I found a fun, cheap, and easy project in Family Fun magazine about making Lava Lamps with things you already have in your house.
You will need 3 empty water bottles ( I don't normally buy this kind of water, but they make pretty lava lamps with the lids on), food coloring, vegetable oil, and alka seltzer.
Fill each bottle a little more than half with oil:
Then fill the rest of the way with water. Leave about an inch at the top:
Now add 10 drops of food coloring:
Break your Alka Seltzer into 4 pieces:
and drop them in one piece at a time. Wait until the first piece stops bubbling before you drop in the next. If too many go in, you solution gets all cloudy. Don't worry, he's not hurt. The band-aid is merely decorative...as is the tattoo. Match those up with the black socks pulled to the knees he likes to wear, and I have got quite a little ladies man!
and watch the magic happen...
over...and over...and over again.
We had so much fun with these. If you have any other summer fun ideas, please post a link. I would love more ideas!
Sent here from www.stylist.com Such a great activity. We will try this weekend and I will link back to your post on my blog! Thanks www.thingsIfancy.com
Posted by: Things I Fancy | July 21, 2012 at 06:38 AM
This looks like a fun art/science crossover project...and I have featured your site in an article at examiner.com.
Posted by: Pamela McCurdy | July 11, 2012 at 02:21 PM
i just read the comment, using this idea for a fun time with senior citizens, my question is this . can denture tablets be used instead of alka seltzer tablets, i think some seniors may have some of those. just a thoght and thx
Posted by: Edna Desselle | July 09, 2012 at 09:38 PM
Great fun! Not sure where to get the water bottles
Thanks for the ideas
Posted by: Jan | July 02, 2012 at 05:06 AM
I am doing this activity with the Senior Citizens at our community Senior Activity center. Manyof the seniors have not done a lot of the fun things I find on this sight...and this one will really get them wowing! I would like to know if you can put the lid on or does it need to remian off during the Alka Seltzer drop ins? I thankyou so much for allowing many people to have fun with this as it is NOT only for children but for the Older adults of our community as well!!! I will also be doing this with my great niece and nephew 3 and 7.
Posted by: Rita | June 12, 2012 at 08:06 PM
think a glow stick could be added to use indoors as a night light?
Posted by: jessica | May 17, 2012 at 05:07 PM
For Sarah on 1/24: The science is that the alka-seltzer releases carbon dioxide when it is put in water. The CO2 bubbles get temporarily trapped at the oil/water barrier and then when enough gas build up to overcome the difference in fluid densities the bubbles carry a water droplet through the oil to the surface with them. You can see the tiny bubbles in each blue drop in the last photo. When the bubbles reach the top of the oil they will eventually escape into the air and the water droplet falls back down to the bottom since water is more dense than oil.
Posted by: Catherine | May 16, 2012 at 02:42 PM
When do you put the lids on the jars?
Posted by: sally hartsfield | May 03, 2012 at 06:29 PM
I just did this with my almost-two-year-old and he was amazed! Thanks for the fun tip! (found you on pinterest)
Posted by: Mama2Owen | April 20, 2012 at 10:02 AM
I am so excited to try this with some of my elementary aged students! Can this be done more than one time over several days or can each bottle lava lamp last a few days at a time. Thanks fior the great idea!
Posted by: Braille Teacher | April 16, 2012 at 09:33 PM
Thank you so much for this post, we have done this over and over in the last wek or so and it is such a hit. Your photographs (and children) are beautiful.
Posted by: Emily | April 12, 2012 at 03:28 PM
Cool! Thanks!
Posted by: Katerina | April 05, 2012 at 07:54 AM
This is so neat ..
Posted by: Jeana Roper | March 13, 2012 at 10:26 PM
My 4yr old son and the 7yr old child I care for loved this activity. Thanks
Posted by: Dana | March 10, 2012 at 02:09 PM
Simple and Great tip for kids to check out!! this is pretty good to read this kind of posts which are entertaining, I am gonna try this Lava Lamp today!
Posted by: learn to surf | March 09, 2012 at 08:45 AM
Did this tonight with the family and another couple. The results were AWESOME and the kiddos LOVED it, until their alkaseltzer ran out, that is. :) We will be taking this to the summer family reunion to share with the rest of the wee relatives. Thank you so much for sharing such an AWESOME idea!
Posted by: HGeiger | March 04, 2012 at 07:10 PM
What camera was used?? Great photography
Posted by: Sabrina | March 04, 2012 at 02:51 PM
We added glitter to ours! This is so fun as an activity. Thank you for sharing!!
