Motion Sensors & Experimental Uncertainty Phenomena-Based Lesson: The Photogate Trials: Twelve Drops, One Number to Trust Teacher Discussion Guide | Physics | Grades 9–12

This is the teacher discussion guide, with lesson flow, facilitation questions, anticipated student ideas and model explanations for leading the class discussion for the Phenomena-Based Lesson in the high school Physics (grades 9–12) chapter Motion Sensors & Experimental Uncertainty, built around the phenomenon The Photogate Trials: Twelve Drops, One Number to Trust. It is sold separately from the other two parts of the set.

Complete the set: Motion Sensors & Experimental Uncertainty Phenomena-Based Lesson: The Photogate Trials: Twelve Drops, One Number to Trust Presentation; Motion Sensors & Experimental Uncertainty Phenomena-Based Lesson: The Photogate Trials: Twelve Drops, One Number to Trust Student Response Sheet. Scaffolded version: Motion Sensors & Experimental Uncertainty Scaffolded Phenomena-Based Lesson: The Photogate Trials: Twelve Drops, One Number to Trust Teacher Discussion Guide.

Sections: Standards Alignment; Learning Goals; The Case - Read First; The Record - Dated Observations; How To Run The Discussion; Talk Moves For The Teacher; The Record; Word Bank. Sample item: “2. Trial 7's recorded value is 7.866 m/s^2. How far is it from the lowest of the other 11 trials, and why does the class refuse to drop it on that evidence alone?”

What's inside: Teacher Discussion Guide (editable .docx + PDF, about 1,877 words, 5 pages).

Standards: HS-PS2-1 — Analyze data to support the claim that Newton’s second law of motion describes the mathematical relationship among the net force on a macroscopic object, its mass, and its acceleration.

Resource type: Phenomena-Based Lesson – Teacher Discussion Guide. Format: editable Microsoft Word file plus a ready-to-print PDF.

Classroom use: Open with the phenomenon slide show, let students record ideas on the response sheet, and lead the discussion with the teacher guide. Built for high school Physics, grades 9–12.

Format note: These files are delivered in Microsoft Office formats (Word and/or PowerPoint). If you open a worksheet that includes tables in Apple Pages or another non-Microsoft app, table formatting may not display correctly. For best results, use Microsoft Word or PowerPoint (or upload the file to Google Docs). If you run into any formatting issues, contact us and we can send a PDF version.