Teaching Physics for Every Learner

Physics is not just difficult because of the concepts. It is also difficult because pupils have to learn a new language.

Words such as resultant, potential difference, resistance, emit, absorb and ionising cannot be left to chance. They need to be taught clearly and revisited often. A pupil might understand the idea in a demonstration but still struggle to explain it if they do not have the right words.

Good vocabulary teaching is direct. Introduce the word, say it aloud, break down its meaning, show it in a diagram and use it in a physics sentence. For example, resultant force means the overall force after all the forces have been combined. Emit means to give out, such as a hot object emitting infrared radiation.

It is also important to tackle common confusions. Current is not the same as voltage. Absorb is the opposite of emit. Irradiated does not mean contaminated. These differences can make a big difference in exam answers.

When pupils understand the key words, they can think more clearly, write better explanations and feel more confident using physics language.