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 93 Physical Sci - began waves and astronomy unit built around how we see/hear from 1m, 1km, 1AU, 1LY away. Focused on sound today and introducing waves with station demos #iteachphysics #teach180
January 28, 2026 at 5:58 AM
Day 93 Physical Sci - began waves and astronomy unit built around how we see/hear from 1m, 1km, 1AU, 1LY away. Focused on sound today and introducing waves with station demos #iteachphysics #teach180
Day 93 Physics - one wire, bulb and battery. Always a great warmup for circuits. Messed around with wires and had students try to light two bulbs at once. Those who created a parallel circuit were successful so discussed parallel vs series #iteachphysics #teach180
January 28, 2026 at 5:23 AM
Day 93 Physics - one wire, bulb and battery. Always a great warmup for circuits. Messed around with wires and had students try to light two bulbs at once. Those who created a parallel circuit were successful so discussed parallel vs series #iteachphysics #teach180
With all the awful things going on in the world/Minnesota we can’t forget how impacted our schools (particularly low income) by loss of federal $. If our district doesn’t pass its levy in Feb we lose 200 staff (in a small district). 35-40 kids in our Sci classrooms for sem 2 #edusky #iteachphysics
January 23, 2026 at 10:11 PM
With all the awful things going on in the world/Minnesota we can’t forget how impacted our schools (particularly low income) by loss of federal $. If our district doesn’t pass its levy in Feb we lose 200 staff (in a small district). 35-40 kids in our Sci classrooms for sem 2 #edusky #iteachphysics
Day 90-92 Physics & Physical Sci: finals for all my periods broken up over three days. For physics had 2 parts - traditional electrostatics and basic overview of semester 1 topics, and part 3 was to create an electrostatic demo exhibit with instructions and materials. #iteachphysics #teach180
January 23, 2026 at 9:50 PM
Day 90-92 Physics & Physical Sci: finals for all my periods broken up over three days. For physics had 2 parts - traditional electrostatics and basic overview of semester 1 topics, and part 3 was to create an electrostatic demo exhibit with instructions and materials. #iteachphysics #teach180
Day 89 Physics & Physical Sci - worked on study guides for the last day. Our school does not have a uniform policy when it comes to finals, whether they negatively impact grades, if you even need to assign them, etc. what do your schools do? Are finals still relevant? #iteachphysics #teach180
January 21, 2026 at 12:41 AM
Day 89 Physics & Physical Sci - worked on study guides for the last day. Our school does not have a uniform policy when it comes to finals, whether they negatively impact grades, if you even need to assign them, etc. what do your schools do? Are finals still relevant? #iteachphysics #teach180
Reposted by Nick Watkins
Seahawks win BIG and move onto NFC Championship Game defeating the 49ers 41-6!
12s were busy tonight rockin' Lumen Field! Here is the full game seismogram from station HWK1 inside the stadium. Check out pnsn.org this week for more scientific analysis of tonight's big win.
@seahawks @nfl
12s were busy tonight rockin' Lumen Field! Here is the full game seismogram from station HWK1 inside the stadium. Check out pnsn.org this week for more scientific analysis of tonight's big win.
@seahawks @nfl
January 18, 2026 at 4:28 AM
Seahawks win BIG and move onto NFC Championship Game defeating the 49ers 41-6!
12s were busy tonight rockin' Lumen Field! Here is the full game seismogram from station HWK1 inside the stadium. Check out pnsn.org this week for more scientific analysis of tonight's big win.
@seahawks @nfl
12s were busy tonight rockin' Lumen Field! Here is the full game seismogram from station HWK1 inside the stadium. Check out pnsn.org this week for more scientific analysis of tonight's big win.
@seahawks @nfl
Day 88 Physics & Physical Sci - worked on study guides for finals. A lot of my energy went towards facilitating our county’s forensic science office coming in to talk to our forensics students. Really cool applications of physics in ballistics, and of course chem & bio to help solve crimes #teach180
January 17, 2026 at 10:15 PM
Day 88 Physics & Physical Sci - worked on study guides for finals. A lot of my energy went towards facilitating our county’s forensic science office coming in to talk to our forensics students. Really cool applications of physics in ballistics, and of course chem & bio to help solve crimes #teach180
Day 87 Physical Sci - began with a quick circuits quiz then handed out our semester final study guide which IS cumulative docs.google.com/document/d/1... #iteachphysics #teach180
Quiz - Electricity
Quiz - Electricity & Electric Circuits Level 2 Questions Label each circuit Symbol Below: ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ Different batteries come in different sizes...
docs.google.com
January 16, 2026 at 9:31 AM
Day 87 Physical Sci - began with a quick circuits quiz then handed out our semester final study guide which IS cumulative docs.google.com/document/d/1... #iteachphysics #teach180
Day 87 Physics - gave students a study guide for our end of semester summative. We have a lot of latitude on what a “final” is, whether is cumulative or not. For this class it will just focus on electrostatics with some q’s involving dynamics. #iteachphysics #teach180
January 16, 2026 at 9:28 AM
Day 87 Physics - gave students a study guide for our end of semester summative. We have a lot of latitude on what a “final” is, whether is cumulative or not. For this class it will just focus on electrostatics with some q’s involving dynamics. #iteachphysics #teach180
Reposted by Nick Watkins
#iTeachPhysics: Made this handout to go over with my class. We discussed what we could learn from each representation, and what aspects are always true or not always true for a collision.
