Exploding with STEM: Celebrating Guy Fawkes Day through Hands-On Experiments

October 15, 2024 / Heather Reyes

A young boy with an astonished expression holds a lit sparkler in his hand. He is surrounded by the warm glow of colorful bokeh lights, creating a festive and magical atmosphere.

Guy Fawkes Day, also known as Bonfire Night, is a traditional holiday commemorating the failed Gunpowder Plot to blow up the British Parliament in 1605. This event has sparked the popular custom of large public fireworks displays in the UK every November 5th.

Children have a natural curiosity and excitement about explosions and fireworks. Therefore, this fun holiday is not only rich in historical significance but also an excellent opportunity to guide children in exploring STEM.

Using the Gunpowder Plot as a fuse, ignite children's enthusiasm for exploring STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), making learning more vivid and interesting. This article will introduce creative STEM activities and hands-on experiments suitable for celebrating Guy Fawkes Day, helping children unleash their creativity on this exciting holiday.

The Science Behind Fireworks and Explosions

Exploding fireworks are a dazzling display of simultaneous chemical reactions, each one contributing to a spectacular show of light, sound, and heat. At their core, early fireworks relied on black powder—a powerful mix of charcoal, sulfur, and potassium nitrate—serving as the essential ingredient that fueled these breathtaking bursts of colour and excitement.

Why are fireworks so colourful?

A vibrant display of fireworks exploding in the night sky, illuminating the darkness with a symphony of light and color. The fireworks burst with a mix of red, orange, and yellow, creating a dazzling spectacle against the backdrop of a starry night.

The vibrant colours in fireworks are created by metal compounds, also known as metal salts. When metals burn in flames, they emit strikingly vivid light—this is the magic behind fireworks! Each type of metal compound produces its own unique hue: sodium compounds generate brilliant yellow and orange, while copper and barium salts create stunning green or blue. Meanwhile, calcium and strontium deliver eye-catching reds, transforming the night sky into a kaleidoscope of colour!

Live Science explains the chemical reactions behind the colours. You can also learn about super cool coloured flame experiments through the Royal Society of Chemistry.

How are firework patterns created?

By strategically loading "stars" into firework shells in various shapes and arrangements, we can craft an array of stunning shapes and patterns. For instance, a spherical layout can create a mesmerizing circular explosion, while a star-shaped configuration results in dazzling bursts that radiate like stars. Explain That Stuff provides a comprehensive overview of firework construction, delving into the science, types, and fascinating history behind these spectacular displays.

Hands-on Fireworks-themed Experiments

While fireworks are truly breathtaking, they can also be thought of as explosive missiles, making them quite dangerous. It's important to remember that children should never attempt to recreate them in real life. However, if you want to celebrate Guy Fawkes Day with fun, fireworks-themed activities, check out these two safe and easy-to-prepare STEM projects!

Underwater Fireworks

How to create magical underwater fireworks using water, vegetable oil, and food colouring? Science Max host Phil McCordic explains in depth the experimental process of underwater fireworks and the science behind it.

Milk Fireworks

Tinkerer STEAM Box demonstrates how to create a dazzling "fireworks" display using milk, food coloring, and dish soap in an engaging video. This hands-on experiment allows even young children to experience the thrill of vibrant colors blooming like fireworks, making learning fun and exciting!

Safer and More Fun Ways to Celebrate Guy Fawkes Day

Mechanical Fireworks

Besides chemical experiments, can you think of ways to simulate fireworks through physical experiments? Assemble your own Mechanical Fireworks and stage a physical fireworks show through fun mechanical linkage devices.

By building mechanical fireworks and observing their mechanisms, children will gain valuable engineering and mechanical knowledge while enhancing their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. This STEM activity allows kids to explore the science of fireworks at home on Guy Fawkes Day, covering everything from the history of gunpowder and its invention to high-energy chemistry, firework construction, and even natural explosions. It's a safe and enjoyable way for children to dive into the fascinating world of firework science!

A cardboard mechanical fireworks launch pad, adorned with a blue and white printed surface depicting fireworks, stands ready for action. Four blue and orange darts, resembling miniature rockets, are launched into the air, creating a playful and whimsical display. The launch pad is set against a pink background, adding a touch of vibrancy to the scene.

They can also channel their inner Guy Fawkes and set up a playful prank by launching a "fireworks plot"! Simply place the mechanical fireworks behind a door and create a trigger mechanism by tying a string to the doorknob. When someone opens the door, the fireworks will "explode" with a delightful bang!

These engaging activities will ignite children's enthusiasm for STEM, fostering their scientific literacy and innovation skills. By sparking their interest, these experiences can open up new possibilities for future subject choices and career paths, fuelling a lifelong passion for learning in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Repeating Crossbow

Building on the exploration of gunpowder and fireworks, we're excited to highlight the remarkable invention of the repeating crossbow this Guy Fawkes Day! This ingenious device showcases the innovative spirit of its time. If your child is fascinated by gunpowder, they'll be thrilled to learn about the modern repeating crossbow and its unique mechanics!

A young boy, wearing a white shirt with a green leaf pattern, holds a toy crossbow and aims it with a playful smile. The background features a plant, a table, and a chair, creating a casual and relaxed atmosphere. The overall mood is lighthearted and fun, capturing the joy of childhood play.

In this STEM activity, children will recreate a clever historical invention, making a semi-automatic "weapon" that can fire continuously (using child-safe foam bullets in this activity). Explore the working principles of the repeating crossbow during the making process, learn about potential and kinetic energy, and study lever knowledge.

This STEM activity involves multiple scientific experiments, helping children master scientific experimental methods such as observation, hypothesis testing, and data analysis, supporting children to develop key scientific skills. The inquiry-based learning method can help children understand scientific principles and engineering design processes more deeply, helping them develop critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, and promoting a deeper understanding and exploration of STEM.

A set of instructions for building a repeating crossbow. The instructions are illustrated with diagrams and explanations of how the crossbow works. The instructions are printed on a blue background with white lines, while the other side of the booklet is printed on a black background with yellow and red accents. The instructions are written in a clear and concise manner, making it easy for children to follow.

Guy Fawkes Day provides a unique opportunity to spark children's interest in STEM learning through a combination of history, science, and hands-on exploration. You can ignite children's STEM enthusiasm on this special holiday with fun DIY experiments, Mechanical Fireworks, or Repeating Crossbow, or better yet, incorporate STEM activities into your family's daily routine.

Tinkerer STEAM Box helps parents easily conduct STEM activities at home. We have prepared a large number of sensory games, hands-on creations, creative role-playing, and other STEM activities to help children aged 3-5 with cognitive development and science enlightenment; use a series of fun and creative science and art projects to help little scientists aged 6-8 learn STEM knowledge and improve scientific literacy; use more complex and challenging invention projects to encourage young engineers aged 9-12 to explore and create based on their interests.

Receive one Tinkerer STEAM Box each month with our subscription plan, delivered right to your home. These boxes make STEM exploration accessible not just for holidays, but also enriches your child's everyday life.