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Bonfire Night craft activities for early years

Blog
The YPO Team
28 Oct 2025

Bonfire night is just around the corner, and we have the perfect budget-friendly craft ideas to spark your little one's creativity. Engaging in these activities will not only keep the kids entertained but also give them a chance to explore their artistic side. From vibrant chalk fireworks to homemade safe sparklers, there's something for every budding artist. Get ready to ignite the little one's imagination and create unforgettable Bonfire Night artwork!

Why do we celebrate bonfire night?

Bonfire Night, celebrated on the 5th of November, marks the anniversary of the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605. A group of men, including Guy Fawkes, planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London. Their goal was to kill King James I and replace him with a ruler who shared their religious beliefs.

However, the plot was discovered before it could happen. Guy Fawkes was caught guarding barrels of gunpowder hidden beneath Parliament, and the plan was stopped. To celebrate the King’s survival, people lit bonfires across the country. This tradition continues today with fireworks, bonfires, and celebrations to remember the event and the importance of keeping people safe.

Paint blowing fireworks

This engaging activity allows children to explore their creativity and experiment with colours, leading to unique results each time. It's incredibly gratifying for children to see how the colours spread and merge as they blow through the straw, creating vibrant and unexpected patterns that resemble stunning fireworks displays.

firework paint blowing craft

Instructions

Add a little bit of water to various coloured paints.
Transfer this paint to your paper.
Use a straw to blow the paint out from the centre.
Repeat with different colours.

What you'll need

YPO Assorted Washable Ready Mixed Paints (734528)
White Copier Card (135755)
Paper Straws (230540)
Easy Grip Hog Brushes (746231)

Handprint bonfire

Handprint bonfires are a delightful way to engage children in festive preparations while providing them with a tactile and immersive crafting experience. By using their hands as the "brush," children can create vibrant representations of bonfire flames, building excitement for the celebrations ahead.

Handprint bonfire painting

Instructions

Place red, yellow and orange paint into three separate inking trays
Use the red paint first to make two handprints in the centre of the paper.
Do the same again with orange paint.
Add a yellow handprint on top.
Rip small strips of brown tissue paper and stick them to the base of the handprints to complete your bonfire.

What you'll need

YPO Assorted Washable Ready Mixed Paints (734528)
White Copier Card (135755)
Shallow Inking Trays (301456)
PVA Glue (749125)
YPO Brown Tissue Paper (117285)

Sparkler firework craft

Creating your own handheld sparkler is a fun and engaging activity that will bring joy to any child. Using tissue paper, tin foil, and cellophane, kids can fashion their own safe, dazzling sparklers.

Young girl and boy making handheld sparklers

Instructions

Cut the tin foil and tissue paper to the same size as the A4 cellophane.
Choose two colours of tissue paper and two colours of cellophane and put the tin foil between them.
Fold the five layers just under half the way across lengthways.
From the open end, cut slits towards the fold (but don't cut too close) the entire length of the cellophane, tin foil and tissue paper.
Wrap this around your straw, starting ¾ of the way up and use clear tape to secure it as you go.
Roll up to the top of the straw and secure with more tape.
Gently pull apart the layers to finish your homemade sparkler!

What you'll need

Paper Straws (230540)
YPO Tissue Paper Assorted (118370)
Clear Tape (736791)
Scissors (313785)
YPO A4 Cellulose Film Sheets (130214)
Tin foil

Toilet roll fireworks

This fun and interactive activity allows children to express their creativity while working on fine motor skills. Dipping the craft rolls into different-coloured paints and stamping them onto paper mimics the burst of real fireworks, adding an exciting visual element.

firework painting with craft rolls

Instructions

Cut 3cm slits into one end of the toilet roll.
Separate and fan out the slits.
Dip the toilet roll into the paint and onto the paper.
Layer up with different colours.

What you'll need

YPO Assorted Washable Ready Mixed Paints (734528)
White Copier Card (135755)
Scissors (313785)
Recycled Craft Rolls (427817)

Chalk fireworks

Wet chalk glides smoothly on black poster paper, creating vibrant fireworks that pop against the dark background. This activity also allows kids to experiment with colour blending and layering, adding dimension and excitement to their artwork.

Craft courtesy of our friends at Twinkl.

Instructions

Dip your chalk into the water for 30 seconds.
Draw 3-4 lines with chalk from a centre point in different directions.
Do the same again with two different colours.
Finish off with some lines in glitter pen to make your fireworks pop!

What you'll need

Chunky Chalks (303402)
Black A4 Poster paper (135806)
Giotto Turbo Glitter Colouring Pens (713454)
Water

For more Bonfire Night and seasonal crafting ideas head to our Seasonal Craft Ideas and Resources hub!

Share your creations with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #YPOcreateandmake on your post or story.
Don't forget to follow us on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook for regular craft ideas!

Author

The YPO Team

YPO supplies products and services to a wide range of customers including schools, local authorities, charities, emergency services, public sector and other businesses such as nurseries and care homes. YPO are 100% publicly owned, by 13 local authorities, which means the profits made are returned to public sector customers, delivering even better value for money.