Fireworks and the Fourth of July Mini Unit
Free Homeschooling Resources for learning about Fireworks and the United States Fourth of July Independence Day celebration.
An Independence day mini unit study about the science of fireworks and the history of the US independence from Great Britain in 1776
Fourth of July Book Recommendations
It’s Not About You, Mrs. Firecracker: A Love Letter About the True Meaning of the Fourth of July (The Love Letters Book Series) by Soraya Diese Coffelt A Christian resource with a ton of rich history.
A Fourth of July on the Plains by Jean Van Leeuwan is about a family traveling the Oregon Trail and they stop to celebrate Independence Day. Use as a family read-aloud, or for 4th grade and up independent reading.
The Fourth of July Story by Alice Dalgleish is a classic book about the Revolutionary times in American history, when the Independence Bell rang out on the first “Fourth of July”
O, Say Can You See? America’s Symbols, Landmarks, And Important Words by Sheila Keenan Also on Open Library for free
Fireworks, Picnics, and Flags: The Story of the Fourth of July Symbols by James Cross Giblin
Fireworks: Where’s the Science Here? by Vicki Cobb
Get more Independence Day and 4th of July Book Recommendations from my 4th of July Amazon Book List
4th of July English Language Arts
Betsy Ross Reading Comprehension Worksheets (with suggested book list)
Fourth of July Vocabulary Word Search
Memorize the Pledge of Allegiance (in the Free Resource Library under “Summer Time Printables”)
Fireworks and the 4th of July Science
Your kids (3rd grade and under) will like this History of Fireworks video (even if the speech therapist in me is really annoyed by the puppet narrator’s substitution of w for r in his speech LOL)
Watch this explanation from Steve Spangler Science of Fireworks to understand the science behind the substances used to make fireworks. (4th grade and up)
Learn about the Chemistry of fireworks in this video (for high schoolers), then read this How Fireworks Work article for a deeper explanation.
Upper elementary and middle school kids will like this anatomy of a firecracker article and this How it’s Made: Fireworks video.
Make your own fireworks: a fire snake (I think we used to call them black worms?) with sand, sugar, and baking soda. Here’s a video that explains how.
Your middle school and high school students will enjoy this Colored Flames experiment using hand sanitizer to see what color flames different household chemicals (i.e. baking soda and table salt) create. (Be sure to have a fire extinguisher on hand just to be safe!) OR try this slightly more difficult experiment that also explores the colors created when chemicals are lit, but uses less common chemicals (like copper sulfate–a root killer).
Show your kids how to create a paper rocket that really flies
Create a fireworks effect with oil and water
Make a “gas” powered rocket using antacid with either these instructions that use an M&M tube, or these with a plastic egg.
Fireworks Sensory and Gross Motor Work
Make some Fireworks Oobleck (aka goop) with these 3 simple ingredients for hours of fun
Instead of oobleck, make some Red, White, & Blue slime
Use the Star Spangled Banner Gross Motor Cards as a brain break to work out some extra energy (in the Free Resource Library under “Summer Time Printables”)
Make these Straw Rockets and see how far you can shoot them by blowing (did you know that blowing is considered a “heavy work” sensory activity?)
Do your elementary kids want to hold a lit sparkler, but you are not sure it’s safe enough? Poke a small hole in the bottom of a plastic cup (like a red solo cup) and insert the sparkler into the cup with the handle side in the cup. Your child can hold the sparkler handle inside the cup, which helps to protect their hand from sparks. (Be sure to closely supervise this activity to prevent burns!)
Your older kids (with adult supervision!) can try writing their name or drawing a shape in the air with a lit sparkler while you photograph it at a slow shutter speed to get an effect like this:
Independence Day History
Learn more about the history of July 4, 1776 with these resources:
Fourth of July Notebooking Pages and Resources
An American Flag Mini Unit Study
United States Flag Lapbook & Printables
Independence Day Visual and Practical Art & Music
Listen to the The Star Spangled Banner as sung by Madison Rising. I guarantee you’ve never heard it sung like that before!
Did you know that the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard all have bands? Take a listen to some of their songs with this Spotify list. These songs will put some pep in your steps! Ask your kids if they can pick out the piccalo or trombone parts.
Use the leftover Pop Rocks from your Fireworks Oobleck to make Firecracker Cookies.
Design a 4th of July charcuterie board
Your kids will enjoy the chemistry of this Fizzy Fireworks Painting.
Create a stencil style chalk pastel star art
Make a Fireworks Salt Painting with glue, watercolors, and salt.
Learn how to draw an exploding firework with this helpful video.
Your older kids will want to try this detailed Fireworks Flextangle. Turn this into more of an educational activity by asking them to color the designs with symmetry.
Fireworks and 4th of July Crafts for Fun
Make a Red, White, and Blue pipe cleaner bracelet using this video for instructions.
Make a confetti popper (like an English Christmas Cracker) that pops apart
Fireworks and Fourth of July Movies
Watch history unfold with the cartoon Liberty’s Kids It’s worth buying the set because your kids are going to want to watch it over and over. Or watch it free on YouTube
Your older kids will like 1776 the Musical, which is like the musical Hamiliton‘s much more accurate, older sister.😊
More Free 4th of July Printables
Fourth of July Printables Games Pack
Fourth of July Scavenger Hunt Printable (in the Free Resource Library under “Summer Time Printables”)
Your younger kids will enjoy this free American flag dot art printable.
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