PIRATES!  ALL HANDS ON DECK!  (Glasgow Science Centre, 2005)

At the request of the Glasgow Science Centre, Monsters and Mayhem produced a puppet show for Primary 1-3 children that explores the ‘Forces and Their Effects’ part of the Scottish National Guidelines.  (written and designed by Jillian Webster, music by Mark Carr)

THE STORY Ratty decides to stowaway so he can have a nice relaxing cruise- unfortunately for him, he’s stowed away on a pirate ship by mistake!  He saves his own skin by agreeing to crew the pirate ship and do lots of pirate work.  With the help of ‘The Mermaid’ (who used to be a scientific vessel, before she was taken over by pirates) and lots of useful science, Ratty gets his cruise after all!

EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES

Through Ratty’s attempts to evade discovery and whilst he undertakes his pirate chores, children will understand that pushing and pulling are forces that can effect the direction, speed and shape of objects.  They will understand what floating and sinking are, and predict what sorts of things are likely to float or sink.  They can experience using forces themselves and help Ratty to use forces to end up happily ever after…

SOME IMAGES

'The Mermaid' 'The Mermaid is a Scientific Vessel that has been taken over by a fearsome bunch of Pirates, led by Pinkbeard, the Terror of the Seven Seas!  (and silliest Pirate of them all!)  The Mermaid is a gentle and intelligent boat who understands the importance and practical application of science in everyday life (especially when there's pirates involved!)

Mrs Pinkbeard

The Captain’s mother Mrs Pinkbeard is a pirate even scarier than Pinkbeard himself!

Shown left alongside her initial character sketch, you can see the joy she takes in looking pretty.  ...If only she wouldn't sing ...

Using Forces to do Work! The Jolly Roger, the flag that gets hoisted as one of Ratty’s chores using a simple machine (a pulley) and of course FORCE- pulling the rope!

You can see more images on our Gallery Pages.