Physics First Works

Freshman studying standing waves on a string. A colleague wrote: I am interested in the idea of physics first as a possible sequencing change at our school.  We have a traditional model of classes and some are even thinking of eliminating physics as a requirement for our students.  Obviously, I have great concern with this as I truly believe students need to understand the physical world in which they live.  When the  idea of physics in the 9 th  grade was introduced previously, teachers (even one who occasionally teaches a physics course) commented that the students couldn’t handle the level of math required for the course even at a basic level.  I didn’t agree having taught physical science in the 8 th  grade for years but still there was great concern.  So, my question to you is how does the program differentiate itself regarding the requirement for certain math skills?  Any insight you could share would be helpful. ===============...

Mankind's greatest achievements often require mastery of Physics. The points below were in the website supporting Physics First and providing information to the community starting the February prior to initiation of the program. ========================== Physics for All?      1.  Most modern technology involves physics.    Any technology involving electricity, magnetism, force, pressure, heat, light, energy, sound, optics involves physics principles. The foundational knowledge required for chemistry in creating products like fertilizers, drugs, plastics, and chemicals involves physics at the most basic level.  Manufacturing is then dominated by physics-based technology.  Medical and Biological advancements and services often involve the use of Physics based principles like sound, electromagnetic resonance, optics, electrostatics, radiation or nanotechnologies (among many others principles).      2.  An understanding of ph...

The timeline below was provided at the time the supporting website was launched.  It detailed the efforts to implement Physics First at an urban Catholic High School of 1100 students. =================================== Date(s) Activity relating to Science Sequence 13.6 Billion BCE Birth of Physics from the initial “Big Bang”with high temperatures, density and relativistic speeds (based on standard model & background radiation readings.) 13.7 Billion BCE Birth of chemistry and estimated time of the formation of the atom (mostly Hydrogen based on simulations using the standard model of early universe) and the birth of Chemistry. 3.5 Billion BCE Birth of Biology from estimated time of simple single cell organisms called prokaryotes (from earliest fossil evidence). 1893  Committee of Ten determines and states optimal instructional order of sciences in United States Secondary schools to be Biology, Chemistry and then Physics 1903 Photoelectric Effect paper by Einstein lay...

The slide show (linked below) was used to present Physics First to the department, staff and school board members.  The was refined and modified to meet the needs of the audience and usually reduced to 10-14 of the most pertinent slides most relevant to the interests of the audience. =====================================

           The chart above depicts average ACT Science section scores prior to the transition to "Physics First" during the transition and after the transition.      The "Common Questions" below were on the school website and on the back pages of our "Physics First Pamphlet". It answered what the staff thought would be common questions about the new "Physics First" sequence". Our focus was to make sure that no parents or staff would be surprised by the new sequence. ========================== Common Questions                    What will be the sequence of science courses for the high school?        Physics is taken the freshman year.  Chemistry is engaged the sophomore year.  Biology is required of all students the junior year.  Senior choose an elective science the senior year.    What is meant by a coherent sequenc...

     Initially we began a website dedicated to the "Physics First" implementation effort a McGill-Toolen Catholic High School.  Part of the effort was going to include an ongoing blog.  Initially the blog was read by members of the community but over time the effort  was not maintained.  We had about 300 "hits" over a 2 year period and freshman classes numbered about 300 students during those years. ====================================== Physics First Arrives! 03/22/2008            McGill-Toolen Catholic High School is in a unique position to pursue a new adventure in high school science sequence for a number of reasons including:         1)  The Catholic faith, fundamental to our institution, encourages the pursuit of truth through both reason and faith.    Science provides methods of reason that yield truth about the creation and so brings us closer to the...