Day 4: 5-Minute POGIL (1yP and AP C)

Last year I started using a strategy of creating (or using) short POGIL-like activities when I introduce new operational definitions that I would like students to practice. In 1st year physics today, it was about distance vs. displacement, and in AP Physics C it was about determining distance by determining the area under a velocity vs. time graph. To break this up, I had students stand up, hand up, pair up with someone not at their current group, get one worksheet to share with their partner, and then practice applying the definitions on the handout together. When a pair finishes, they check their answers and thinking with another group, and then return back to their normal seats. Here’s an example of a 5-minute activity from today.

The best part of this format is how engaged students were. I think that the movement and working with a partner of their choice on a clearly defined task, worked well.