Fireworks and Firecrackers are used by many different cultures all over the world to celebrate important holidays and events.
Whether it’s New Year’s or the Fourth of July your child is going to hear the POW and see the dazzling displays of fireworks at some point. Nearly every major holiday from Chinese New Year to Guy Fawkes Day include these exploding creations.
But where did the humble firecracker get its start?
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Fireworks Activities and Books for Kids
A Little Fireworks History
China some 2,000 years ago.
BOOM!
A cook in a kitchen accidentally mixed sulfur, charcoal, and saltpeter.
Well, that’s the legend anyway.
And apparently, those ingredients were common in kitchens back then….
HISS!
When these ingredients were contained in a hollow tube such as bamboo and burned… you got a firecracker!
POP!
It was believed that the loud BANG of firecrackers frightened away evil spirits and ghost. Thus, they became an essential part of Chinese celebrations.
Of course, the powder mixture of firecrackers evolved. The Chinese also created gunpowder.
Marco Polo is credited with bringing gunpowder to Europe. However, the Italians were the first in Europe to use the black powder to create fireworks.
Shakespeare mentions fireworks in his writings and Queen Elizabeth I enjoyed them so much that she created the position of “Fire Master of England.”
Fireworks Activities and Books for Kids
Firework Salt Painting
For salt painted firecrackers you’ll need:
- table salt
- paper (the darker the paper the better the fireworks show up! Black is best, but the darkest I had was grey)
- watercolors
- paint brushes
- white glue
- cookie sheet or pan (for collecting the extra salt)
Start by designing your fireworks with the white glue.
Next, you’ll cover your glue designs with a generous covering of table salt.
Shake off the excess salt into the cookie tray and get your paints ready.
Lightly paint your colors onto the salt.
We just barely touched our brush to the salt and watched as the salt absorbed the color into it! It helps if your brush is totally saturated with water and color.
Let dry completely, then lightly spray with hairspray to make your creation last longer!
Fireworks Activities and Books for Kids
Firework Painting with Straws
This is a simple craft that only needs:
- 7 or 8 bendy straws
- paint
- paper
- container to hold paint (we used a plate)
Start by grouping your straws together in your hands and taping them. We taped them about halfway up.
Then, we bent the bendy straws to create a sort of flared star pattern.
The children then dipped the flared end of the combined straws in paint.
With the straws covered in paint, the children then “stamped” them down on the paper to create a bursting firecracker pattern.
They did have to stamp them several times to give the fuller firecracker look.
Mix and match colors to give different looks and colors for your child’s bursting firecrackers!
Here is a FREE Sparklers Chalk Art Tutorial from Hodgepodge Mom that looks super fun!
Books About Fireworks
Curl up with some fabulous books about firecrackers!
Firecrackers: The Art & History
Explore Ancient Chinese Myths!
The Explosive Story of Fireworks!
How It Happens at the Fireworks Factory
Games About Fireworks, Celebrations, Chemical Reactions, and China
Videos About Fireworks
Here is a fun video about the Chemistry of Fireworks!
If you love science, be sure to check out:
those are some cool activities! 🙂