Erupting Dinosaur Slime: A Fizzing Dinosaur Extinction Activity for Kids

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Looking for an unforgettable dinosaur science activity? This Erupting Dinosaur Slime combines bubbling chemical reactions, colorful “lava,” and stretchy slime into one exciting hands-on experiment kids absolutely love.

My son actually named this activity Dinosaur Extinction Slime, and honestly, it couldn’t be more perfect. First, the dinosaurs are buried beneath a dramatic foaming eruption. Then, once the reaction settles, kids get to play with the slime left behind!

Whether you’re studying dinosaurs at home, planning a preschool science activity, or just looking for a fun STEM project, this dinosaur slime experiment is a guaranteed hit.

If you’d rather make a traditional volcano, be sure to check out my post on How to Make a Volcano as well.

How to Make Erupting Dinosaur Slime

This dinosaur slime activity is simple to set up and creates an amazing fizzing reaction that turns into slime you can continue playing with afterward.

Supplies

½ cup white school glue
2 tablespoons baking soda
1 tablespoon contact lens solution (must contain boric acid)
¼ cup white vinegar
Red food coloring
Yellow food coloring
Glass jar or plastic container
Small bowl or measuring cup
Plastic tray or baking sheet
Small toy dinosaurs

Note: This activity can get messy, so definitely place everything on a tray before beginning!

If you want a regular volcano activity instead of this slime version, check out my post on how to make a volcano.

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Slime Base

Add the glue and baking soda to the jar and stir until well combined.

Mix in a few drops of yellow food coloring.

Then carefully place several drops of red food coloring on top without stirring. Leaving the colors separate creates a fun lava effect during the eruption.

Step 2: Make the Erupting Solution

In a separate cup, combine:

Vinegar
Contact solution

Stir briefly.

Step 3: Set Up Your Dinosaur Scene

Place toy dinosaurs around the jar on the tray.

Talk with your kids about dinosaur extinction theories and ask them what they think happened to the dinosaurs millions of years ago.

Step 4: Create the Eruption

Slowly pour the vinegar mixture into the glue mixture while stirring.

Watch as the bubbling reaction overflows from the jar and engulfs the dinosaurs in foamy “lava!”

Kids absolutely love this part.

Step 5: Turn It Into Slime

Once the eruption settles, gather the material from both inside the jar and on the tray.

Continue kneading and mixing it with your hands.

At first, the mixture may feel sticky, but as you work it, it will transform into stretchy dinosaur slime.

Why Isn’t My Slime Working?

If your slime is too sticky:

Continue kneading it longer.
Add a few extra drops of contact solution.

If your slime is too firm:

Reduce the amount of contact solution next time.
Add a little more glue.

If the eruption isn’t very dramatic:

Double-check that your contact solution contains boric acid.
Make sure your baking soda is fresh.

See! Now it’s slime!

The Science Behind Erupting Slime

This activity actually demonstrates two different chemical reactions.

Baking Soda + Vinegar Reaction

Baking soda is a base, while vinegar is an acid.

When they combine, they undergo an acid-base reaction that releases carbon dioxide gas.

Those gas bubbles are what create the exciting fizzing eruption.

Slime Chemistry

Slime forms through a process called cross-linking.

White glue contains long chains of molecules called polymers.

The boric acid found in contact solution connects these polymer chains together, creating the stretchy, rubbery texture we recognize as slime.

Dinosaur Extinction Theories

Scientists still debate exactly what caused the extinction of the dinosaurs.

Some of the leading theories include:

A massive asteroid impact
Major volcanic eruptions
Climate changes
Changes in food availability
Disease outbreaks

While volcanic activity may not have been the only cause, it certainly makes for an exciting dinosaur-themed science experiment!

What Kids Learn

This activity supports learning in several areas:

Chemical reactions
States of matter
Observation skills
Scientific questioning
Fine motor skills
Sensory exploration
Dinosaur science

Best of all, kids are learning while they play.

More Dinosaur Activities for Kids

If your children love dinosaurs, be sure to explore these fun learning activities:

More Slime Fun

Love slime experiments? Try these favorites:

This erupting dinosaur slime activity is messy, exciting, educational, and ridiculously fun—the perfect combination for memorable hands-on learning.

Erupting Dinosaur Slime: A Fizzing Dinosaur Extinction Activity for Kids