Origin of Fireworks

What You Need:

• Computer with Internet access
• Paper
• Stapler
• Pen or pencil
• Wax crayons
• Black watercolor paint
• Paintbrush 

What You Do:

1. Have your child think of questions he could research to learn more about the history and origin of fireworks. Write these questions on a piece of paper. Sample questions include:

• How was the recipe for fireworks discovered?
• What ingredients originally made up fireworks?
• What were fireworks originally used for?
• What do many people of Chinese heritage celebrate every April 18th?
• What was created after fireworks were introduced to Europe?
• When are fireworks used today?

2. Monitor your child as he uses the Internet to research the answers to these questions. Explain the difference between a reliable source and and unreliable source and how to tell them apart. 
3. Once he successfully finds the answers, have him write each one on a piece of paper to create the pages of the book. Suggest that your child think of some illustrations to decorate the pages.
4. Now for the cover! Have your child draw firework shapes on a piece of paper with the crayons.
5. Encourage your child to use the paintbrush to brush the black watercolor paint over his firework drawings, watching for the firework images to resist through the paint. Once completed, set aside to dry.