Free Bonfire Night Activities for Kids (KS1 and KS2, with Quiz Answers)

Free Bonfire Night activities for children aged about 5 to 11, for home, the classroom or a club. There is a short story of the Gunpowder Plot, a kids' quiz, a firework spotter for the big night and a word scramble. Answers are hidden: tap Answer to reveal each one.

Bonfire Night is on 5 November. In 2026 that is a Thursday, so many public displays will be on the weekend before or after.

The story: why do we have Bonfire Night?

• A secret plan. In 1605 King James ruled England (he was also King James VI of Scotland). A group of 13 men led by Robert Catesby planned to blow up the House of Lords on 5 November, while the king was there to open Parliament.
• Gunpowder in the cellar. The plotters rented a cellar under the House of Lords and hid 36 barrels of gunpowder under firewood and coal. Guy Fawkes, an ex-soldier who knew about gunpowder, was chosen to guard it.
• A warning letter. About ten days before, Lord Monteagle was sent a letter with no name on it telling him to stay away from Parliament. He showed it to the king's chief minister, and a search was ordered.
• Caught. Around midnight on 4 November, guards found Guy Fawkes in the cellar with the gunpowder. He said his name was John Johnson.
• The first bonfires. When people heard the king was safe, they lit bonfires to celebrate. Fireworks came later, and the tradition is still going over 400 years on.

The traditional rhyme starts: "Remember, remember the fifth of November."

Bonfire Night quiz for kids (10 questions)

1. What is the date of Bonfire Night?
   Answer

   5 November
2. Which hand-held firework can you "write" your name in the air with?
   Answer

   A sparkler
3. Which firework shoots up into the sky on a long stick?
   Answer

   A rocket
4. Which spinning firework is named after a saint?
   Answer

   A Catherine wheel
5. What is an apple on a stick covered in hard, shiny toffee called?
   Answer

   A toffee apple
6. Which prickly animal likes to sleep in piles of leaves and wood?
   Answer

   A hedgehog
7. Which season is Bonfire Night in?
   Answer

   Autumn
8. What do we call the home-made figure that goes on top of some bonfires?
   Answer

   A guy
9. Which hot drink is lovely with marshmallows on top?
   Answer

   Hot chocolate
10. What should you wear on your hands when you hold a sparkler?
    Answer

    Gloves

Night-sky spotter

Take this list to a display or the garden. Score the points for each thing you spot. Who gets the most?

• A rocket going up (1 point)
• A gold firework (1 point)
• A green firework (2 points)
• A blue firework (3 points)
• A firework that crackles (2 points)
• Three fireworks at once (2 points)
• Someone writing with a sparkler (1 point)
• The moon (1 point)
• Smoke drifting across the sky (1 point)
• Someone in wellies (1 point)
• Steam from a hot drink (1 point)
• A firework you've never seen before (3 points)

Bonfire word scramble

Unscramble the letters to find a Bonfire Night word.

1. KCTERO
   Answer

   ROCKET
2. LKRESAPR
   Answer

   SPARKLER
3. FIRBENO
   Answer

   BONFIRE
4. FEFOTE
   Answer

   TOFFEE
5. GOHEDHEG
   Answer

   HEDGEHOG
6. TANNERL
   Answer

   LANTERN
7. MUNTUA
   Answer

   AUTUMN
8. SVELOG
   Answer

   GLOVES

Safe bonfire night checklist

• One grown-up in charge of the fireworks, and children well back.
• A bucket of water nearby, and gloves for anyone holding a sparkler.
• Check the bonfire pile for hedgehogs just before lighting it.
• Pets safely indoors, and neighbours told the time.
• Fireworks kept in a closed box, away from the fire.

How to use these activities

• In class, read the story together first, then do the quiz as a whole-class game or in teams.
• KS1 children can do the quiz and spotter out loud. KS2 children can try the scramble on their own against the clock.
• Send the spotter home on 4 or 5 November and ask children to bring back their scores.
• Busy week? Bonfire Night and Remembrance Day are only six days apart. Our free Remembrance Day worksheets make a good follow-on.