Bring some explosive creativity into your classroom with our Erupting Volcanoes Craft! This splatter paint activity is the perfect way to combine science and art, giving students a fun and engaging way to visualise volcanic eruptions. Whether used alongside a volcano experiment or as a standalone task, it’s sure to spark curiosity and excitement among young learners.

Students will decorate their own volcano templates, then use straws to blow paint outward from the crater, creating a dynamic lava effect. This process not only encourages fine motor skills and artistic expression but also provides a visual representation of how lava might erupt from a real volcano. Once complete, students can reflect on their eruption by writing a sentence or paragraph to accompany their artwork.

With both pre-assembled and cut-and-create template options included, the Erupting Volcanoes Craft offers flexibility for different ability levels and time frames. It’s an excellent choice for a cross-curricular link between Earth sciences and literacy, and it makes a vibrant addition to any classroom display.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Explore natural phenomena like volcanic eruptions through visual arts
• ✅ Develop fine motor skills and control through painting and collage
• ✅ Understand simple Earth science concepts related to volcanoes
• ✅ Practise procedural and reflective writing
• ✅ Express creativity while making connections between science and art

What’s Included:

• Pre-assembled volcano template (ready to print and decorate)
• Cut-apart volcano pieces for student assembly
• Classroom display banner
• Optional sentence starters and writing prompt space

Materials Needed:

• Printed volcano templates (on white or coloured cardstock)
• Paint in red, orange, and yellow for lava splatter
• Straws for blowing the paint
• Collage materials (e.g. crepe paper, cotton wool, tissue)
• Glue, scissors, and textas or crayons
• Optional: grey-toned cotton wool for smoke effect

How to Use:

1. Choose and print the template version that suits your class needs.
2. Have students decorate their volcano using paint, collage, or both.
3. Allow artwork to dry before completing the lava splatter step.
4. Use straws to blow paint outward from the crater to mimic lava eruption.
5. Complete the writing section - students can describe the eruption or reflect on a related experiment.
6. Display the finished volcanoes with the included banner for a bright, educational display.

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use alongside a volcano experiment to visually represent the eruption process
• 💡 Incorporate into a science and art integration unit focused on Earth’s changes
• 💡 Include in a National Science Week rotation of hands-on experiments and crafts
• 💡 Encourage students to compare their volcano art to real eruption photos or videos
• 💡 Turn the display into a “Volcano Gallery” where students read each other’s descriptive writing

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Print templates on thick card to prevent paint bleed and improve durability
• 💛 Use multiple paint colours for added effect and scientific discussion
• 💛 Pre-cut pieces for younger students or run it as a small group station
• 💛 Add vocabulary cards or anchor charts about volcanoes to extend learning

The Erupting Volcanoes Craft is a hands-on, memorable way to bring science concepts to life while supporting creativity and writing. It’s a great way to engage your students in meaningful, cross-curricular learning that erupts with fun!

This resource pairs well with our National Science Week: Volcano Eruption Experiment.

Need more ideas? Be sure to check out our other National Science Week resources!