From Storms to Snowflakes: The Physics of Weather and Climate Change

Explore how forces, weather, and climate connect to the real world through 10 hands-on STEMactivities. From heatproof balloons to static storms, these experiments make abstract science concepts tangible and fun.

  • Quick-Glance Table of the 10 Activities
Activity Key Concept STEM Focus
1. Wood You Believe It? Air pressure & forces Atmospheric pressure, area × force
2. Bead Blaster! Air movement & suction Bernoulli’s principle, pressure gradients
3. Floating Balloon! Heat, gas expansion & buoyancy Ideal gas behaviour, weather links
4. Cloud in a Bottle Condensation & cloud formation Pressure, temperature, phase changes
5. Magic of Water Absorption & evaporation Polymers, cooling, snow & climate impacts
6. Feeling the Force! Extreme weather & hurricanes Vortices, fluid dynamics, energy transfer
7. Fizz Pop Rocket Gas pressure & motion Chemical reactions, Newton’s laws
8. Heatproof Balloon Specific heat capacity Heat transfer, oceans as climate regulators
9. Static Magic Charge transfer & lightning Triboelectric effect, electrostatics, storms
10. 3 Ingenious Pigs & Gale Force Structures, forces & engineering Hurricane resilience, pulleys, climate impact

  • Warm oceans → more energy→ stronger storms
  • Carbon emissions → climate change→ extreme weather
  • STEM → solutions through engineering & innovation
Scan the QR codes below to download the training notes and the full story of The Three Ingenious Pigs and Gale Force the Wolf. These resources support Sue’s IOP Brecon Teachers Conference online workshop on 29th September 2025.

An interactive online CPD session for KS3 & KS4 science teachers with Susan Carvell (aka Scientific Sue) BSc Hons PGCE CEd DASE MEd FInstP

Get ready to bring the wild world of weather and climate into your classroom — without getting your feet wet!

Join Scientific Sue for a fast-paced, fun-filled online workshop packed with 10 hands-on physics activities that explore key concepts behind air pressure, wind, heat transfer, cloud formation, extreme weather, and climate change. From snapping balsa wood with atmospheric pressure to creating a storm in a balloon, these memorable demonstrations are guaranteed to spark curiosity and deepen understanding.

One highlight you won’t want to miss: the retelling of The Three Little Pigs, featuring Gale Force, a vortex-blasting wolf armed with a smoke-ring-firing Airzooka! This joyful, story-led investigation makes the invisible forces of air visible — while sneakily teaching about vortices, air flow, and extreme weather.

Every participant will receive a kit of materials and classroom-ready teaching notes, so you can try each experiment live during the session and take it straight into your lessons. Perfect for supporting the physics of weather and climate in the KS3 and KS4 curriculum — with plenty of opportunities for questioning, modelling, and cross-curricular links.

Expect to:

  • Model tornadoes, clouds, ocean currents and more
  • Explore the science of increasing rainfall and rising temperatures
  • Investigate how climate change is affecting our atmosphere and oceans
  • Use storytelling to bring physics concepts to life
  • Leave with ready-to-go demos that make complex concepts unforgettable

What’s in the Kit 🎒✨

Your workshop kit includes all the specialist items needed for today’s hands-on STEM activities. Please check your kit contents before the session begins:

Item Used In Purpose
Balsa Wood Strip Activity 1: Wood You Believe It? Demonstrates the effects of air pressure.
Blue Cloud Balloon Activity 3: Floating Balloon Investigate gas expansion and buoyancy.
Cloud in a Bottle Kit Activity 4: Cloud in a Bottle Explore condensation, cloud formation, and atmospheric pressure.
Build-a-Snowman Kit Activity 5: Magic of Water Learn about absorption, expansion, and evaporation cooling.
Fizz Pop Rocket Kit Activity 7: Fizz Pop Rocket Demonstrates chemical reactions, gas pressure, and Newton’s laws.
Yellow Balloon Activity 8: Heatproof Balloon Investigate specific heat capacity and heat transfer.
Storm-in-a-Balloon Kit Activity 9: Static Magic Visualise static charge build-up and lightning formation.
Balloon Pulley Kit Activity 10: 3 Ingenious Pigs & Gale Force Explore forces, engineering solutions, and problem-solving.