Funded by the National Science Foundation, we are developing a show for the planetarium at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, TX. The 40 minute production is on lightning. The show focuses on both the science behind thunderstorms as well has how to stay safe and avoid danger. Our primary audience is 6-8th graders.

The show begins with a family preparing to go on a hike. The family has a mom, dad, and two children - a boy in 6th grade and a girl in 9th grade. As they are eating breakfast, the morning weather report comes on predicting storms for the afternoon. The family decided to go on the hike despite the weather prediction.

The family is followed throughout their day as they hike, eat lunch, talk with a lifeguard, seek shelter when a storm develops, and returns home to review their day. Throughout the story line, an animated character, Sparky, keeps appearing to discuss various scientific points. Sparky is an electron who is looking for his perfect molecule family. We get to talk with him as he jumps from one molecule to another. Sparky presents the science facts in a fun, easy to understand way. More science facts and narration are covered by Rebecca Miller of NBC affiliate KXAS in Dallas-Fort Worth TX. Ms. Miller discusses more of the details behind cloud development and safety issues. She also appears on the family's TV in both the morning and evening to discuss the weather.

This is a joint effort between the planetarium at Tarleton State University and the Visualization Lab at Texas A&M in College Station, TX. Supporting our efforts is the National Storms Laboratory in Norman, Oklahoma as well as the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at Texas A&M and KXAS.