Fireworks

High school (ages 12+)
Holidays & Celebrations

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/fireworks

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Who discovered Fireworks?Around the 9th century CE in China
2. What is the primary chemical components?Potassium nitrate, sulfur, charcoal, and metal salts for color
3. What is the key aerial shell effects?Peonies, chrysanthemums, willows, and dahlias
4. What is a firework made of?A firework shell has a black powder propellant that lifts it, a bursting charge that explodes, and small stars that glow. The stars contain metal salts that give them bright colors.
5. Why do fireworks show different colors?Metal salts like strontium, copper, barium, and sodium give red, blue, green, and yellow colors when they burn.

Oxidizer: A substance that readily yields oxygen or other oxidizing elements for a chemical reaction.
Propellant: A substance that provides the force needed to launch a projectile or firework shell.
Pyrotechnic Choreography: The artful arrangement and timing of fireworks to create a synchronized visual and auditory performance.