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Sparking Kids' Curiosity with Fireworks Science!

  • Writer: Amy Wung Tsao
    Amy Wung Tsao
  • Jun 10
  • 3 min read

Quick links if you’re too busy to scroll:


Fireworks Science Videos for Kids:


Fireworks Science Books for Kids:

  • Fireworks by Lori Haskins Houran, illustrated by Corinne Caro 


Fireworks Science Activities for Kids:


Keep reading to learn more about teaching young kids the science behind those loud and colorful fireworks that they love so much.


Photo of a child wearing a red, white, and blue dress and holding a sparkler that is lit and burned halfway down.
Photo by Thomas Park on Unsplash

Fireworks never fail to capture your attention - whether it’s a little handheld sparkler or a giant fireworks show set to music lighting up the sky. 


Maybe you’re celebrating a holiday soon that feature fireworks, like New Year’s Eve, Independence Day, Diwali, or Lunar New Year. 


If that’s you, capture some of that holiday spirit as an opportunity teach your kids about the science of how fireworks work! They’ll learn a little bit about chemistry and physics, plus they’ll never look at fireworks the same again.


(Just a reminder - I am never paid to mention any of these resources; there are no affiliate links.)

Fireworks Science Videos for Kids


from Mystery Science

Learn why fireworks have two separate fuses, and how different chemicals can change a firework’s sounds, colors, and how long it burns. 



from ChemTalk

Here’s a visually impressive demonstration of how different chemicals produce different colors when they burn. So cool, but definitely not something you can do in your home kitchen. Lucky us we can watch this great video (with a jazzy soundtrack!) safely anywhere. When you’re watching fireworks light up the sky, see if they match any of these colors/elements! 



 from the Science Channel

Now that you know how fireworks work, watch someone hand make them. My youngest especially loves how it’s made videos, and this one is no exception!



from Beyond Slow Motion

Now that you know how fireworks are made, watch one explode in slow motion! For this video, they put an open firework shell under a glass pane, so you can watch the fire spread through the inner layers. 


Fireworks Science Picture Book for Kids


Cover illustration of three kids of different ethnicity smiling and pointing at fireworks above them. The title reads “Fireworks.”

written by Lori Haskins Houran, illustrated by Corinne Caro 

This book has a little bit of everything! The history of fireworks, how they work, what they look like on the inside, and more fun facts throughout! For example, did you know that blue is the hardest firework color to make, because the copper metal that makes that color burns so quickly? Did you know that earl Robert Dudley tried to win Queen Elizabeth I’s heart with a grand fireworks show that ended up burning homes in town? I most certainly did not!


Fireworks Science Activity for Kids


Photo of a hand holding a cotton swab with one end inside a candle flame. This is an at-home experiment testing the color difference between burning salt and salt substitute.

Flame Test experiment with salt & salt substitute  from The Homeschool Scientist Obviously I couldn’t recommend setting off fireworks in your kitchen, even in the name of science. But this is an activity that you can do in your kitchen to demonstrate how different materials create different colors when they burn.


This isn’t going to be as impressive as the Flame Rainbow video above, but an adult can demonstrate this safely at home with materials easily available at the grocery store. Kids should be able to see a subtle difference between the table salt burning yellow and the salt substitute burning purple. 



I hope learning a bit of fireworks science helps you and your kids to enjoy a colorful fireworks show even more!


Until next time, keep lighting sparks of curiosity!

Amy Wung Tsao


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