Fourth of July Safety
* Fireworks are not toys and can burn or hurt you (even sparklers-we keep a
bucket of water handy so the kids can put their sparklers into it as soon as they
go out).* Only use fireworks outdoors in wide, open areas.
* Never point or throw fireworks at another person (or house, car, etc).
* Only grown-ups can use fire to light fireworks.
* Light fireworks one at a time, then keep a safe distance.
* Keep a bucket of water nearby in case of a fire.
* Remember to Stop/Drop/Roll if your clothes/hair catches fire.
* If you find leftover fireworks or scraps around, tell an adult. Don’t touch them or
or go near them.
You can learn more about firework safety & rules by visiting the following sites online:
http://www.cpsc.gov/ http://www.fema.gov/search/srchjs.htm (search “fireworks” ) http://home.texoma.com/~cvfd/fireworks.htm http://www.fireworksafety.com/ http://www.wf.net/~lcrump1/safety.htm http://fireworksland.com/html/safety.html
Safe Sparklers: Children love sparklers but it can be dangerous. Also, sometimes the little ones are too afraid of them. I found this idea for safe sparklers that was developed by a preschool teacher to use in her preschool.
Materials:
Plastic Straws (preferably red, white, or blue)
Curly ribbon in red, white, and blue
Star garland or metallic pipe cleaners
Take the pipe cleaners or garland. Bend in half so that no sharp edges are exposed. On the open side of the bent garland or pipe cleaners, tape differing lengths of curly ribbon. Insert into the straw so the curly ribbon sticks out the top.
Fourth of July Songs
It’s America’s Birthday
(Tune: London Bridges)
Beat a drum, and march along, march along, march along.
Beat a drum and march along, It’s America’s birthday!
Wave a flag, and sing a song, sing a song, sing a song,
Wave a flag and sing a song, It’s America’s Birthday!
I’m a Little Firecracker
(Tune: I’m a Little Teapot)
I’m a little firecracker up in the sky.
I dance and I glimmer, way up high.
Sometimes I am red, sometimes I’m blue.
But I’ll always sparkle and boom for you.
Crafts and Snacks
Patriotic Hand Print Wreath
Materials:
Red, white, and blue poster board or card stock.
Paper plate
Stick glue
Star stickers or glitter.
4 inches of yarn
Tape
Trace four hand prints of each color poster board. Cut out the hands. Cut out the inside of the paper plate so you have a wreath. Glue the hand prints to the wreath. Decorate the hand prints with star stickers or glitter. Make a loop with the yarn and tape it on the back of your wreath.
Red, White, and Blue Yogurt Cups
Vanilla yogurt
Strawberries
Blueberries
Place the yogurt in a cup or bowl. Let child mix in strawberries and blueberries.
Frosty Fireworks
Blue juice
Red Juice
7-Up
Freeze blue and red juice in ice cube trays. Place frozen cubes in clear glasses. Add 7-up and drink the “fireworks.”
Firework Cake
Yellow or white cake mix
Disk shaped cookie cutter
Red Pop Rocks
Red frosting (vanilla with red food coloring)
Cool Whip
Sparkler
Bake the cake according to package directions in a rectangular pan. Allow cake to cool. With the cookie cutter, cut the cake into 5 disks. Place the disks on top of each other with a layer of cool whip in between each. Mix the Pop Rocks into red icing. Frost the outside and top of the cake with the red icing. Put the sparkler on top. Light before serving. This cake is to represent a fireworks fuse. (Note: I’m not sure I’m going to go to all the trouble of baking a cake and then cutting it out-especially if it is hot. I will probably buy a pound cake, cut it in half length-wise, and then frost.)
Sparkler Fun Throughout the Year
We try to save some sparklers for special occasions throughout the year. Below are a few ideas.
- Light them up to celebrate the first and/or last day of school.
- Save some for a birthday celebration.
- Place them in the snow during a winter night for a pretty lights display. (This is great for a winter birthday or for New Years Eve.)
- Light some up at a campfire. Check your local fire conditions first. This is great for the last night of a vacation.