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 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...
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 Physics - letting concrete beams cure for one more day, Ss began creating a multimedia presentation to show their results. Some Ss weren’t in class today due to historic flooding our region is experiencing so Ss collaborated over email #iteachphysics #teach180 docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Concrete Bridge Forces
Concrete Bridge Forces For this project you have designed and cast a 1 yard concrete beam that we will test to determine its load capacity. As part of this project you will make some predictions and ...
docs.google.com
December 18, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Day 76 Physics - letting concrete beams cure for one more day, Ss began creating a multimedia presentation to show their results. Some Ss weren’t in class today due to historic flooding our region is experiencing so Ss collaborated over email #iteachphysics #teach180 docs.google.com/document/d/1...
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 75 Physical Sci - talked energy transfers in the context of food (chemical potential) to kinetic energy and analyzed some nutrition labels. Connected to energy transfers in roller coasters #iteachphysics #teach180 docs.google.com/document/d/1...
2.7 Law of Conservation of Energy
Law of Conservation of Energy Lesson Objective: Define the Law of Conservation of Energy Using Examples Warm Up: Who has more muscles (Circle) - Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson or Kevin Hart? Review f...
docs.google.com
December 17, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Day 75 Physical Sci - talked energy transfers in the context of food (chemical potential) to kinetic energy and analyzed some nutrition labels. Connected to energy transfers in roller coasters #iteachphysics #teach180 docs.google.com/document/d/1...
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 74 Physical Sci - in WA state about 3/4 of our ⚡️is powered by dams, did a data dive then did @phetsims.bsky.social Energy transfer lab to see how energy forms transform #iteachphysics #teach180 docs.google.com/document/d/1...
2.5 Energy Transfers Lab
Name: __________________ Energy Transfers Simulation Type in the link: bit.ly/watkinsenergytransfer or click on the link in canvas Click on “Intro” Instruction Configuration Description of What Occur...
docs.google.com
December 16, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Day 74 Physical Sci - in WA state about 3/4 of our ⚡️is powered by dams, did a data dive then did @phetsims.bsky.social Energy transfer lab to see how energy forms transform #iteachphysics #teach180 docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Day 73 Physical Sci - definitely a punt day, short class, lots of students missing. Put on a PBS show about energy and had them do a color by number for KE and PE #iteachphysics #teach180
December 13, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Day 73 Physical Sci - definitely a punt day, short class, lots of students missing. Put on a PBS show about energy and had them do a color by number for KE and PE #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 71-72 Physical Sci - always a bummer to miss the first days of a unit but always making a pivot. Focused on defining types of energy, LOL diagrams, and calculating KE and PEg #iteachphysics #teach180 docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Defining & Calculating Energy
Defining & Calculating Energy Directions: Use this space to keep track of all the ways we know of storing energy. It will serve as a reference page for you in the future. Symbol Energy (Name) Exampl...
docs.google.com
December 12, 2025 at 3:59 AM
Day 71-72 Physical Sci - always a bummer to miss the first days of a unit but always making a pivot. Focused on defining types of energy, LOL diagrams, and calculating KE and PEg #iteachphysics #teach180 docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Day 69 & 70 - my whole family was hit with norovirus over the weekend and into the week so put together a couple sub days so I could tend to everyone. Rough time of year to be a parent of littles. #teach180
December 10, 2025 at 7:07 AM
Day 69 & 70 - my whole family was hit with norovirus over the weekend and into the week so put together a couple sub days so I could tend to everyone. Rough time of year to be a parent of littles. #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 68 Physical Sci - Students had time to write their evidence-based conclusions for whether rear or forward-facing infant car seats are safer #iteachphysics #teach180 docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Unit 2 - Car Safety CER
Your Name: __________________________ Group Member Names: _______________________________ Unit 2 Challenge - Infant Car Seat Safety Forward Facing Car Seat Collision Test (Rear-End) Qualitative Data &...
docs.google.com
December 6, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Day 68 Physical Sci - Students had time to write their evidence-based conclusions for whether rear or forward-facing infant car seats are safer #iteachphysics #teach180 docs.google.com/document/d/1...