Help kids understand God’s power. This activity is messy, so do it outdoors.
Bible Connect: Romans 1:20
Best for: Ages 6 to 12
Stuff Per Group: Red modeling clay (here’s a recipe for clay), one 15×15-inch piece of cardboard, aluminum foil, one 20-ounce plastic bottle, baking soda, dishwashing liquid, water, red food coloring, bowls, a funnel, and white vinegar.
The Experiment: Say: Let’s find out what kind of power is possible with this experiment! Cover one side of the cardboard with aluminum foil. Place the plastic bottle in the center of the cardboard, then form a volcano with clay around the bottle.
In a bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of baking soda, 1 cup of water, 5 drops of dishwashing liquid, and 3 drops of red food coloring. Use a funnel to pour the mixture into the bottle. Have kids develop a hypothesis about what will happen in this experiment. Then pour 1 cup of white vinegar into the bottle, and stand back!
Scientific Facts: The red “lava” that spews from your volcano is the chemical reaction between the baking soda and
vinegar. Mixing the two ingredients produces carbon dioxide, the same gas that bubbles in a real volcano.
Talk About It: Have kids describe what they know about volcanoes. Read the Scripture, then ask: How are those powerful
forces like or unlike God? How do you think nature’s power compares with God’s power? In what ways do you experience God’s power in your life? What surprised you about this experiment? When has God’s power surprised you?