Picture Book Lesson for Fireworks by Matthew Burgess

This picture book lesson accompanies “Fireworks” by Matthew Burgess, the 2026 Caldecott Medal winner, or “Firework Poem” by Enid Blyton. The lesson, the picture book, and the poem all feature onomatopoeia.

Please note: You will need one or both of the above texts to teach this lesson. Neither is provided with this lesson. “Firework Poem” is widely available online. It cannot be provided because it is not yet in the public domain.

This lesson has 50 slides and pages, and it includes:

• 37-slide Lesson Presentation in Microsoft PowerPoint + Google Slides
  • All body text is editable; you choose which slides you want to use.
  • 8 slides are whole class mini lesson slides.
  • 23 slides are “scrolling presentation” slides that are great for extending lessons or scrolling in the library during checkout and downtimes.
  • Please note that this presentation is designed to complement a read-aloud. The actual read-aloud story comes from you! Due to copyright laws, read-aloud videos of the books are NOT included.
• Two (2) differentiated onomatopoeia activities (4 pages, PowerPoint, Google Slides, and PDF)
  • Students match onomatopoeia words from a word bank with pictures.
  • 2 versions: cut-and-paste or write-in words
  • Answer keys are included for both versions.
• Two (2) editable, differentiated scavenger hunts (3 pages, PowerPoint, Google Slides, and PDF)
  • Students “hunt” for images and information in the Part 2 scrolling slides part of the presentation. This gives students something to focus on during library checkout and downtime.
  • Easier version – Students color the objects as they find them.
  • Harder version – Students answer questions about the information in the slides, plus find smaller images.
  • Answer key is included.
• List of 39 recommended books to accompany this lesson (1 page, PowerPoint, Google Slides, and PDF)
  • The list is editable and great to hand out to parents, teachers, and students looking for related books.
• Detailed, pre-filled Library Lesson Plan in PowerPoint, Google Slides, and PDF formats (5 pages), aligned to:
  • AASL National School Library Standards for Learners,
  • National Common Core ELA Standards, and
  • Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).
• Lesson tips and troubleshooting help instructions (8 pages, PDF)

8 Mini Lesson Slides:

Part 1 includes only 5 slides for the mini lesson, which enables the librarian to get to the read-aloud more quickly.

• “Fireworks” won the 2026 Caldecott Award!
• What are fireworks?
• Making predictions about “Fireworks” based on the title and cover art
• What is onomatopoeia and examples
• Predict: What onomatopoeia words might we hear in Fireworks?

These slides also work with “Firework Poem,” but you will need to edit the slides slightly to change the title from Fireworks to “Firework Poem.” All slides are easily edited in PowerPoint and Google Slides.

23 Scrolling Slides:

Part 2 is the scrolling slides. Set them on a timer to scroll on a screen during library checkout. Students can use the scrolling slides to complete one of the two Scavenger Hunts.

• Vocabulary: fuse
• How to sign “fireworks” in American Sign Language
• Practice summer onomatopoeia words
• Trivia questions about July 4th, firework history, and the setting of Fireworks
• Bastille Day, July 4th, and New Year’s Eve are all celebrated with fireworks
• Fireworks have different metal salts, which makes them different colors
• Why are animals are afraid of fireworks (and thunder)?
• How can we can help calm frightened pets during fireworks or storms?
• What are sparklers?
• Sparkler safety tips

Standards Addressed:

AASL National School Library Standards – See the AASL Standards Framework for Learners to view full text. 

• Inquire – C.1. – D.3.
• Explore – A.1 – C.1.

Common Core English Language Arts Standards –
© Copyright 2010 National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and Council of Chief State School Officers. All rights reserved.

• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.1. – CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.3. – CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.10.
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.1. – CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.3. – CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.10.
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.1. – CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.3. – CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.10.

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