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Make a homemade lava lamp with Big Manny

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Check out this step-by-step guide on how to make your own lava lamp.

You will need
  • A jar or container (we used old bottles, spicy sauce, jam jars, even pesto jars!)
  • Liquid food colouring
  • Sunflower or vegetable oil
  • Water
  • A vitamin C effervescent tablet (you can find these in your local shop)

How to make a DIY lava lamp

Step 1

Prepare the jar by ensuring that it is clean and dry.

Step 2

Fill the jar with oil, leaving about 4/5th of the jar full. This will be the main liquid in your lava lamp.

Step 3

Choose a food colouring and add a few drops to the jar, it should sink to the bottom underneath the oil. Adjust the amount based on your desired colour intensity.

Step 4 

Top up the jar with some water, leaving a small gap at the top so it doesn't overflow.

Step 5

Drop a vitamin C tablet into the jar. It should take around 30 seconds, but eventually you will start to see a reaction between the vitamin C tablet and the water, creating bubbles similar to a lava lamp.

Make sure you check with an adult and have their permission to use Vitamin C tablets. You could use Bicarbonate of Soda as an alternative, although the reaction will be slightly less fizzy!

That's it! Now you can place your DIY lava lamp on a flat surface and enjoy the fun display of colourful bubbles.

Check out more fun experiments from Big Manny on Blue Peter, streaming on iPlayer!

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