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How to make a Spectacular Volcano
This volcano is made with Diet Coke and Mentos. And the particular challeng is in how to make it quickly, waterproof and rechargeable. I solve all of these problems for you. Here is the video that shows complete instructions and you also get to see it fire off.
I also have another volcano project you might be interested in. This project doesn't use any paper mache or plaster so it is much less mess, easier and faster to make and it looks great. It uses posterboard to form the cone of the volcano. The Easy Posterboard Volcano Project
The challenge of making this volcano is that you want something that really fires off a big stream in a dramatic way. Mentos and Diet Coke are perfect for this but the typical volcano project pours almost two liters of soda on your volcano! That means if you want to use it again it has to be waterproof. In this project I use a product called Great Stuff to form the volcano cone. Great Stuff Insulating Foam Sealant for Gaps & Cracks is a spray on foam insulation that hardens into a nice shell that you can paint. Once it dries you paint it and fire it off.
You can do this project with other types of volcano shells just be aware that most shells will get soggy after a single use. About Great Stuff: This material must be used only by adults and there are safety warnings. you must wear gloves and eye protection when spraying it. Follow all the instructions that come with the can.
How to Make the Volcano -
Materials you need:
2 liters of carbonated soda
Aluminum Foil
Great Stuff (red can type)
Safety Gloves
Safety Goggles
Mentos
A board about 1 foot square
Cut a hole in the board so the 2 liter bottle can slide right through it. Wrap the bottle in foil then place it right on the hole. Now spray the Great Stuff all around it so it forms a volcano cone. Let dry. Then you can take the bottle out and paint it. Once the paint is dry it is ready to fire off.
You don't have to cut a hole in the board. You can simply place the bottle right on the board then use the great stuff to form your cone. With this method you won't be able to get the bottle out so for reuse you will have to fill it again with soda from the top. Up to you how you want to do it.
Here is the volcano cone. It is dry and ready to paint. The Great Stuff gives it a terrific magma look.
Here is the completed volcano, painted and ready to go. It only took ten minutes to spray on the great stuff and once it is dried you can put the bottle back in and then fire it off.
This picture shows you how to get the mentos into the bottle. You roll a paper tube and put three mentos in it. You place the tube on top of a sheet of paper or cardboard. When you pull the sheet out the mentos will all fall in. It works best if you get them to fall in at the same time.
And you get a tremendous stream of soda exploding out of the bottle.
With the easy removable bottle you can take it right out, put a new bottle in and fire it off again.
Amazon.com has some great volcano making stuff too!
Volcano Making Kit - Make your own volcano and watch as it erupts with bubbling, fizzing "lava". Kit includes fast drying plaster, volcano mold, paint, paint brush and stir stick. Requires baking soda and vinegar for eruption (not included).
Looking for some Great Volcano Kits?
Amazon.com has some great volcano making stuff too!
Build your own volcano, add lava rocks and color, and squeeze it to erupt!
Recommended for Ages 6+
Perfect for science fairs or home crafting projects!
Volcano Making Kit - Make your own volcano and watch as it erupts with bubbling, fizzing "lava". Kit includes fast drying plaster, volcano mold, paint, paint brush and stir stick. Requires baking soda and vinegar for eruption (not included).
In recent years, the fascination among kids with chemistry sets has seemingly dwindled. And after all the terrorist bombings worldwide, many parents are probably reluctant to have their kids messing around in the basement with the test-tubes and chemicals that used to be de-rigeur in adolescent development. But here's a delightful book of simple chemistry experiments that any kid can do with household compounds like baking soda, vinegar, and whatnot -- perfectly safe, and highly educational as well (and the volcano seems like it would be very cool). And, I was pleased to find out that it was written by a 13-year-old! Recommended.
Volcanoes (The Wonders of Our World) This book is suitable for ages 8-10. Dramatic full-color photos of eruptions such as Mount St. Helens help show how volcanoes are created, different kinds of eruptions and cone formations, and why tsunamis often follow.
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I also have another volcano project you might be interested in. This project doesn't use any paper mache or plaster so it is much less mess, easier and faster to make and it looks great. It uses posterboard to form the cone of the volcano. 
is a spray on foam insulation that hardens into a nice shell that you can paint. Once it dries you paint it and fire it off. 
Here is the volcano cone. It is dry and ready to paint. The Great Stuff gives it a terrific magma look.
This picture shows you how to get the mentos into the bottle. You roll a paper tube and put three mentos in it. You place the tube on top of a sheet of paper or cardboard. When you pull the sheet out the mentos will all fall in. It works best if you get them to fall in at the same time. 
