10 Activities to teach pupils about Bonfire Night and the Gunpowder Plot

Why teach Bonfire Night?

Every 5 November, the sky lights up across the United Kingdom with bonfires, fireworks and the faint smell of toffee apples and for at least one person writing this, it also happens to be their birthday For many pupils, Bonfire Night is simply about sparklers and hot chocolate. But behind the celebrations lies one of the most dramatic stories in British history: the Gunpowder Plot of 1605.

That makes it a brilliant starting point for lessons that reach well beyond the history classroom. Whether you’re teaching poetry in English, exploring chemical reactions in science or encouraging critical thinking in PSHE, Bonfire Night offers rich material for every key stage. Why not use an event your pupils already look forward to as a springboard for deeper learning?

The activities below draw on ClickView’s primary and secondary Bonfire Night topic pages, giving you video resources, discussion prompts and practical ideas you can adapt for your year group.

History

1) Discover the Gunpowder Plot

The story of Guy Fawkes and his fellow conspirators is one that captures the imagination of pupils across every key stage. A group of Catholic plotters, 36 barrels of gunpowder hidden beneath the Houses of Parliament, and a last-minute discovery: it reads like an action film.

Start by screening Bonfire Night from the Miniclips: Global Celebrations and Commemorations series (four minutes, suitable from KS1 to Upper KS2) to give younger pupils an accessible overview. For a more entertaining take, Horrible Histories’ Slimy Stuarts: Fawkes’ 13 retells the plot as an action-movie trailer and works well from Reception to Upper KS2.

Secondary pupils benefit from greater depth. The Gunpowder Treason from One Minute History delivers a punchy 59-second summary, while the 28-minute documentary Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot is ideal for a full lesson. For upper secondary and advanced pupils, Gunpowder 5/11: The Greatest Terror Plot provides a detailed hour-long exploration.

Try this:

• After watching, ask pupils to write two short paragraphs: one that presents Guy Fawkes as a hero and one that presents him as a villain. This simple exercise introduces the idea that historical figures are viewed differently depending on perspective
• Draw a comparison with Robin Hood to help younger pupils grasp the concept. Both figures broke the law, yet both are sometimes celebrated. What makes someone a hero?

2) Meet King James I and the Stuarts

The Gunpowder Plot did not happen in isolation. It took place during a turbulent period of religious conflict under the reign of King James I, the first Stuart king of England. Understanding this wider context helps pupils see the plot as part of a bigger picture rather than a standalone event.

For secondary pupils, King James I from The Stuarts: A Bloody Reign offers a compelling 44-minute portrait of the monarch who was the target of the assassination attempt. Did you know James published a book called Daemonologie in 1597, a handbook on how to recognise and destroy witches? That kind of detail tends to hold pupils’ attention.

To explore the broader Stuart era, these Horrible Histories clips bring the period to life with humour:

• Travelling Around in Stuart Britain
• Diseases in Stuart Britain
• The Whiffy Jar and The Royal Society

Try this:

• Have pupils create a timeline that places the Gunpowder Plot alongside other key Stuart events: the English Civil War, the Great Plague and the Great Fire of London. This helps them see connections between events rather than studying each one in isolation
• For an extended investigation, pair the King James I documentary with Lucy Worsley Investigates: The Witch Hunts to explore how superstition and power intersected during this period

3) Connect to the Great Fire of London

Just over 60 years after the Gunpowder Plot, another catastrophic event struck London. The Great Fire of 1666 destroyed much of the city, and it makes a natural companion topic when teaching about Bonfire Night and the Stuart era.

For primary pupils, Horrible Histories’ The Grisly Great Fire of London Special and London Burns offer two contrasting styles: one comedic, one more factual. Using both gives pupils the chance to compare how the same event is presented in different ways.

Try this:

• Ask pupils to compare the Gunpowder Plot and the Great Fire. Both involved fire, both targeted London, and both changed the course of British history. But one was deliberate and one was accidental. Use a Venn diagram to map the similarities and differences
• Challenge older pupils to consider how London rebuilt after the fire and what that tells us about resilience and urban planning

English and literacy

4) Write a Bonfire Night fireworks poem

Bonfire Night is a feast for the senses: the crack of fireworks, the crackle of the bonfire, the fizz of sparklers, the glow of embers against a dark sky. That makes it perfect for poetry, particularly for exploring onomatopoeia, imagery and sensory language.

Begin by watching Fireworks aff the Castle by Matthew Fitt from the Word Waves series (Reception to KS2). This poem uses vivid sound words that give pupils a model to work from. Follow it with How to Write a Poem from BBC Bitesize to scaffold the writing process.

Try this:

• Give pupils a sensory grid with columns for sight, sound, smell, touch and taste. Ask them to brainstorm Bonfire Night words for each sense before drafting their poem
• Encourage the use of onomatopoeia and challenge pupils to invent their own sound words. What does a Catherine wheel sound like? What about a sparkler burning down to the end?
• Display finished poems around the classroom or compile them into a class anthology

5) Argue both sides: was Guy Fawkes a hero or a villain?

The figure of Guy Fawkes raises genuinely interesting moral questions. He was a man driven by religious conviction who planned an act of extreme violence. Asking pupils to argue both sides of this question builds persuasive writing skills while developing their ability to consider multiple perspectives.

