!

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We have another fun National Geographic STEM kit to share with you! In June, as part of our Bandai Ambassador role, we were gifted a volcano kit to try out. We had fun reviewing our crystals so we're excited to try this kit next.


The kit has everything you need to build your own volcano. You will be making a plaster mix for your volcano so make sure you do this somewhere that's easy to clean up!


Following the instructions, we used scales and a measuring jug for our plaster mix and water measurements before adding the water to the plaster slowly. Will mixed the water into the plaster much quicker once it was all together because it can become hard quite quick.


The kit comes with a plastic volcano mould. Make sure you push all the pieces together until you hear a clip. We nearly had plaster all over the table because I hadn't clipped one side properly! 

Once all clipped in, our plaster was poured in up to the top and left over night for best results. There wasn't too much mess and there was plenty of plaster mix left for the other children to have a go at making a second volcano later on.


While we left our plaster cast volcano to dry, we explored the rest of the kits contents. We both enjoyed the fact book (it never ceases to amaze me how much even I learn through home ed) and we experimented with the pumice stone and geode that it is included. 

Heading outside, I took a hammer to the geode and smashed it. The inside is beautiful! For the pumice stone, we filled a jug with water and watched it float. I had no idea pumice stone is a rock with gases inside which causes them to float rather than sink.


Our pumice stone floating.


Will put on some goggles and smashed the geode into 2 further peices, he loved the crystals inside and has displayed them in the house.

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We set up for home school the following day, got all the boring stuff out of the way and then painted our volcano. Will chose a deep red and orange and instructed me to add some black around the edges. After about 30 minutes it was time for the best bit: the eruption! 

Watch our quick video below to see our volcano erupt! We used the citric acid provided in the kit and added white vinegar from my cleaning cupboard:


So much fun! As I mentioned above, we have enough plaster to make a second volcano and we have loads of the citric acid left over too. Our first volcano is reusable and even when we do run out of the citric acid everyone knows bicarbonate soda and vinegar will be perfect to enjoy this again and again!


Big thanks to Bandai for yet another fantastic hands on learning experience perfect for our home education and for some STEM fun for all. 

The kits are suitable for ages 8 and over. National Geographic kits (£9.99) and National Geographic Mini Kits (£4.99) are available at all good toy shops. Visit www.bandai.co.uk for more information. 

4 comments:

  1. Oh cool I am the first one to comment! Love that. Your post made me smile and sure took me back to some sweet memories. My older brother loved science in school and made a volcano. Mind you this was well before kits were available, I'm old as dirt...68. It was a science experiment in school, but was to be done at home and taken in. Which is how I am able to remember it. I know he built it with clay, and I remmember it being rather large. Too heavy for him to carry so Mom had to help him get it to school. It was mounted on a wooden board, which also served to catch the explosion. LOL Great stuff. Glad the two of you had such fun and everything can be a learning opportunity. Too many parents don't realize it.

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  2. Popping round again as I make my blog rounds. Hope you're doing well and recovered from the explosions, lol

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  3. Me waving hello again as I make my blog rounds. Been awhile since you'v posted, hope things are ok.

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  4. Making my blog rounds again. Looks like maybe you're not blogging anymore? If you get back into, please swing by for a visit and let me know so I can add you back to my blog log.

    Hope things are going well for you.

    ReplyDelete