Multiple Representations of Collisions (Elastic)
Name: _______________________________________________ Class:__________________ www.afreeparticle.com Multiple Representations of Collisions Each representation portrays the same event: an elastic...
docs.google.com
January 16, 2026 at 1:41 AM
#iTeachPhysics: Made this handout to go over with my class. We discussed what we could learn from each representation, and what aspects are always true or not always true for a collision.
Day 86 Physical Sci - discusses energy sources today, what fuel types are growing and efficiency. Lots of real world data analysis and working on climate impacts. Will revisit this semester 2 with our climate and human impacts unit #iteachphysics #teach180 docs.google.com/document/d/1...
5.4 Energy Sources
5.4 Energy Sources Quiz Next Class on the Following Items: Circuit Symbols, Parallel vs. Series Circuits, Analyzing a Circuit, Sources of Energy. What is Energy Used For? _________________ 2. ______...
docs.google.com
January 15, 2026 at 6:45 AM
Day 86 Physical Sci - discusses energy sources today, what fuel types are growing and efficiency. Lots of real world data analysis and working on climate impacts. Will revisit this semester 2 with our climate and human impacts unit #iteachphysics #teach180 docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Day 86 Physics - Talked about electric fields and how interact with them all the time. Grabbed a #vernier magnetic field sensor and had students guess where we would detect them (phones, router, outlet). Then did a @phetsims.bsky.social phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/ch... lab #iteachphysics #teach180
Charges and Fields 1.0.65
phet.colorado.edu
January 15, 2026 at 6:43 AM
Day 86 Physics - Talked about electric fields and how interact with them all the time. Grabbed a #vernier magnetic field sensor and had students guess where we would detect them (phones, router, outlet). Then did a @phetsims.bsky.social phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/ch... lab #iteachphysics #teach180
Day 85 Physical Sci - focused on building parallel circuits today using holiday card templates. Great opportunity for students to problem solve and then explain why we can get multiple bulbs to light up with one 3 volt battery, but only one if we put it in series. #iteachphysics #teach180
January 14, 2026 at 2:11 PM
Day 85 Physical Sci - focused on building parallel circuits today using holiday card templates. Great opportunity for students to problem solve and then explain why we can get multiple bulbs to light up with one 3 volt battery, but only one if we put it in series. #iteachphysics #teach180
Day 85 Physics - Reviews Coulomb’s law and whiteboarded some practice problems. Then had students model the relationship b/w charge and distance using magnets #iteachphysics #teach180 youtu.be/kpSg3q-7O7E?...
Coulomb’s Law Lab
YouTube video by Nicholas Watkins
youtu.be
January 14, 2026 at 1:54 PM
Day 85 Physics - Reviews Coulomb’s law and whiteboarded some practice problems. Then had students model the relationship b/w charge and distance using magnets #iteachphysics #teach180 youtu.be/kpSg3q-7O7E?...
Day 83 & 84 - took 2 sub days to fly up to Canada for my grandpas funeral. Before I left them with review work I shared that my grandpa immigrated from HK to study engineering at U of Toronto and became the head civil engineer for the dept of transpo. Inspired me to #iteachphysics #teach180
January 14, 2026 at 10:42 AM
Day 83 & 84 - took 2 sub days to fly up to Canada for my grandpas funeral. Before I left them with review work I shared that my grandpa immigrated from HK to study engineering at U of Toronto and became the head civil engineer for the dept of transpo. Inspired me to #iteachphysics #teach180
Day 82 Physical Sci - Circuit notes and then building circuit cards inspired by @cossettej.bsky.social passionatelycurioussci.weebly.com/blog/electro... I like using conductive tape as it’s more organized than having a mess of wires and easier to manage materials #iteachphysics #teach180
Electronic Holiday Cards
I've wanted to do a paper circuits electronic holiday card activity since I've started teaching and I finally had an opportunity to fit it in as our final class before winter break! This post will go....
passionatelycurioussci.weebly.com
January 9, 2026 at 3:22 PM
Day 82 Physical Sci - Circuit notes and then building circuit cards inspired by @cossettej.bsky.social passionatelycurioussci.weebly.com/blog/electro... I like using conductive tape as it’s more organized than having a mess of wires and easier to manage materials #iteachphysics #teach180
Day 82 Physics - broke out the Van De Graaf generator and my rando bucket of electrostatic materials. Students had to develop 3 different lab questions and predict, observe, record, and explain. Students whiteboard models explaining what was going on #iteachphysics #teach180
January 9, 2026 at 3:15 PM
Day 82 Physics - broke out the Van De Graaf generator and my rando bucket of electrostatic materials. Students had to develop 3 different lab questions and predict, observe, record, and explain. Students whiteboard models explaining what was going on #iteachphysics #teach180
Day 81 Physical Sci - had students do a reading on Ohms Law using a river analogy from a site by Evan Toh that I love followed by modeling solving ohms laws then letting them work on the problems independently www.sgphysicstuition.com/post/basic-c... #iteachphysics #teach180
Basic Concepts on DC Circuit – River System
The ‘D.C.’ here mean direct current. It means that the current flows in one direction in the circuit.The direction of the direct current refers to the conventional current, and it flows out of the pos...
