Nick Watkins
@pnwphysics.bsky.social
AP Physics 1, Physical Science, Bio teacher in Tacoma, WA. Interested in sharing resources and collaborating! #iteachphysics #EDUsky #ModPhys #NBCT #VernierTrendsetter
Day 61 Physical Sci - have done a lot of quizzes this year so switching it up with a one-pager assignment on where we see impulse in the real-world #iteachphysics #teach180. docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Momentum & Collisions Infographic
Momentum Infographic – Summative Directions: You will be creating an infographic that describes the role of momentum and Impulse in: Motor Vehicle Safety: Crumple Zones & Airbags Infant Car Seat Sa...
docs.google.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Day 61 Physical Sci - have done a lot of quizzes this year so switching it up with a one-pager assignment on where we see impulse in the real-world #iteachphysics #teach180. docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Day 61 Physics - short week so squeezing in lessons on construction related forces. Stress vs Strain lab with clay to calculate modulus of elasticity. #iteachphysics #teach180
November 25, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Day 61 Physics - short week so squeezing in lessons on construction related forces. Stress vs Strain lab with clay to calculate modulus of elasticity. #iteachphysics #teach180
Day 60 Physics - Translational Equilibrium Torque Quiz. Always meant to be an easy one but almost never see a bell curve. Ss either get 100% or barely pass. Start with 5 minutes of friends w/o pens which I learned from #modphys ppl like @msruggerio.bsky.social #iteachphysics #teach180
November 22, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Day 60 Physics - Translational Equilibrium Torque Quiz. Always meant to be an easy one but almost never see a bell curve. Ss either get 100% or barely pass. Start with 5 minutes of friends w/o pens which I learned from #modphys ppl like @msruggerio.bsky.social #iteachphysics #teach180
Day 60 Physical Sci - Impulse lesson began with comparing why NFL players wear pads and rugby players don’t. Led to a 5 minute convo on what rugby actually is. Will need to show some #AllBlacks clips! Impulse notes: docs.google.com/document/d/1... #iteachphysics #teach180
Momentum & Impulse Lesson
Momentum & Impulse Lesson Unit Phenomena: How can we keep people of all _______ and ___________safe in the event of a car collision? Warm Up: Why do American Football Players wear helmets and pads, ...
docs.google.com
November 22, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Day 60 Physical Sci - Impulse lesson began with comparing why NFL players wear pads and rugby players don’t. Led to a 5 minute convo on what rugby actually is. Will need to show some #AllBlacks clips! Impulse notes: docs.google.com/document/d/1... #iteachphysics #teach180
Day 59 Physics - Jeopardy review for Torque quiz tomorrow! #iteachphysics #teach180 docs.google.com/presentation...
Jeopardy Game 5-Topic Template
JEOPARDY BOARD FINAL JEOPARDY
docs.google.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:06 AM
Day 59 Physics - Jeopardy review for Torque quiz tomorrow! #iteachphysics #teach180 docs.google.com/presentation...
Day 59 Physical Sci - Impulse Lab. Car with vernier force probe crashing into diff # of cushions or ball falling on to force plate. Measured max force and time of collision to graph F-T graphs #iteachphysics #teach180
November 21, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Day 59 Physical Sci - Impulse Lab. Car with vernier force probe crashing into diff # of cushions or ball falling on to force plate. Measured max force and time of collision to graph F-T graphs #iteachphysics #teach180
Day 58 Physics - Translational Equilibrium lab. Each group gets 2 vernier force sensors and a meter stick. Set up a bridge, place a weight on the stick and calculate the supporting force of each sensor. Ss then set up multiple weights and rotated to solve other groups setups #iteachphysics #teach180
November 20, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Day 58 Physics - Translational Equilibrium lab. Each group gets 2 vernier force sensors and a meter stick. Set up a bridge, place a weight on the stick and calculate the supporting force of each sensor. Ss then set up multiple weights and rotated to solve other groups setups #iteachphysics #teach180
Day 58 Physical Sci - asked what’s safer, classic car with steel frames or modern ones with more plastic. Students were surprised when we watched a clip showing the two get into a collision! Led into our impulse lab designed to extend the time of collisions #iteachphysics #teach180
November 20, 2025 at 4:56 AM
Day 58 Physical Sci - asked what’s safer, classic car with steel frames or modern ones with more plastic. Students were surprised when we watched a clip showing the two get into a collision! Led into our impulse lab designed to extend the time of collisions #iteachphysics #teach180
Day 57 Physical Sci - Ss showing they need more reinforcement when it comes to conservation of momentum so did some more review today with a focus on using tables #iteachphysics #teach180 docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Conservation of Momentum Review
Conservation of Momentum Review The Formula for Momentum is: Momentum = Mass * Velocity OR p = mv A rolling bowling ball has a mass of 5 kg and a velocity of 2 m/s. What is its momentum? A bowl...
docs.google.com
November 19, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Day 57 Physical Sci - Ss showing they need more reinforcement when it comes to conservation of momentum so did some more review today with a focus on using tables #iteachphysics #teach180 docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Day 57 Physics - finished up our torque notes after having the students read their first published blog post through Vernier! Then wrapped up with @phetsims.bsky.social Balancing Act #iteachphysics #teach180 phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/ba...
