Dinosaurs In Hot Lava

Where there are dinosaurs there are volcanoes. The two are linked together in significant ways. Volcanoes are linked to dinosaurs through both extinction events & periods of flourishing. Volcanic activity, particularly large-scale eruptions, can drastically alter the Earth's climate, leading to mass extinctions that wipe out competitors & create opportunities for new species to thrive, including the early dinosaurs. Conversely, volcanic activity can also create conditions that favor the diversification & dominance of certain dinosaur lineage. 

Since the children are always curious about the why, how, when dinosaurs became extinct, after discussing these factors with the  children we invited the children to create this prehistoric time. On our Discount School Supply tuff tray we placed Dawn dish soap, Arm & Hammer baking soda in certain areas, volcanoes (Open Play Toy Earth Tone Cones), rocks, rustic bowls, and dinosaurs, as the landscape. In beakers we placed lava colored (Colorations Liquid Water Colors in Red, Yellow, Orange) Heinz vinegar, & pipettes. The children were able to create real life scenarios through small world play & even explore real science through creating chemical reactions!

The chemical reaction between the vinegar, which is an acid, and baking soda, which is a base, creates carbon dioxide. The reaction the children created through experimenting made for some super cool lava. As more lava filled the tuff tray there was lots of excitement over the baking soda and vinegar reactions, amazing discussions/observations, and such amazing play!