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 98 Physics - practiced kirchoff’s laws both on paper and using virtual simulation
February 4, 2026 at 10:28 PM
Day 98 Physics - practiced kirchoff’s laws both on paper and using virtual simulation
Day 97 Physics - used wires, leds, and batteries to set up parallel and series circuits. Discussed why bulbs worked in parallel but not series. Kirchhoff laws
February 4, 2026 at 10:28 PM
Day 97 Physics - used wires, leds, and batteries to set up parallel and series circuits. Discussed why bulbs worked in parallel but not series. Kirchhoff laws
Day 96 Physics - defined ohms laws and its components
February 4, 2026 at 10:28 PM
Day 96 Physics - defined ohms laws and its components
Day 95 Physics - began circuit notes and focused on diagramming circuits
February 4, 2026 at 10:28 PM
Day 95 Physics - began circuit notes and focused on diagramming circuits
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 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 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 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 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 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 77 Physics - Bridge Test Day! Used a vernier force plate to apply compressional force and pause to view cracking then continue until failure. #iteachphysics #teach180
December 19, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Day 77 Physics - Bridge Test Day! Used a vernier force plate to apply compressional force and pause to view cracking then continue until failure. #iteachphysics #teach180
Day 76 Physical Sci - Set up a “rollercoaster” and put a photogate at the end. Ss calculated velocity at the end then tested predictions. Obvi some error due to friction but # gets close enough to get the idea for cons of energy. Designed their own coasters on graph paper #iteachphysics #teach180
December 18, 2025 at 6:07 AM
Day 76 Physical Sci - Set up a “rollercoaster” and put a photogate at the end. Ss calculated velocity at the end then tested predictions. Obvi some error due to friction but # gets close enough to get the idea for cons of energy. Designed their own coasters on graph paper #iteachphysics #teach180
Day 75 Physics - pouring concrete day. Students worked through lunch to finish #iteachphysics #teach180
December 17, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Day 75 Physics - pouring concrete day. Students worked through lunch to finish #iteachphysics #teach180
Day 74 Physics - last day for students to work on their bridge molds. Students started to figure out how to place their rebar and make use of other supplies. Will mix and pour concrete next day. Vid from a previous year #iteachphysics #teach180
December 16, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Day 74 Physics - last day for students to work on their bridge molds. Students started to figure out how to place their rebar and make use of other supplies. Will mix and pour concrete next day. Vid from a previous year #iteachphysics #teach180
Day 73 Physics - A short day since we spent half the day over at one of our elementary schools doing a winter community event. Great to see how much the littles look up to the HS Ss. Used our short class to finish the molds. #iteachphysics #teach180
December 13, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Day 73 Physics - A short day since we spent half the day over at one of our elementary schools doing a winter community event. Great to see how much the littles look up to the HS Ss. Used our short class to finish the molds. #iteachphysics #teach180
Day 71-72 Physics - ending our unit in forces and torque with casting a 1 yard concrete beam and developing it into a bridge that can support as much load as possible. Worked today on making molds, first time for most students using any type of power saw and drill #iteachphysics #teach180
December 12, 2025 at 4:01 AM
Day 71-72 Physics - ending our unit in forces and torque with casting a 1 yard concrete beam and developing it into a bridge that can support as much load as possible. Worked today on making molds, first time for most students using any type of power saw and drill #iteachphysics #teach180
Day 68 Physics - tested our new reinforced concrete, focus on beams next week #iteachphysics #teach180
December 6, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Day 68 Physics - tested our new reinforced concrete, focus on beams next week #iteachphysics #teach180
Day 67 Physics - Students used popsicle sticks to reinforce their next concrete structure. Worked on building those then mixing and pouring concrete in batches. #iteachphysics #teach180
December 5, 2025 at 6:27 AM
Day 67 Physics - Students used popsicle sticks to reinforce their next concrete structure. Worked on building those then mixing and pouring concrete in batches. #iteachphysics #teach180
Day 66 Physics - took our concrete out of the molds and tested them by compressing, bending, twisting, and pulling them. W/o reinforcement they showed signs of failure early on. This led students to predict that they needed some other material to help resist internal tension #iteachphysics #teach180
December 4, 2025 at 7:24 AM
Day 66 Physics - took our concrete out of the molds and tested them by compressing, bending, twisting, and pulling them. W/o reinforcement they showed signs of failure early on. This led students to predict that they needed some other material to help resist internal tension #iteachphysics #teach180
Day 66 Physical Science - predicted and collected data for a “front end” collision forward and rear facing. In my old hallway we had a smooth tiled ramp that led to a cinder block wall and would just let the cart roll and hit it. Had to be more creative with a carpeted ramp #iteachphysics #teach180
December 4, 2025 at 7:21 AM
Day 66 Physical Science - predicted and collected data for a “front end” collision forward and rear facing. In my old hallway we had a smooth tiled ramp that led to a cinder block wall and would just let the cart roll and hit it. Had to be more creative with a carpeted ramp #iteachphysics #teach180
Day 65 Physics - introduced concrete and gave them a cup of quikcrete to guess what the composition of concrete is. Discussed the shortage of river sand and ecological impacts. Had them cast a simple cup mold of concrete that we’ll test tomorrow #iteqchphysics #teach180
December 3, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Day 65 Physics - introduced concrete and gave them a cup of quikcrete to guess what the composition of concrete is. Discussed the shortage of river sand and ecological impacts. Had them cast a simple cup mold of concrete that we’ll test tomorrow #iteqchphysics #teach180
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 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