DIY Fizzy Volcano Sensory Bin + Free Printable Science Experiment Worksheet

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Looking for an easy and exciting activity that’s perfect for toddlers and preschoolers? This Fizzy Volcano Sensory Bin for Kids is a simple DIY project that mixes science and sensory play in the most fun way! With just a few ingredients, you will turn a regular sensory bin into a full science experiment and learn how to make cloud dough at the same time!

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Whether you’re filling a rainy afternoon or adding a playful twist to your learning routine, this fizzy volcano is a hit every time. Kids love the bright colors, fizzy reactions, and hands-on mess (in the best way!).

We also use the same cloud dough recipe for our Homemade Cloud Dough Ice Cream Sensory Bin and you can learn how to make a squishier Fluffy Lemon Cloud Dough (2 Ingredients).

This sensory bin also includes a free science experiment worksheet, click the button below to jump to the printable!

📌What You’ll Need

• Baking soda
• Water
• Food coloring (green and red/yellow to make orange)
• Sugar cones
• Vinegar
• Small scoop or dropper
• Plastic bin or tray (for easy cleanup)

🌋 What Kids Can Learn from This Experiment

Patience and Focus
Taking turns with tools and waiting for the “eruption” teaches patience and attention—especially in group or classroom settings.

Basic Science Concepts
Kids get a hands-on introduction to chemical reactions as they watch baking soda and vinegar create fizz and bubbles. It’s a fun, visual way to explore cause and effect!

Sensory Exploration
Playing with cloud dough, scooping vinegar, and feeling the fizz engages multiple senses—touch, sight, sound, and even smell—boosting sensory development.

Fine Motor Skills
Scooping, pouring, and using droppers help strengthen hand muscles and improve coordination, which supports handwriting and other everyday tasks.

Imagination and Creativity
Building the volcanoes and designing the landscape encourages storytelling and open-ended play.

Problem Solving
Kids learn to experiment: “What happens if I add more vinegar?” or “Should I use the dropper or the spoon?” These questions naturally lead to curiosity and critical thinking.

Language Development
As kids describe what they see, hear, and feel (“It’s bubbling!” “It’s like lava!”), they’re practicing new vocabulary and building communication skills.

✨How to Set Up the Fizzy Volcano Sensory Bin:

Make Cloud Dough – Mix the baking soda with water at a time until a soft, moldable dough forms.

Color the Dough – Divide the cloud dough and dye with food coloring.

Create the Volcanoes – Cut the tips off the sugar cones and pack them with the orange cloud dough. Repeat for at least three cones.

Build the Landscape – Spread the green cloud dough across the bin as the base, then place the volcano cones upright on the surface.

Make it Erupt! – Use a scoop or dropper to slowly pour vinegar into the cones and watch the fizzy eruption! 

Optional – For an extra burst of color, add food coloring directly to the sugar cones.

👇Ways to Play:

Erupt the Volcanoes: Let kids take turns squirting vinegar into each cone (aka the volcano) and watch the bubbly magic happen. Add food coloring to make each eruption a surprise!

Color Mix Lab: Try different color combinations in each cone and ask your little scientist to predict what colors they’ll see when they erupt.

Scoop & Pour Play: Give them spoons, cups, or scoops and let them transfer the fizzy mix. It’s a fun way to build motor skills while they “clean up the lava.”

And there you have it, our fizzy volcano sensory bin adventure in all its bubbly glory! Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or just a grown-up who loves a good mess, this activity is a surefire hit. Plus, don’t forget to pair with it with the science experiment worksheets, especially with older kids.

✅Get the Free Printable Science Experiment Worksheets