Bonfire Night – the meaning behind it and how you can celebrate it in the classroom

Why Do We Celebrate Bonfire Night?

Bonfire Night takes place on the 5th November every year, as part of a celebration of an event that happened over 400 years ago in the year 1605. Another name for the day is Guy Fawkes Night, in memory of the man who attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament. Guy Fawkes was part of a group of plotters, who wanted to overthrow King James. The leader of the plotters was Robert Catesby, who had the original idea of laying down gunpowder under the Houses of Parliament on the day that King James was due to visit. Robert Catesby and his friends were Catholics, who King James persecuted and didn’t like; as a result, they were very keen to get rid of him.

However, it didn’t all go to plan. King James found out about the plot and had Guy Fawkes arrested under the Houses of Parliament. Fawkes was tortured for three days and eventually gave up the names of the other plotters, who were all accused of treason. The dastardly gang all died gruesome deaths, ending with their heads on spikes to deter others from repeating the plot.

As a result of the foiled plan, King James decided that the event should be commemorated every year, and Bonfire Night was born!

How do we celebrate Bonfire Night?

Bonfire Night is a uniquely British tradition, usually involving a huge bonfire and the setting off of fireworks on the 5th November. Some bonfires involve burning a ‘guy’ – a model that represents Guy Fawkes. As well as fireworks, the highlight for most people is the food- toffee apples, marshmallows and anything that can be toasted! Fireworks events happen around the country, from back gardens to organised events involving hundreds of people. It is a great opportunity to go out and celebrate with friends and family, as the nights draw in and the temperature drops.

What bonfire night activities can I do in the classroom?

Schools can also take part in Bonfire Night festivities, from hosting their own fireworks display to teaching children all about fire safety. Here are some ideas that can be done in the classroom to celebrate, that are easy to set up and cost effective.

• EYFS classrooms can use pipe cleaners as makeshift paintbrushes, painting fireworks onto black paper to create a lovely effect of light in the night sky. Pipe cleaners are usually found in EYFS classrooms, but if not are cheap to buy and can be purchased in bulk.
• For KS1 upwards, Bonfire Night is a great opportunity to teach children about how to look after themselves around fireworks, for example holding sparklers and staying away from lit fireworks. Children love a fireworks display but are often unaware of the potential dangers around them; explaining how to keep safe in school will make sure everyone can enjoy themselves at a firework display.
• Bonfire Night can be incorporated into a variety of different subjects. For example, in Maths, you could calculate the amount of gunpowder needed to blow up the Houses of Parliament, focusing on skills such as area and perimeter, as well as mass and capacity. In Science, you could look at how fireworks are made and how they work, and in History you could study the Stuarts and why there was such antagonism over a King.
  

  ► Stock up on Bonfire Night Classroom Craft Materials

Contact Us

If you’d like to know more about how Paper Plus can provide your school with the supplies and stationery it requires, please get in touch. Call us on 01444 238 050 or pop us an email at sales@paperplusuk.com