The Crazy Weather Show
Extreme Weather! — Air, Heat, Water & the Science of Storms
An explosive KS1–KS3 & family show with Scientific Sue
Photo Darragh Kane 09/03/2023
Rory Gallagher Theatre, MTU
A Bit about the Show:
Join Scientific Sue for a thrilling scientific journey of discovery as we unravel the mysteries of our ever-changing weather through spectacular, dramatic, and unforgettable demonstrations. Whether you’re a budding scientist or simply curious about the world around you, The Crazy Weather Show promises an educational and entertaining experience like no other!.
This engaging spectacle dives deep into the science behind some of nature’s most fascinating — and wildest — phenomena. Audiences will discover how air pressure can lift, how fast-moving air can pull, and how warming air creates wind. They’ll see how hot and cold water drive the powerful ocean currents that move heat around our planet, and watch as a heatproof balloon reveals the oceans’ incredible ability to store energy.
It may be educational…
It may be occasionally fictional…
But it is ALWAYS fun-filled, shocking, messy, and totally unforgettable!
🌪️ What You’ll See & Do
🔥 Fire That Spins!
Everyone’s heard of tornadoes — but what about fire tornadoes?
Sue reveals how spinning air, extreme heat, and flammable plant oils can create incredible whirling columns of flame.
A young participant and an instructor watch a dramatic flame vortex during a hands-on science demonstration.
You’ll also discover why the humble eucalyptus tree can turn a bushfire into an explosive whoosh!
🌿 The Eucalyptus ‘Whoosh’ Bottle
A magical demo disguised as a gum tree reveals how vapours form, ignite, and create the astonishing flash-fire effect that made Australian wildfires so fierce.
One spark… and WHOOSH!
🌍 Air That Pushes, Heats, Lifts & Spills
- See how air pressure can lift wood
- How fast-moving air creates suction
- How hot air rises like a floating helium balloon
- How oceans circulate using heat and density
- How clouds form in a bottle
- And how gases dissolve to change the chemistry of our oceans
Sue uses everyday objects to explore the invisible forces that shape our planet’s weather systems.
🎈 Explosions, Rockets, and Engineering Challenges!
Expect volunteers — LOTS of volunteers!
Together we’ll launch fizz pop rockets, build a balloon-powered pulley system, and help stranded villagers solve problems using physics and creativity.
High winds, strong structures and hands-on engineering: the perfect KS1–KS3 STEM finale!
🌧️ Why Does Extreme Weather Happen?
Demonstrating the power of high pressure: a cloud-in-a-bottle experiment launches into the air during an Engineers Week show. Photo Darragh Kane
Through drama sketches and dynamic demos, audiences discover:
- how heat makes air and water move,
- why storms grow tall,
- how warmed oceans can disrupt currents,
- why heavy rainfall and flooding are increasing,
- and how simple changes in temperature can make huge differences to our atmosphere.
It’s weather science made memorable, meaningful, and marvellously fun.
🌟 Key Themes Explored
Designed for KS1, KS2, KS3 & family audiences, the show supports curriculum learning in:
Air & Atmosphere
- Air pressure
- Buoyancy
- Expansion
- Vortices
- Wind formation
- Jet streams (optional inclusion)
Heat & Climate
- Why warm air rises
- Why warm oceans expand
Photo Darragh Kane 09/03/2023
Rory Gallagher Theatre, MTU - Melting ice and rising sea levels
- Thermohaline circulation
- Humidity, rainfall & snowfall
Fire & Wild Weather
Climate Chemistry
- CO₂ dissolving in water
- Ocean acidification
- Water vapour as a greenhouse gas
- The carbon cycle (optional add-on)
Engineering Solutions
- Structures and forces
- Bridges & storm resilience
A balloon-powered pulley system transports a “parcel” across the room, showing how simple engineering solutions—like those used in Puerto Rico after Storm Maria—can deliver essential supplies when bridges are destroyed.
- Pulleys, loads, and simple machines
- Real-world connections (e.g., Hurricane Maria)
🌈 Why Book This Show?
Because it brings Science2Life.
Children don’t just watch weather — they feel it:
- They feel the pressure of air.
- They see heat lifting balloons.
- They watch clouds appear instantly.
- They witness fire spinning into a tornado.
- They help build engineering solutions.
The result?
A show full of laughter, gasps, learning, and unforgettable science.
⚠️ A Fun Little Warning…
This show may contain:
- clouds in bottles
Heat proof balloon demonstration DKANE 09/03/2023
Rory Gallagher Theatre, MTU - soaring rockets
- spinning fire
- whooshing gum trees
- exploding ideas
- high winds
- surprising science
- and occasional silliness
Viewers must be prepared to laugh, think, wonder, and be creatively shocked!.
🎯 Educational Value
The aim isn’t to frighten — it’s to fascinate.
By exploring how air, heat, and water shape our climate, children gain a powerful foundation for:
- weather projects
- climate discussions
- environmental topics
- geography & science coursework
- KS3 energy & forces
- cross-curricular STEM activities
The science behind weather and climate can be complex — this show distils it into clear, dramatic, accurate ideas children can grasp and build on.