15 FESTIVE July 4th Crafts & Activities (2023)
Looking for July fourth crafts and activities?
I have many fun and festive July fourth ideas for you to try with your kids! These activities are perfect for celebrating our country!
Let’s get started with my 15+ FESTIVE July fourth Crafts and Activities!
Craft #1: Firework Salt Painting
Salt painting is my favorite activity to do with my kids. These fireworks turned out SO cool.
This Fourth of July craft is a must-try activity this year!
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- black cardstock paper
- salt
- glue
- watercolors
- pencil
- paintbrush
- art tray
B. Set-up
On black cardstock paper, draw the fireworks using a pencil. Then, outline your drawings in school glue.
C. Activity
Have the kids sprinkle salt on top of the glue. There should be a TON of salt on the paper. They should remove the excess into the trash.
You can choose to do this activity right away or wait till the salt dries. I like doing it both ways, but if you decide to wait, I think the colors turn out better.
They will use watercolors to paint the fireworks red and blue! They can skip spaces for the white or paint the whole firework red and blue!
Let it dry and see how beautiful it turns out! This is such a great Fourth of July craft for kids.
Craft #2: Fingerprint Flag Craft
I can’t get enough of fingerprint crafts. This is the PERFECT Fourth of July craft for kids.
This flag also works as the perfect July 4th decor around the house. I love displaying the kid’s artwork around the house.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- cardboard
- paint
- pencil
- ruler
B. Set-up
Cut a piece of cardboard into a rectangle shape for a flag. Then, using a ruler, create lines for the flag. You will need to create 13 lines and a square at the top!
C. Activity
First, you’ll paint your little one’s hand blue, and they will make a print at the top in the square. Make sure to press down on your child’s hand in all places for the print to show up the best!
Then, they will wash their hand off to get ready for the prints! Finally, they will make red and white prints for the American flag!
What a cute keepsake for the Fourth of July! Put this up each year or make a new one every year to see the difference in prints.
Craft #3: Glitter Glue Fireworks
There is just something special about glitter glue! My daughter gets SO excited to use it.
Making these fireworks is an easy and fun Fourth of July craft for your kids.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- black cardstock
- glitter glue
- pencil
B. Set-up
Draw fireworks onto a black piece of cardstock using a pencil.
C. Activity
Have your little ones use glitter glue to trace your lines! They should use different colors for the fireworks.
This is a great fine motor activity for kids and helps their handwriting skills because they will be working on tracing lines.
Add some stars in the sky and look at the beautiful Fourth of July fireworks craft!
RELATED: Fine Motor Activities for KidsÂ
Craft #4: USA Fizzy Ice
Looking for a fun and easy science experiment to do with the kids this summer?
This Fourth of July fizzy ice experiment is the PERFECT play activity for kids! They will love seeing the reaction that baking soda and vinegar have.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- ice trays
- water
- baking soda
- food coloring
- sensory bin
- squirt bottles
- vinegar
B. Set-up
Make ice in ice trays and let them freeze overnight. Then, once they are ready, dump them into a sensory bin.
C. Activity
Add a few drops of blue and red food coloring to the ice. Then, sprinkle a bunch of baking soda on top of the ice.
Fill up some squirt bottles with vinegar. Then, let the kids squirt the vinegar onto the ice to watch it fizz! This is such a fun and simple experiment for the Fourth of July!
Talk about how a reaction occurs when baking soda and vinegar mix. That’s why is begins to fizz.
Craft #5: Pasta Fireworks
Working with pasta is so fun for kids. We love the process of painting the pasta!
This Fourth of July craft for kids is fun because they get to use different types of pasta to create. Pasta is a great sensory filler for kids and works great for crafts.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- TP rolls
- acrylic paint
- art tray
- star stickers
- pasta (spiral and straight)
- glue
- paintbrush
- hot glue
B. Set-up
There aren’t a lot of pasta pieces for this craft, so they can be painted individually. The kids should use a paintbrush and acrylic paint to color the pasta. Let is dry for about 20 minutes before crafting!
While waiting for the pasta to dry, they can paint the toilet paper rolls red, white, and blue!
C. Activity
When everything is dry, the kids can start gluing their fireworks onto the cardboard!
The adult should use hot glue to attach the toilet paper rolls to the bottom of the cardboard. Then, kids can use school glue to glue on the spiral and straight pasta to look like fireworks!
We added some star stickers onto the toilet paper rolls. Lastly, we added fingerprints next to each straight pasta noodle for the center firework.
What a fun and festive Fourth of July craft for kids!
 Craft #6: Fourth of July Color by Code
This color-by-code Fourth of July craft is a fun way for kids to work on numbers!
My son loves the color-by-code printables SO much! They are by far his favorite learning activity.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- Color by Code sheets
- crayons
- markers
Click HERE for your FREE Fourth of July Color by Code
B. Set-up
Print off the sheets that you want to use!
C. Activity
Make sure your child understands how to read the key at the top of the page. Then, they will color each number in the picture based on what the key says.
