Volcano Eruption Painting in a Ziploc Bag

Remember the classic Ziploc bag painting activity?

It’s such a brilliant process art for babies and toddlers to explore colors. It can be set up in 1 minute and best of all, it’s completely mess free!

So grateful to the genius who came up with this idea.

Since we were on a volcano learning unit, I added a volcano twist to this classic activity! We have done Ziploc bag painting before, but the volcanos added a new level of fun for my 3yo and 6yo. They were so thrilled to create their volcano eruptions painting in a ziplock bag!

Related: Do you have a volcano lover at home? Make a DIY Volcano Cardboard Puzzle!

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A fun color mixing activity for children
What you need
Setting up your Volcano Eruption Painting in a Ziploc Bag

A fun color mixing activity for children

The cool thing about this activity is that children get to see color mixing in action.

Lead them to discover what red + yellow will make with a simple comment: I wonder what will happen when we put red and yellow in a bag.

My 3yo was especially excited when orange appeared in the bag, because that’s her favorite color!

kid's fingers pushing paint to make a Volcano Eruption painting

Related: Here’s another simple color mixing art activity for young children. They get to learn symmetry at the same time!

What you need

Here's what you should prepare before starting to make your own Volcano Eruption Painting in a Ziploc Bag:

A Ziploc bag
Yellow and Red Paint (I used tempera paint here)
Brown construction paper
Double sided tape
Washi tape or painter’s tape

Watch this video tutorial to see how I made this volcano mixing activity!

Note: Please use old Ziploc bags if possible. I save and wash our old Ziploc bags for activities and I strongly encourage you to do so too!

Setting up your Volcano Eruption Painting in a Ziploc Bag

Follow the instructions below.

Cut a small brown volcano mountain. Height of volcano should be about half the size of the Ziploc bag.
Apply double sided tape on one of side the volcano cutout. Attach the cutout in the Ziploc bag.

place a brown paper volcano mountain inside a ziplock bag.

Squeeze some yellow and red paint on the side of the volcano cutout that’s not attached to the Ziploc bag.

Squeeze some yellow and red paint on the paper volcano

Carefully turn over the bag. Be careful not to press on the bag.
Secure the bag on the table with washi tape or painter’s tape so that the bag does not move around during the activity.