Posted by: Annie | February 26, 2012 at 06:20 PM
How long does it last??
Posted by: Shyla | February 22, 2012 at 11:02 AM
lol @ lava6 (pic )# 6
Posted by: bob | February 14, 2012 at 08:02 AM
We're going to give this a go. What's the science explanation behind it?
Posted by: Sarah | January 24, 2012 at 08:15 AM
This is so cool! We're on our way to the grocery store to buy Alka Seltzer right now. I'll definitely link to you when I post it =o) Thanks!
Posted by: Erin @ Making Memories | January 15, 2012 at 12:58 PM
What an awesome idea! Looks pretty simple and not too messy too. I'll try to make one of these with my nephew one day =)
xox Linda
Posted by: Linda @ theLENNOXX | January 08, 2012 at 02:41 AM
that is awesome i love this idea i will try this really soon actually as soon as possible:)
Posted by: alexi | December 28, 2011 at 09:42 PM
this looks so cool i will do it this winter and summer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: anna | December 28, 2011 at 09:39 PM
Thank you for sharing! I found this on pinterest and followed to your site.
Posted by: Ann | December 24, 2011 at 10:21 AM
can you put the caps on while its fizzing?
Posted by: Kathi | October 09, 2011 at 07:20 PM
Oh boy ...how to make homemade Lava lights, allrighty then what great ideas to do with your kidsor grandkids
Posted by: pam henry | October 07, 2011 at 09:24 AM
My son is into the black socks right now. It made for an interesting summer at least it's fall now and we're moving into long pants. Whew!
Posted by: Stacey | September 21, 2011 at 07:03 AM
thanks for sharing. The children just made one each.
Posted by: Alexia | September 16, 2011 at 02:34 PM
Super super fun!! I love the pictures and the detailed instructions. Thank you for this idea!!
Posted by: Laura | September 10, 2011 at 07:21 PM
Cant wait to do these..thank you!
Posted by: jennifer kindle | September 10, 2011 at 06:48 AM
had a blast doing this with my boys, are playing it with it nearly a week later still! Thanks for the idea, I've also mentioned it on my blog!
Posted by: Rachel | September 06, 2011 at 07:56 AM
Alka seltzer is found in the aisle by Pepto, and stomach aides - used for upset stomach, headache etc.
Hangover remedy from the 1960's
Posted by: Badgerfanz | August 24, 2011 at 04:28 PM
so fun, im going to try this today with my boys, ill be sure to blog it later and link back to you :) we found those same bottles at TJMaxx, they are glass!! so nice.
Posted by: Drea | July 12, 2011 at 06:20 AM
FYI...this will only work while the Alka Seltzer is active, then the bubbles stop. We found that you can save the solution and do it over and over again until the mixture gets too cloudy.
Posted by: stephanie | June 17, 2011 at 04:42 AM
This activity is wonderful! I will be sharing this with the families that I work with next fall. I have pinned it on pinterest. Hope that is ok!
Posted by: Kristi @ Creative Connections for Kids | June 16, 2011 at 09:56 AM
LOL....that second picture...now we KNOW what it is to be a "fly" on the wall...watching! GREAT TUTORIAL!
Posted by: barbara | June 16, 2011 at 05:49 AM
Very very cool!!!! Awesome idea.
Posted by: Kristi @ Creative Connections for Kids | June 15, 2011 at 08:10 PM
So, do the bubbles only come up when you put alka seltzer in? Or will they still work like a normal lava lamp all the time?
Posted by: Rhiannon Urso | June 08, 2011 at 07:42 AM
What is Alka Seltzer? Amazing fun..can't wait to do it with my class.
Posted by: Veena | June 05, 2011 at 08:35 PM
Oh yeah! That's a great project. :)
Posted by: killlashandra | June 16, 2010 at 02:25 PM
This is awesome!!!
Posted by: Emily Sims | June 16, 2010 at 08:17 AM
How fun!! Gotta try it this week! How long did they last??
Posted by: Jen Taylor | June 15, 2010 at 07:46 PM
This is so cool. Can't wait to try it with my kiddos! :o)
Posted by: Keri Justus | June 12, 2010 at 11:34 AM
Love you even more for this :) My little man likes to pull his socks up to his knees too. I want to know where all teh socks in their size went? They either don't come past the ankle or go way over the knee. Drives me crazy, but he loves it. Polo, shorts and knees highs - yep, he's super cool.
Posted by: Stacy of KSW | June 11, 2010 at 07:39 PM