hey - was thinking about ways to make the lava game a little more interesting for 3/4 grade boys. Was thinking about doing a variation on the diet coke/mentos combination (if you haven't seen it, just google those two words and you'll get a zillion hits).
Thinking about a small amount of diet coke in an oatmeal container-sized can (with the volcano cutouts around it) and then let the boys answer questions for an opportunity to drop a single mento in. The first to cause the bubbles to crest over the side is the winner.
Great Idea!!!! Will it work dropping mentos one at a time? I've never done it, but I was under the assumption that you had to drop alot of mentos at one time for it to work. Sounds like a fun experiment to try with my own kids this summer!
Well, I think you may be right. I have tried it today (our VBS starts Monday) and it isn't working out quite like I had hoped.
Part of what I am thinking is the problem is that finding the plain Mentos is a little tricky... seems like I have seen them all over the place but now that I am looking... but I think it may be more a matter of needing a bunch of them at once. May have to come up with a plan B.
It might also have something to do with the size of the opening of the bottle. Everytime I've seen the experiment, it's been with the soda inside the two-liter bottle with the small opening. You might try that.
Professor Pook, I think mich is right about the small opening. I've seen them do this experiment on Mythbusters and it seems like it only takes one, but its always in a 2 liter or 20oz bottle with a small opening.
Posts: 146 | Location: Buies Creek, NC | Registered: March 26, 2008
OK - I think the marshmallows are turning out to be a pretty good idea. They seem to be a good size for the activity, they are a cheap alternative to lava rock (OK, so I really have no idea how much lava rock costs).
Plus the kids get to eat some of the leftovers. Always a nice twist.
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