Balancing Act
phet.colorado.edu
November 19, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Day 57 Physics - finished up our torque notes after having the students read their first published blog post through Vernier! Then wrapped up with @phetsims.bsky.social Balancing Act #iteachphysics #teach180 phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/ba...
Excited to have published another Blog post with Vernier on our Car Road Safety project!
I’m really proud of the work my students put into this project and hoping this blog post adds more legitimacy to their advocacy as we take it up with the county #iteachphysics
www.vernier.com/blog/real-wo...
I’m really proud of the work my students put into this project and hoping this blog post adds more legitimacy to their advocacy as we take it up with the county #iteachphysics
www.vernier.com/blog/real-wo...
Real-World Physics Problems: Using Vernier Video Analysis to Build Evidence for Safer School Zones - Vernier
Every day, my students cross 112th Street outside our high school—a busy, four-lane corridor with a 40 mph speed limit that often feels more like...
www.vernier.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Excited to have published another Blog post with Vernier on our Car Road Safety project!
I’m really proud of the work my students put into this project and hoping this blog post adds more legitimacy to their advocacy as we take it up with the county #iteachphysics
www.vernier.com/blog/real-wo...
I’m really proud of the work my students put into this project and hoping this blog post adds more legitimacy to their advocacy as we take it up with the county #iteachphysics
www.vernier.com/blog/real-wo...
Day 56 Physics - took a field trip around the school to look for where and how the roof of the school was balanced and supported in different areas. Talked about load capacity and finding potential points of failure. Continued torque notes and practice Qs #iteachphysics #teach180
November 18, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Day 56 Physics - took a field trip around the school to look for where and how the roof of the school was balanced and supported in different areas. Talked about load capacity and finding potential points of failure. Continued torque notes and practice Qs #iteachphysics #teach180
Day 56 Physical Sci - conservation of momentum lesson continued, tying together newtons laws, F=MA with collisions, graphing total momentum, lots of Slo-Mo guy video clips #iteachphysics #teach180 docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Conservation of Momentum Lesson
Conservation of Momentum & Newton’s 3rd Law Lesson Unit Phenomena: How can we keep people of all _______ and ___________safe in the event of a car collision? Warm Up: Why do many Semi-Trucks NOT hav...
docs.google.com
November 18, 2025 at 1:29 AM
Day 56 Physical Sci - conservation of momentum lesson continued, tying together newtons laws, F=MA with collisions, graphing total momentum, lots of Slo-Mo guy video clips #iteachphysics #teach180 docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Day 55 Physics - set up simple seesaws for groups. One student places a random object on one end, the other has to use slot masses to balance. Continued Torque notes and practice problems. #iteachphysics #teach180
November 15, 2025 at 5:45 AM
Day 55 Physics - set up simple seesaws for groups. One student places a random object on one end, the other has to use slot masses to balance. Continued Torque notes and practice problems. #iteachphysics #teach180
Day 55 Physical Sci - did the @phetsims.bsky.social collision/conservation of momentum lab today. Started with the Q of why don’t school busses traditionally have seatbelts. Students able to manipulate variables and see that momentum is conserved. #iteachphysics #teach180
November 15, 2025 at 5:44 AM
Day 55 Physical Sci - did the @phetsims.bsky.social collision/conservation of momentum lab today. Started with the Q of why don’t school busses traditionally have seatbelts. Students able to manipulate variables and see that momentum is conserved. #iteachphysics #teach180
Day 54 Physical Sci - Momentum practice problems in groups, then compared momentum formula to linear patterns.
Ended with consv of momentum demos and slo mo guys video of soccer ball to the face #iteachphysics #teach180
Ended with consv of momentum demos and slo mo guys video of soccer ball to the face #iteachphysics #teach180
November 14, 2025 at 5:44 AM
Day 54 Physical Sci - Momentum practice problems in groups, then compared momentum formula to linear patterns.
