Picture Book Lesson for Fireworks by Matthew Burgess

Celebrate Independence Day and the America 250 Semi-quincentennial with the 2026 Caldecott Medal Winner! Designed specifically for busy librarians, this comprehensive picture book lesson is the perfect companion to Fireworks by Matthew Burgess, or “Firework Poem” by Enid Blyton.

Whether you need a fun July 4th activity, a rich onomatopoeia lesson, or an engaging way to manage library checkout time, this low-prep, interactive resource has you covered.

(Please Note: This lesson requires the book Fireworks or “Firework Poem,” which are widely available but not included in this download).

This lesson includes:

1. Interactive Digital Presentation (2 Parts)
   
   • Whole-Group Read-aloud Lesson (6 slides): Introduces the Caldecott Medal, the America 250 celebration, prompts student predictions, and teaches onomatopoeia with highly interactive, clickable sound effects.
   • Scrolling Slideshow (27 slides): Set this to a timer for students to engage with independently!
     • History and Geography: July 4th, Bastille Day, and the history of fireworks.
     • Science and Safety: Sparkler safety, why animals fear fireworks, and the chemistry of firework colors.
     • Vocabulary: Learn how to sign “fireworks” in ASL and define terms like “fuse.”
   • All body text is editable; you choose which slides you want to use.
   • Google Slides and Microsoft PowerPoint formats
   • Please note that this presentation is designed to complement a read-aloud. The actual read-aloud story comes from you!
2. Differentiated Printables
   • Scavenger Hunts: Keep students engaged during the scrolling slideshow! Includes an images-only version (no reading required) and a text-based version (answer key included).
   • Students “hunt” for images and information in the scrolling slides part of the presentation. This gives students something to focus on during library checkout and downtime.
   • Onomatopoeia Practice: Cut-and-paste OR write-in word bank options.
   • Google Slides, Microsoft PowerPoint, and PDF formats
3. Editable Recommended Reads List to accompany this lesson
   • 39 hand-selected, highly-reviewed picture books, chapter books, and graphic novels with summer themes.
   • Perfect for your own reference, creating book displays, or sending home to parents and teachers.
4. Take-Home Extension Activities (2 pages)
   
   • Text is editable, and includes several ways for students to share what they learned during the lesson.
   • Includes a short quiz, ASL practice, a sound-word scramble, a fun drawing activity, and an easy-to-make Firecracker “Pop”corn recipe.
   • Google Slides, Microsoft PowerPoint, and PDF formats
5. Comprehensive Library Lesson Plan
   • A pre-filled, editable lesson plan aligned to:
     • AASL National School Library Standards for Learners,
     • National Common Core ELA Standards, and
     • Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards.
   • Includes a prep checklist and a notes section for future planning.

Why Librarians Love this Resource:

• Standards Aligned: Naturally integrates AASL, CCSS, and TEKS standards.
• Highly Accessible and Flexible: Optimized for all readers using dyslexia-friendly fonts (Arial), 1.5 line spacing, and high-contrast colors.
• Ethical and High-Quality: As a certified librarian, I strictly use public domain photos and legally licensed commercial clipart (no AI-generated images). All images are locked to protect artist copyrights.

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.

Terms of Use
© Mrs. ReaderPants – By purchasing this product, you receive a one-user license. Copying or distributing to others is prohibited. See our Site Terms of Use for more information. For teacher-librarians: You may use this product with all of your classes and students.

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