Materials List
A viscous liquid like Corn syrup* (* Ralphs near me had a whole bunch of bottles of Karo Light Corn Syrup 16 oz bottles — nobody seems to be panic buying it :-). People that use "light corn syrup" can all compare results — even though we are working in different places. Other options include maple syrup, honey, chocolate syrup, or possibly even ketchup.
Aluminum foil (a single sheet about 2 feet long)
A piece of cardboard about a foot and a half long
A ruler
A stopwatch
A printout of the diagram below
Two small cups
One of the following:
Water
Cake sprinkles (or sand)—these are your crystals
Microwave—to heat your lava
Refrigerator—to cool your lava
Straw or fork--to make bubbles