Investigating the chemistry of how fireworks work | 14-16 years

A photograph showing a green firework exploding in the night sky, surrounding by smoke

Source: © Carolin Voelker / Getty Images

Explore the principles behind fireworks and what makes the different colours we see when they go off using this lesson plan with activities for 14–16 year olds.

In these two practical activities, students use party poppers and sparklers to investigate the principles behind fireworks and explore, through flame tests, what creates different colours when fireworks are set off. They work in groups to make and share their observations. The activities offer the alternative of a group experiment or demonstration for the flame test activity.

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