Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Nick Watkins @pnwphysics.bsky.social · 2h

I’m lucky to teach physics to seniors as a Trade focused elective so I have a lot of flexibility. My 1st two units are motion then forces. After that I’m doing some order of fluids (plumbing), Thermo (HVAC), and electricity. Any suggestions for ordering those for conceptual flow? #iteachphysics

1

Nick Watkins @pnwphysics.bsky.social · 4h

Day 34 Physics - Students began analyzing car film data using vernier video analysis #iteachphysics #teach180

1

Nick Watkins @pnwphysics.bsky.social · 6h

Yep that’s what we do too! Still a matter of timing it cause some students still release too late or too early

Nick Watkins @pnwphysics.bsky.social · 7h

Day 34 Physical Sci - tested some groups for Catch the Marble. Seeing issues with students who rounded too much or whose car data doesn’t match the eye test. Generally biggest challenge is timing the release of marble. #iteachphysics #teach180

1 5

Nick Watkins @pnwphysics.bsky.social · 7h

That’s a great tip! I hope I didn’t already kill them then 😮‍💨

Nick Watkins @pnwphysics.bsky.social · 23h

Day 32&33 Physical Sci - Monday worked with individual groups on getting caught up to the end of page 3 and making their predictions. Big math variance yet lots of practice with multi step equations. On sick day had them do a sub packet on newtons laws. #iteachphysics #teach180

1

Nick Watkins @pnwphysics.bsky.social · 23h

Day 32&33 Physics - week started rough at home with sick kids, then ran into tech issues with uploading film on Monday. Figured it out by end of class. Sick day today so had students do the ruler drop reaction time lab and discuss how their findings apply to safe driving #iteachphysics #teach180

1

Nick Watkins @pnwphysics.bsky.social · 3d

Currently battling against fruit flies, wife found Venus fly traps at Trader Joe’s. Curious to see if they work, but just cool to see them in person for the first time!

1 5

Nick Watkins @pnwphysics.bsky.social · 5d

Day 31 Physics - Filming day, set up at 3 different sites to film cars going by our school. Spent time collecting quantitative data like driving behaviors (erratic, texting and driving), measurements, and pictures of the surrounding area #iteachphysics #teach180

2

Nick Watkins @pnwphysics.bsky.social · 5d

Day 31 Physical Sci - had students use their marble and car math models to predict how far away their constant velocity car should be from the ramp. Gave each group a different starting distance for their marble. #iteachphysics #teach180

Nick Watkins @pnwphysics.bsky.social · 6d

Day 30 - half day so didn’t see my physics or physical Sci kids. Used my planning to read through a physics activities book I got from @halfpricebooks.bsky.social which has been really helpful brainstorming ideas #iteachphysics #teach180

1 1

Nick Watkins @pnwphysics.bsky.social · 7d

Day 29 Physical Sci - Wrapping up our unit 1 Patterns and Motion unit with the Catch the Marble Challenge. Multi-Day assessment. Today had students recollect and derive velocity and acceleration of car and marble (pg 1&2). #iteachphysics #teach180 docs.google.com/document/d/1...

Unit 1 Challenge - Catching the Marble

Your Name: __________________________ Group Member Names: _______________________________ Unit 1 Challenge - Catching the Marble Constant Velocity Buggy Model Observations When the Constant Velocity B...

docs.google.com

2

Nick Watkins @pnwphysics.bsky.social · 7d

Day 29 Physics - walked out to the main road to set up our filming procedure and take some measurements. Also some qualitative data like how many people are getting cutoff and near misses #iteachphysics #teach180

1

Nick Watkins @pnwphysics.bsky.social · 7d

Day 28 - actually didn’t see any of my physics or physical science kids today due to conference schedules. We do 2 late nights til 7:30pm but get to go home at lunch Thursday Friday so not a bad payoff, but a bummer to not be home with my own kids.

Nick Watkins @pnwphysics.bsky.social · 9d

Professional development day before conferences. Really struggling with one-size-fits-all PD especially when there is no acknowledgment of real issues (huge class sizes, no funding, etc). Don’t have capacity this year but hope to join a physics PLC in the future ow.ly/QsL950X51AC #iteachphysics

AAPT Physics Teacher PLC Application

ow.ly

3

Nick Watkins @pnwphysics.bsky.social · 9d

I definitely use textbooks! Mostly to prop up ramp.

In all seriousness I have a text for college level that is mostly for reference and practice Qs, but we never got one for on level or physical sci. Developed my own set of materials and adapted others that align with NGSS and inquiry approaches

1

Nick Watkins @pnwphysics.bsky.social · 12d

Day 27 Physical Sci - Quiz day! Added in acceleration. Good opportunity for students to reassess their velocity and motion graph skills. Included a simple post-quiz #iteachphysics #teach180 docs.google.com/document/d/1...

Velocity & Acceleration Quiz - Version A

______________’s Favorite childhood cartoon is _________________ Date: ____________ Velocity & Acceleration Quiz - Version A Complete the missing parts of each pattern in the table below: Question 1 ...

docs.google.com

1

Nick Watkins @pnwphysics.bsky.social · 12d

Day 27 Physics - worked more on our road safety project. Had students try calling county offices but lots of going straight to voicemail unfortunately. #iteachphysics #teach180

1

Nick Watkins @pnwphysics.bsky.social · 13d

Last year we had no phone policy, this year a super strict phone policy (if it’s out it goes straight to office for the day, no warning) and it’s been a night and day difference in just basic critical thinking and less helplessness and blank stares. Definitely more fidgety though!

1 3

Nick Watkins @pnwphysics.bsky.social · 13d

Day 26 Physics - Each student is taking on a section of the project to own and contribute to. Students chose what they wanted to work on and contribute to the whole. Background research and scope of issue to start then data collection next week. #iteachphysics #teach180

Nick Watkins @pnwphysics.bsky.social · 13d

Day 26 Physical Sci - finished our review and used @wayground.bsky.social for the first time for quiz practice. They were Quizziz before but doesn’t seem like much else changed. Like that students can work at their own pace and has some gamified features. Quiz tomorrow! #iteachphysics #teach180

Nick Watkins @pnwphysics.bsky.social · 13d

Definitely misread your comment, going to include a section on reaction and braking distances which I didn’t think about!

1

Nick Watkins @pnwphysics.bsky.social · 14d

This is great! Will share this with my students. Bummer the about the outcome!

1 1

Nick Watkins @pnwphysics.bsky.social · 14d

You Canadians are far too conscientious to be a good comparison. Americans need double-digit fatality data to make “data-driven” (pun-intended) changes.

1

Nick Watkins @pnwphysics.bsky.social · 14d

For context: the road leading to our HS has a speed limit of 40 mph and is not in a neighborhood. Close to a highway entrance/exit. Four to five lane road with lots of semis. No signage for crossings or school zone whatsoever. Multiple fatal accidents in 2025 alone.