www.sgphysicstuition.com
January 9, 2026 at 8:01 AM
Day 81 Physical Sci - had students do a reading on Ohms Law using a river analogy from a site by Evan Toh that I love followed by modeling solving ohms laws then letting them work on the problems independently www.sgphysicstuition.com/post/basic-c... #iteachphysics #teach180
Day 81 Physics - went through many static electricity demos using balloons, styrofoam, electroscopes. Had Ss predict, conduct, observe, explain. Lots of fun and great conversations! @phetsims.bsky.social help visualize what they can’t see phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/ba... #iteachphysics #teach180
Balloons and Static Electricity
phet.colorado.edu
January 9, 2026 at 7:54 AM
Day 81 Physics - went through many static electricity demos using balloons, styrofoam, electroscopes. Had Ss predict, conduct, observe, explain. Lots of fun and great conversations! @phetsims.bsky.social help visualize what they can’t see phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/ba... #iteachphysics #teach180
Day 80 Physical Sci - Notes on Ohms Law, voltage, current, resistance, and power. Practice problems on whiteboards #iteachphysics #teach180 docs.google.com/document/d/1...
5.1 Electrical Properties
Electrical Properties What is Potential Energy? _______________ ______________ Voltage is the Potential Energy _______________ between the two locations. Voltage = Symbol: Unit: Current is th...
docs.google.com
January 8, 2026 at 1:13 PM
Day 80 Physical Sci - Notes on Ohms Law, voltage, current, resistance, and power. Practice problems on whiteboards #iteachphysics #teach180 docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Day 80 Physics - Began with a @phetsims.bsky.social sim phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/bu... to review the parts of an atom. Did a card sort on the parts of an atom and their charge getting students to recognize that electrons are weakly held. Led to electrostatic notes #iteachphysics #teach180
Build an Atom
phet.colorado.edu
January 8, 2026 at 1:10 PM
Day 80 Physics - Began with a @phetsims.bsky.social sim phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/bu... to review the parts of an atom. Did a card sort on the parts of an atom and their charge getting students to recognize that electrons are weakly held. Led to electrostatic notes #iteachphysics #teach180
Day 79 Physical Sci - started a short electricity unit before we get to finals. Started with a sticky interaction inquiry lab using just tape, balloons, and paper bits #iteachphysics #teach180
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
January 7, 2026 at 5:27 AM
Day 79 Physical Sci - started a short electricity unit before we get to finals. Started with a sticky interaction inquiry lab using just tape, balloons, and paper bits #iteachphysics #teach180
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Day 79 Physics - had students present their concrete their concrete bridge projects and then did a couple quick inquiry activities to intro our electricity unit #iteachphysics #teach180
January 7, 2026 at 3:39 AM
Day 79 Physics - had students present their concrete their concrete bridge projects and then did a couple quick inquiry activities to intro our electricity unit #iteachphysics #teach180
Day 78 - Physics finished project & Physical Sci did energy Quiz. Had our winter assembly & I’m annoyed at the lack of respect so many Ss have for their peers who put it on. School spirit really hasn’t been a thing, bummer way to go into break #iteachphysics #teach180 docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Quiz #2 - Potential & Kinetic Energy (Version A)
_______________________’s Favorite Animal Is __________________________ Date: _______ Quiz #2 - Potential & Kinetic Energy (Version A) Level 2 Questions Classify the following as a type of potentia...
docs.google.com
December 20, 2025 at 2:33 AM
Day 78 - Physics finished project & Physical Sci did energy Quiz. Had our winter assembly & I’m annoyed at the lack of respect so many Ss have for their peers who put it on. School spirit really hasn’t been a thing, bummer way to go into break #iteachphysics #teach180 docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Day 77 Physical Sci - Used students rollercoaster designs to measure heights at 8 diff points then calc PE, Total Energy, KE Velocity, etc. would’ve liked more time but need to assess before the break so hope they paid enough attention! #iteachphysics #teach180 drive.google.com/file/d/17OIo...
2.8 Designing a Roller Coaster.pdf
drive.google.com
December 19, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Day 77 Physical Sci - Used students rollercoaster designs to measure heights at 8 diff points then calc PE, Total Energy, KE Velocity, etc. would’ve liked more time but need to assess before the break so hope they paid enough attention! #iteachphysics #teach180 drive.google.com/file/d/17OIo...