16th October 2025

Bonfire Night safety tips and classroom activities

The 5th of November is almost here! While Bonfire Night is full of fun and fireworks, it’s also the perfect opportunity to teach your students not just the history, but most importantly, how to stay safe. In this blog, we’ll share practical ideas and classroom activities to help you educate students about Bonfire Night safely and engagingly.

The history of Bonfire Night 

Bonfire Night or Guy Fawkes Night marks the failed gunpowder plot of 1605, when Guy Fawkes and a group of conspirators tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament. People lit bonfires to celebrate the King’s survival, and over time, the tradition grew to include fireworks, effigies and community celebrations.

Bonfire Nights safety tips 

While Bonfire Night is full of fun, laughter, and fireworks, it’s essential to prioritise the safety of children. Teaching students how to stay safe during the celebrations is a key part of classroom learning. Here are some important tips you can use to educate your students this Bonfire Night.

Stay away from fireworks

Remind students never to approach a firework that is already lit or doesn’t appear to be working. Encourage them to always speak to an adult if they notice a firework that has been lit but isn’t working, as it could ignite unexpectedly.

Keep a safe distance

Explain the importance of watching fireworks and bonfires from a safe distance. Ensure students understand they need plenty of space to enjoy the display safely.

How to handle sparklers safely

Teach students to wear gloves when holding sparklers and to keep them at arm’s length. Emphasise never running or playing while holding a sparkler. Also, demonstrate how to place used sparklers in a bucket of water after they go out to make sure they are fully extinguished.

Keep pets indoors

Discuss why fireworks and bonfires can be stressful or dangerous for animals and encourage students to keep pets safely inside during celebrations.

Safe storage and handling of fireworks

Explain that fireworks should be kept in a closed box and handled only by adults. Students should understand why children should never touch fireworks.

Be prepared for emergencies

Demonstrate the importance of having a bucket of water, a hose or a fire extinguisher nearby in case the fire spreads. 

For more classroom-ready safety guides, activities and teaching resources, visit Twinkl!

Fun classroom activities 

Once you’ve taught the importance of Bonfire Night safety, there are lots of ways to make the celebration fun and educational in your classroom. Here are some engaging activities to try with your students:

Poetry activity 

Encourage students to explore words associated with Bonfire Night, sounds, sights, smells, and feelings, and use them to create their own poems. This is a creative writing task that helps students connect with the history and atmosphere of the celebration.

Paper craft 

Making 3D Guy Fawkes characters is a hands-on activity that students love. Twinkl offers downloadable resources to guide this craft, making it simple for teachers to set up and manage in the classroom.

Themed counting sheets 

Integrate maths into your Bonfire Night lessons with themed counting worksheets. Using fun illustrations and activities tied to the celebration keeps students engaged while reinforcing important numeracy skills. Downloadable sheets are available to make planning easy.

Bonfire Night quiz 

A Bonfire Night quiz is a lively way to test students’ knowledge while creating friendly classroom competition. It’s fun, interactive and reinforces what students have learned about the history and traditions of the celebration.

For more fun-filled classroom activities for Bonfire Night, check out the resources available on Twinkl!

By teaching Bonfire Night safety alongside fun and engaging activities, you can help students enjoy the celebration responsibly while learning about its history and traditions. From practical safety tips to creative crafts, quizzes and poems, there are plenty of ways to make your classroom lessons both educational and memorable this 5th of November.