Y3 > English > Health_Wellbeing > PSE > How to make a lava lamp

Lesson by S Watton

Learning Intentions:

  • To create a lava lamp.
  • To understand why the reaction occurs.

Step 1: Activity overview for parent, carers and pupils

This is a practical activity which can be completed offline and probably best conducted outside in the garden or on a surface area that can be wiped down easily.

Safety note: DO NOT keep the lid on the jars/ bottles while the antacids are bubbling inside.

Resources:

Plastic bottle / glass jar, vegetable oil, water, food colouring, Alka Seltzer, glitter (optional)

Step 2: Introduction to the activity and additional information

This activity is a visual experiment about discovering that oil and water do not mix. Start by watching the experiment on the link below:

  • Did you enjoy the experiment?
  • What happens when the water and oil are mixed together in the plastic bottle?
  • What happens when the antacid tablet reaches the water? (It releases carbon dioxide bubbles which rise up through the oil creating coloured bubbles).

 

Step 3: Tasks to carry out for this activity

Activity 1 – Making a Lava lamp

Collect all your resources / equipment together

  • Ensure that you have a clear surface with which to conduct this fun experiment.
  • Fill about 1/3 of your jar or bottle with water. Add the vegetable oil leaving some room at the top to make sure the mixture doesn’t bubble over.
  • Add your food colouring of your choice. The colours may mix, so think about what colours you may want to use. Around 8-10 drops should be enough.
  • Break up one antacid tablet into a few pieces and very slowly add one piece to the mixture and watch the bubbles appear.
  • You could add a couple of pieces at a time and watch the bubbles go fast and furious.
  • To add an extra element, why not turn the lights off and use a torch and shine it into the jar to watch all the effects.
  • Have fun and don’t forget to take some pictures as evidence.

 

Once you have completed the task you can email anything you create (photos, documents, screenshots etc.) directly to your teacher or directly upload it to any of the available places in Step 5.

 

Step 4: Look over the success criteria for this activity:

Success criteria #1:  I can follow instructions on how to create a lava lamp.

Success criteria #2:  I can understand and explain how a lava lamp works.

 

Step 5: Click on the relevant link below if you have any work to upload to your online areas

 J2e   Google Drive   OneDrive   Seesaw