Homemade Black Snake Fireworks

​This week’s STEAM Star is Tristan Jennings! He demonstrated how to make a homemade black snake, just in time for Independence Day!
This STEAM project from Science Notes shows you how to make a popular, non-exploding firework: the black snake. You can purchase these fireworks but they are also easy to make with ingredients from your kitchen!

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​Material List
4 tsp. Powdered Sugar
1 tsp. Baking Soda
Rubbing Alcohol or Lighter Fluid
Adult to ignite matches or lighter
Sand or dirt (optional)

​Instructions:
1. Mix together the baking soda and powdered sugar.
2. On a concrete surface, make a depression in sand or dirt and pour the mixture into it. Next you’ll cover it with a thin layer of sand.
3. Use the rubbing alcohol or lighter fluid to dampen the sand and mixture.
4. Have an adult light the fuel with a match or lighter. When the sugar in the underlying mixture catches on fire, you’ll see the black snake start to grow!
5. The firework will go out on its own but you can douse it with water or cover it with dirt to extinguish it. 

​Be Our Next STEAM Star!
Arts Quincy is looking for students in K-12 from around the region to do a step-by-step project that includes one of the STEM categories (science, technology, engineering, or math) and includes an aspect of art! Send your nominations to [email protected] to be featured in an upcoming issue of the Herald-Whig!

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