These are my kid’s favorite out of all the printables I create. They love revealing the picture at the end!
RELATED: Math PrintablesÂ
Craft #7: Paper Plate Flag Craft
Here’s another easy flag Fourth of July craft for kids. We love using paper plates for crafting because it’s so simple.
What is fun about this craft is that we used streamers! This is a beautiful flag craft to hang up at home.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- paper plate
- tape
- streamer
- acrylic paint
- paintbrush
- sponge
B. Set-up
Cut a paper plate in half and paint it blue using acrylic paint! Let this dry; it’ll take about a half-hour to dry.
C. Activity
Cut red and white streamers. They should be about the same length!
Once the paper plate is dry, the kids can tape the steamers onto the back of the paper plate. They should alternate the colors of the steamers.
Lastly, create a star shape onto a sponge. Then, cut it out and dip it into the paint. The kids will make star prints on top of the blue paint!
This is a cute and easy Fourth of July craft for toddlers and preschoolers.
RELATED: Paper Plate Crafts
Craft #8: Fourth of July Lava Lamps
We love making lava lamps! It’s such a fun and simple experiment that it is a winner each time we do it.
This is the perfect Fourth of July activity for kids to try. I love you can do this over and over too!
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- clear glass
- vegetable oil/baby oil
- water
- acrylic paint
- star confetti
- Alka Seltzer tablets
B. Set-up
In a clear glass or jar, fill it with 3/4 full of baby oil/vegetable oil. Then, add 1/4 cup of water.
C. Activity
Mix a few squirts of acrylic paint and water together in small cups. Then, mix it up using a spoon.
Add the mix into the oil. If you have some star confetti, you can add this into the jars to add a little more effect, but this is optional!
Lastly, add in the Alka-Seltzer tablet! Watch it fizz up and create bubbles like a lava lamp!
RELATED: Letter L Activities
Craft #9: Q-tip Fireworks
This is another fun Fourth of July craft that works on fine motor skills!
This time, it’s using Q-tips and washable paint. When kids use Q-tips trace, they are working on handwriting skills. This is a great way to sneak in some learning!
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- cardstock paper
- washable paint
- Q-tips
- pencil
- paint tray
B. Set-up
Draw fireworks on white paper using a pencil!
C. Activity
Add paint to a paint tray and grab some Q-tips. The kids will dip their Q-tips into the paint, and they will trace your drawings.
You can write a color for the kids to use at the bottom of each firework, or you can leave them blank for the kids to make their own choice.
This is a fun and simple setup for kids!
Craft #10: TP Roll Fireworks
Got a stash of TP rolls? Here’s a fun way to put them to use for a Fourth of July craft.
Toilet paper rolls make the perfect prints for fireworks! All you have to do is make a few cuts in them.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- black cardstock paper
- washable paint
- toilet paper rolls
- scissors
- glitter glue
- paintbrush
B. Set-up
Make a few cuts into a toilet paper roll. Then, bend them back, so they flair out like a firework!
We made two types of cuts in the toilet paper rolls, so they were a little different. Add a bunch of slits and try another one with just a few.
C. Activity
The kids will use a paintbrush to paint each toilet paper roll on the slits. Then, they will make prints on paper. We made a few of each color across the entire paper.
Then, the kids added a squirt of glitter glue in the middle of each firework, spreading it out with their fingers.
This is such a fun and colorful Fourth of July craft for kids! I love when we get the chance to reuse supplies to create art.
Craft #11: Fingerprint Star Craft
Fingerprint crafts are some of our favorite crafts! We love to do them each holiday and season.
This fourth of July craft for kids is the perfect keepsake or DIY card for someone special.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- black paper
- paint
- FREE star template
- masking tape
Click HERE for your FREE Star Template
B. Set-up
Print off my star template cut them out, and tape them down to a white/black sheet of paper using masking tape.
Grab your paint and add it to a paint tray!
C. Activity
The kids will make different colored fingerprints around the paper. Make sure that they get around the star images so they show up.
Pull off the stars to reveal them on the paper!
RELATED: Holiday PrintablesÂ
Craft #12: Popsicle Stick Stars
Popsicle stick crafts are easy for the kids to do, and they turn out so cute.
I love how festive these stars came out for a Fourth of July craft!
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- popsicle sticks
- paint
- hot glue
- star glitter
- red, white, and blue poms
- glitter glue
- buttons
- sprinkles
B. Set-up
Paint the popsicle sticks red, white and blue. You can choose to mix colors on the stars or just keep them one color.
Once they are dry, the adult will hot glue the sticks in a star shape.
C. Activity
Now it’s time to decorate! Add a thin layer of glue to the sticks and sprinkle some Fourth of July sprinkles or glitter on the stars.
Or, the kids can use glue to stick on poms, buttons, or they can just spread glitter glue on the stars!
These are so pretty, and it’s such a fun craft to do with kids!
Craft #13: Fireworks in a Jar Experiment
I have a science experiment you have to try this summer! Make your own fireworks in a jar!
