Teaching Physics for Every Learner

The first minute of a lesson matters. A quick hook gives pupils a reason to look up, think and become curious about what they are about to learn.

A hook does not need to be complicated. It could be a surprising demo, an image, a short question, an unusual object or a real-life problem. For example, before a lesson on energy transfers, you could ask, “Why does your phone get hot?” Before a lesson on forces, you could show a slow-motion crash test or a rollercoaster drop.

The best hooks are short and directly linked to the lesson. They should not become a long discussion that takes over the whole class. Their job is to open the door to the physics.

A good hook makes the lesson feel purposeful. It helps pupils see that physics is not just a set of facts or equations, but a way of explaining things they already notice in the world around them.