KS3/4 Science - Girls in Physics

In this programme, physics teacher, Barry Berndes demonstrates how he keeps his female students motivated and engaged by following the five golden rules for Girls in Physics.

Observing his lesson is Martin Hollins from the Institute of Physics who is keen to see how well the rules work.

Barry's lesson focuses on the processes that take place when vehicles brake and end up stationary. He starts well by making the topic relevant to all his pupils and arranging the boys and girls into separate work groups.

He encourages their ideas, knows their strengths and weaknesses and makes sure they are all involved. Once on task he explains how to set up an experiment to measure travelling speed and braking distance.

The boys and the girls work in very different ways but both get good results to test their predictions.

Barry's passion for his subject has created an enthusiastic atmosphere in the classroom and everyone is obviously enjoying themselves, his five rules have worked!