Give each child six red pipe cleaners. Help children cut their pipe cleaners in half. Set aside one piece, then pour some white glue into a small bowl. Have children grasp the other 11 pieces of pipe cleaners in one hand and dip the ends into the glue. Set out bowls filled with silver and blue glitter and have children dip the glued ends of the pipe cleaners into the glitter. Help children wrap the reserved pipe cleaner around the tops of the rest of the pieces. When the glue dries, hang up the fireworks using string.
With all their points and edges, stars provide children with valuable cutting practice. Trace large stars onto red, white and blue paper. Have each child cut out three to six stars. Add decoration to the stars using crayons or markers. Cut out a piece of ribbon for each child that is long enough to fit all his stars plus a few inches in between. Glue the backs of the stars to the ribbon. When the glue dries, hang up the garlands using tacks or tape.
Create patriotic wind socks out of recycled materials. Ask each child to bring in a clean coffee can or oatmeal container. Discard the container top, then help children measure and cut a piece of blue paper to fit around the outside of the container. Let children use glue or tape to attach the paper. Have the children decorate their containers with star shapes. Cut red and white ribbon into pieces about 2 feet long. Give each child a few dozen of each color ribbon. Help children tape or glue the ends of the ribbons into the opening of the container. Glue a ribbon loop to the top of each wind sock.
Preschoolers are often messy eaters, so place mats come in handy. Give each child a sheet of white paper, along with a half sheet of red paper. Draw stripes on the red paper and have children cut them out. Once they've cut out the stripes, have children glue them onto the white paper, evenly spaced. Show them a picture of the flag for reference. Give each child a blue paper square to glue in the top left corner of his paper. Have children decorate the blue square with white or silver stars stickers, then laminate each flag to turn it into a place mat.