Early years activity: Bonfire Night
Bonfire Night is a traditional celebration, filled with the excitement of fireworks, sparklers and bright colours lighting up the sky. For young children, this can feel magical, but it may also be a little overwhelming. This activity offers a safe and creative way to join in the celebrations by making sparkly firework pictures. Through art and play, children can explore the colours, shapes and sounds of fireworks while developing their creativity, imagination and fine motor skills
Bonfire Night activity learning aims
- Encourage creativity and imaginative play
- Strengthen fine motor skills
- Explore cause and effect, such as how paint splatters or glitter falls
- Build language and communication by talking about colours, shapes and firework sounds.
Resources you will need for this activity
- Large black paper
- Brightly coloured paints (neon, fluorescent or metallic colours work well)
- Paintbrushes, cotton buds, old toothbrushes or sponges
- Powder paint, biodegradable confetti or glitter
- Glue.
Bonfire Night activity outline
- Start the activity by showing the children pictures or a short video of fireworks in the night sky. Encourage children to share their own experiences of fireworks. Talk about the colours and the sounds they make using fun words like “bang”, “whoosh” and “pop”
- Provide large sheets of black paper and a variety of paint colours and different tools
- Encourage exploration by inviting children to dip brushes, sponges, or cotton buds into the paint and create firework patterns through dabbing, flicking or swirling
- While the paint is wet, children can sprinkle confetti/glitter to make their fireworks sparkle
- Encourage children to describe their creations, using words like bright, loud, sparkly, big and colourful
- Once dry, display the artwork as a “Firework Sky” to celebrate Bonfire Night together.
How to extend this activity
Play firework sound effects and encourage the children to move and dance like fireworks lighting up the sky. Invite them to use their whole bodies to show different fireworks:
- Stretch up tall like a rocket shooting into the air
- Spin around like a catherine wheel
- Jump and clap like a firework bursting overhead.
Provide scarves or ribbons to add extra colour, sparkle and movement, helping the children bring their firework displays to life.
NDNA products to support you with this activity
Expressive Arts & Design nursery training – In Person Training
Disclaimer: Activities with children must always be risk assessed, including for allergies or choking. Children must always have adequate supervision. Resources and materials must always be appropriate for children’s age and stage of development.
- Activity
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