Try this:

• After watching one of the Gunpowder Plot videos from Activity 1, hold a brief class discussion to surface initial opinions
• Split the class into two groups. One group writes a paragraph defending Fawkes, the other writes a paragraph condemning him. Then have the groups swap positions and write from the opposite perspective
• For older pupils, extend this into a formal persuasive essay. You might also link Guy Fawkes to the broader theme of protest and civil disobedience, asking whether violence is ever justified as a means of political change

Science

6) Investigate how fireworks work

Most pupils have watched fireworks, but how many know what makes them burst into colour? The science behind fireworks covers chemical reactions, combustion, and the properties of metals, making it a valuable cross-curricular link.

Screen Fireworks (suitable for primary pupils) to explore how and why fireworks work and why they produce such vivid colours. You might also use the London New Year’s Eve Fireworks 2023/2024 as a visual stimulus for discussion.

Try this:

• Ask pupils to research which metals produce which colours (copper for blue, strontium for red, barium for green) and create a colour chart
• Challenge older pupils to design their own firework on paper, labelling each section with the chemicals and reactions involved
• Link this to a wider unit on combustion or chemical changes

7) Discuss fire safety

Bonfire Night is an ideal time to talk about fire safety with pupils. With bonfires, fireworks and sparklers all part of the celebrations, it is worth taking a few minutes to cover the basics, particularly for younger year groups.

Fire Safety covers the key information pupils need about the dangers of fire and how to stay safe. It also connects to the broader Topic of Safety and Rules on ClickView.

Try this:

• After watching, have pupils create a fire safety poster or leaflet aimed at families attending a Bonfire Night event. This combines design skills with informational writing
• Discuss the difference between supervised and unsupervised fireworks. What rules would pupils put in place if they were organising a community bonfire?

Art and design

8) Create fireworks-inspired artwork

The visual spectacle of Bonfire Night lends itself naturally to art projects. Fireworks, bonfires and glowing sparklers against a dark sky offer striking contrasts of light, colour and movement.

Use the London New Year’s Eve Fireworks episode as visual inspiration before pupils begin creating.

Try this:

• Wax-resist painting: Have pupils draw firework shapes on black paper using wax crayons, then wash over the page with watercolour paint. The wax resists the paint, creating a glowing effect
• Splatter art: Use old toothbrushes dipped in paint to flick colour onto dark paper for an abstract fireworks effect
• Design a firework: Ask pupils to design their own firework display, sketching the shapes and labelling the colours they’d choose. Pair this with Activity 6 by having them note which chemicals would produce each colour

PSHE and citizenship

9) Hold a classroom debate: should Bonfire Night be cancelled?

In recent years, there has been growing discussion about whether Bonfire Night should continue. Concerns range from air pollution and the impact on animals to the risks of injuries from fireworks. This makes for a thought-provoking classroom debate.

Screen Should Bonfire Night be Cancelled? from Newsround (Reception to Upper KS2) to introduce pupils to the arguments on both sides. The clip presents real opinions from young people, which helps pupils see that there is no single “right” answer.

Try this:

• Divide the class into “for” and “against” groups. Give each group 10 minutes to prepare their three strongest arguments before holding a structured debate
• After the debate, ask pupils to write a balanced opinion piece that acknowledges both sides. This reinforces the skill of presenting a fair argument even when you hold a personal view
• For secondary pupils, extend the discussion to explore how traditions evolve over time. Are there other British traditions that have changed or been questioned? What does that tell us about how society’s values shift?

10) Explore the Tower of London

The Tower of London played a central role in the aftermath of the Gunpowder Plot. It was here that Guy Fawkes was taken after his arrest, interrogated and ultimately tortured into revealing the names of his co-conspirators.

The Victorian Tower from Inside the Tower of London (upper secondary) includes footage of the very room where Fawkes was interrogated, bringing this piece of history vividly to life.

Try this:

• Ask pupils to write a diary entry from the perspective of Guy Fawkes on the night of his arrest. What was he thinking? What did he see, hear and feel? This combines historical empathy with creative writing
• Use this as an entry point for a wider study of how the Tower of London has been used throughout British history, from a royal palace to a prison to a tourist attraction

Tips for ongoing integration

Bonfire Night falls at the start of November, making it a natural anchor point for half-term planning. Here are a few ways to weave it into your teaching throughout the term:

• Build a cross-curricular week. Dedicate a week to Bonfire Night across multiple subjects. History covers the Gunpowder Plot, English tackles poetry or persuasive writing, science explores fireworks chemistry, and art produces a display for the school corridor
• Use it as a gateway to the Stuarts. The Gunpowder Plot is just the beginning. From the English Civil War to the Great Plague, the Stuart era is packed with engaging topics. The Crash Course European History: English Civil War video works well as a next step for secondary pupils
• Revisit the themes year on year. Younger pupils might focus on fire safety and fireworks poetry, while older pupils explore political protest and historical empathy. Returning to the same event at different key stages allows pupils to build on prior knowledge and engage with increasingly complex ideas
• Connect to Shakespeare and the Stuarts. Simon Schama’s Shakespeare episode Hollow Crowns and the film Mary Queen of Scots both sit within the Stuart period and offer rich material for English and history lessons