Ended with consv of momentum demos and slo mo guys video of soccer ball to the face #iteachphysics #teach180
Ended with consv of momentum demos and slo mo guys video of soccer ball to the face #iteachphysics #teach180
Day 54 Physics - gave every1 a meter stick and asked them to hold it level. Added a weight by their hand and asked them to move it further away in intervals. By the end students were sweating! Good intro to torque, followed with notes. #iteachphysics #teach180
November 14, 2025 at 5:41 AM
Day 54 Physics - gave every1 a meter stick and asked them to hold it level. Added a weight by their hand and asked them to move it further away in intervals. By the end students were sweating! Good intro to torque, followed with notes. #iteachphysics #teach180
Day 53 Physics - To mix things up instead of a summative lab or quiz had Ss turn their μ lab into a one-pager/poster. Class time to work on it today, here’s one finished example: #iteachphysics #teach180
November 13, 2025 at 4:07 AM
Day 53 Physics - To mix things up instead of a summative lab or quiz had Ss turn their μ lab into a one-pager/poster. Class time to work on it today, here’s one finished example: #iteachphysics #teach180
Day 53 Physical Sci - Started momentum today w rolling a ball into a cup warmup. Will do a more complex impulse lab coming up so nice to just do informal quick activities. Ss raised the ramp to increase momentum and measure distance of cup. Followed w notes and practice Qs #iteachphysics #teach180
November 13, 2025 at 3:59 AM
Day 53 Physical Sci - Started momentum today w rolling a ball into a cup warmup. Will do a more complex impulse lab coming up so nice to just do informal quick activities. Ss raised the ramp to increase momentum and measure distance of cup. Followed w notes and practice Qs #iteachphysics #teach180
Day 52 Physics & Physical Sci - School shooting threat today means no school. America! Only our school is cancelled so still counts as a school day for the district.
I was excited to tell my wife I got the day off but she was concerned. Realized how desensitized I am to school threats #teach180
I was excited to tell my wife I got the day off but she was concerned. Realized how desensitized I am to school threats #teach180
November 10, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Day 52 Physics & Physical Sci - School shooting threat today means no school. America! Only our school is cancelled so still counts as a school day for the district.
I was excited to tell my wife I got the day off but she was concerned. Realized how desensitized I am to school threats #teach180
I was excited to tell my wife I got the day off but she was concerned. Realized how desensitized I am to school threats #teach180
Can’t do yard work without trying to teach my kids some physics Good warmup question during a fluids unit is why does the ball get closer when it’s directly over the leaf blower vs at an angle? #iteachphysics #bernoullisprinciple
November 8, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Can’t do yard work without trying to teach my kids some physics Good warmup question during a fluids unit is why does the ball get closer when it’s directly over the leaf blower vs at an angle? #iteachphysics #bernoullisprinciple
Day 51 Physical Sci - Sub day. Students had all their bridge materials cut, glue, and ready so had them in group bins ready for assembly and testing. Guided lab packet to make the process easier, Hope it went well! Will whiteboard FBDs for each block on Monday #iteachphysics #teach180
November 8, 2025 at 3:26 AM
Day 51 Physical Sci - Sub day. Students had all their bridge materials cut, glue, and ready so had them in group bins ready for assembly and testing. Guided lab packet to make the process easier, Hope it went well! Will whiteboard FBDs for each block on Monday #iteachphysics #teach180
Day 51 Physics - Sub Day! October has no breaks so feels good to have a break. Students will be taking their data from yesterdays lab and creating a Friction one-pager
#iteachphysics #teach180
#iteachphysics #teach180
November 7, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Day 51 Physics - Sub Day! October has no breaks so feels good to have a break. Students will be taking their data from yesterdays lab and creating a Friction one-pager
#iteachphysics #teach180
#iteachphysics #teach180
Day 50 Physics - Came up with a lab idea w/o testing it. Wanted to get students to saw and sand wood so set up a sand grit vs μ lab. Had Ss launch wood through photogate and measured distance then derive μ. Had them sand with different grits and repeat. Reflection in thread #iteachphysics #teach180
November 7, 2025 at 3:50 AM
Day 50 Physics - Came up with a lab idea w/o testing it. Wanted to get students to saw and sand wood so set up a sand grit vs μ lab. Had Ss launch wood through photogate and measured distance then derive μ. Had them sand with different grits and repeat. Reflection in thread #iteachphysics #teach180
Day 50 Physical Sci - Wanted to connect newtons laws to some engineering concepts so used this TPT template for a stone bridge. Basically took the whole period to introduce bridge types, make predictions, then cutting and assembling. Didn’t have time to test yet #iteachphysics #teach180
November 7, 2025 at 3:37 AM
Day 50 Physical Sci - Wanted to connect newtons laws to some engineering concepts so used this TPT template for a stone bridge. Basically took the whole period to introduce bridge types, make predictions, then cutting and assembling. Didn’t have time to test yet #iteachphysics #teach180