Project Mc² Budget Deluxe Wave 1 McKeyla’s Lava Light

What you’ll need for this experiment:

• The lava light apparatus from the McKeyla’s Lava Light doll
• Water
• Vegetable oil
• Food colouring
• Effervescent tablets i.e. AlkaSeltzer (white tablets specifically are listed in the original manual but others can work)

Let’s begin!

1. Fill a glass with one cup of water and add one drop of food colouring.
2. Remove top of the lava light from the base. Pour the coloured water into the lava light up to the third measuring line from the bottom. (If using darker food colouring, pour less coloured water to achieve a better effect.)
3. Add vegetable oil up to the top measuring line.
4. Break one white effervescent tablet into four equal pieces. Drop one piece into the lava light.
5. Twist the cap onto the lava light and reattach the top to the base.
6. Press the button on the front of the unit to turn on the light. Watch as coloured bubbles float around!

Tips and tricks:

• Continue adding pieces of the effervescent tablet to do this experiment again and again!
• Try adding glitter in with the coloured water to see what will happen! What else could you add to make the experiment your own?
• Mix different food colouring drops to make your own colour in a separate glass! Always make sure the proportion is one cup of water for every one drop of food colouring.

Important information:

• Always turn the lava light “OFF” after playing to conserve battery life.
• Remove the clear portion of the lava light from the base before washing. Rinse with mild dish soap and water only. DO NOT expose the lava light base to moisture of any kind. Air dry only.