I got this idea from The Genius of Play! It’s an easy science experiment that you can do right at home or in the classroom.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- jar
- vegetable oil
- food coloring
- water
- spoon
B. Set-up
Fill a jar up 3/4 full with water. Then, mix 1/3 cup vegetable oil and a few drops of food coloring in a bowl. We chose to use rainbow colors, but you can use whatever colors you like!
C. Activity
The kids will add the oil mix to the jar using a spoon to help guide it in slowly.
Watch the drops of food coloring spread out in the oil and water! It’s mesmerizing to watch. It looks like fireworks in a jar!
This is the perfect summer activity for Memorial Day or July fourth!
Check out The Genius of Play’s Summer Playbook to discover fun play ideas!
Craft #14: USA Skittles Experiment
Here is a spin on the classic Skittles experiment for kids!
This Fourth of July activity is perfect because it involves Skittles, which the kids will LOVE!
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- white plate
- red, white, and blue Skittles
- measuring cup
- water
B. Set-up
Set the Skittles up in a red, white, and blue pattern on a white plate in a circle formation.
C. Activity
Have the kids use a measuring cup to add some warm water in the middle of the Skittles. The water needs to be touching all the Skittles for this experiment to work.
Sit back and watch the reaction occur. You’ll see the colors slowly move towards the middle or outside.
The colors look amazing together! This is such a fun and easy experiment for the Fourth of July!
Craft #15: Fourth of July Magic Milk
The magic milk experiment is one of my all-time favorite experiments to do with the kids.
It’s easy, and it gets them excited each time we do it. So we decided to try magic milk as a Fourth of July activity!
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- tray
- whole milk
- food coloring (not gel)
- dish soap
- Q-tip
B. Set-up
Pour 2 cups of whole milk into a tray or sensory bin. Then, have your child add a few drops of red and blue food coloring to the milk.
Make sure to use liquid food coloring instead of gel food coloring because it won’t work as well.
C. Activity
Add a little dish soap to a bowl and grab a Q-tip. Have the kids dip the Q-tip into the dish soap and slowly touch the food coloring with the soap.
Watch the food coloring start to spread! Then, touch all the food coloring spots to keep watching it spread.
This is such a fun and simple Fourth of July activity!
Craft #16: Sand Party Poppers
Looking for a safe way for your kids to do fireworks this year? These sand poppers are a huge hit, and they are fun to make.
We created these poppers out of toilet paper rolls and scrapbook paper.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- toilet paper
- scrapbook paper
- washi tape
- balloons
- sand
- foam star stickers
B. Set-up
Cut a piece of scrapbook paper to fit the toilet paper rolls. Wrap the paper around the roll and tape it on using washi tape. We used washi tape because it’s thin, sticks on well, and looks festive with the colors.
C. Activity
Cut a balloon and tape the bottom of the balloon onto the toilet paper roll using the washi tape.
Dump 1/2 cup of sand into the toilet paper roll and some small star stickers. We did not peel off the back, we just tossed them in there so it would be fun for them, and then they could be reused.
Head outside and let the kids pull back the balloon to have the sand pop out the top!
You can do this over and over again; just add new sand!
Craft #17: Firework Sensory Bag
Sensory bags are a great way for kids to learn! I love them because it’s mess-free too!
This firework sensory bag is a great Fourth of July activity for toddlers and preschoolers to practice colors.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- ziplock bag
- baby oil/hair gel
- water
- poms
- Sharpies
- masking tape
- cotton ball
- rubbing alcohol
B. Set-up
To remove the label from the ziplock bag, add a little rubbing alcohol to a cotton ball and wipe the label away. Then, dry it off using a towel!
Use different color Sharpies to create the fireworks!
C. Activity
Add a whole bottle of hair gel to the bag or 1/2 a bottle of baby oil. Then, add 1/4 cup of water inside the bag too! Finally, drop the color poms inside to match the color of the fireworks you created.
You can use masking tape to tape the sensory bag down to a flat surface; this is optional!
Have the kids scoot the poms to the correct colored fireworks! This helps them with color matching skills as well as fine motor skills.
RELATED: Sensory Activities for Kids
Craft #18: Fizzy Play Tray
When I think of July fourth and Memorial Day, I think about the people who have/had served our country, fireworks, and celebrating America!
Which makes fizzy play an excellent activity for the kids!
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- sensory bin
- baking soda
- vinegar
- food coloring
B. Set-up
In a tray, dump a package of baking soda!
In a cup, add a few drops of food coloring vinegar. Mix it up!
Add in a few festive accessories like glitter stars and hats.
C. Activity
Have the kids use droppers to squirt the food coloring mixture into the baking soda!
They will love seeing it fizz and erupt.
RELATED: STEM Toys for KidsÂ
Final Thoughts and Conclusion
There are so many fun arts and crafts that you can do with your kids to celebrate July fourth!
I hope you found some crafts and activities that will fill your July fourth with great memories and fun! Which activity was your favorite on the list? Comment below to let me know; I’d love to hear from you!
Happy Fourth of July!
Deena
