When your learner's face lights up when they launch a paper airplane or splash in a puddle, that’s physics in action. Beyond formulas, physics helps us make sense of the world, how things move, interact, and change; the arc of a basketball shot or steam rising from a cup of cocoa. Physics is all around us, and learning it can be joyful.
You don’t need a science degree or fancy equipment to guide your learner.And with flexible options like self-paced physics courses or interactive physics classes on Outschool, there’s a path for every learning style and schedule.
Start with your learner, not the textbook
Every learner brings something unique to the table. Maybe they love stories, hands-on projects, or seeing patterns in the world. These natural strengths are the perfect entry points for exploring physics.
Notice how your learner connects best through visuals, movement, or conversations. A sports fan might grasp force and motion by analyzing game plays. A dancer might understand balance and center of gravity by practicing turns and jumps.
Celebrate their discoveries, questions, wonder, and curiosity. They all signal growth.
Make big ideas click before diving into formulas
Understanding physics starts with observation. Before diving into formulas, help your learner build a sense of wonder about how the world works. These real-life connections help learners develop an intuitive understanding that will make equations feel more meaningful later on.
Use everyday moments to explain physics
Physics is woven into the fabric of daily life, and the more we notice it, the more natural it becomes to talk about it with learners. Everyday actions, sights, and sounds give you powerful entry points for introducing core science ideas without planning a formal lesson. By pausing to explore the “why” behind what they see and do, your learner builds a foundation of curiosity and understanding that can later support more technical learning.
- Watch a marble roll down a ramp to introduce gravity and acceleration.
- Notice how a ball slows on carpet but keeps going on tile. Thanks to friction!
- Use shadows at different times of day to talk about light, angle, and movement.
- Splash water in the sink or tub to explore fluid motion and wave behavior.
Energy is all around us
Energy is one of the most accessible physics ideas to observe. It’s how things heat up, move, or make sound. The more learners recognize how energy transforms and transfers in their everyday world, the more confident they will apply these ideas later in problems and projects.
- A stretched rubber band shows stored potential energy.
- Guitar strings vibrating demonstrate energy transfer through sound.
- Heat rising from a stovetop illustrates thermal energy in motion.
- Light bending through a glass of water reveals refraction and wave behavior.
Connect physics to your learner’s everyday life
The easiest way to make physics feel meaningful is by anchoring it to what your learner already enjoys. These familiar activities are full of hidden science; your job is simply to shine a light on it. When learners see that physics explains what they love, the subject becomes less intimidating and far more engaging.
Explore video games and physics simulators
If your learner loves games or tech, that can be an excellent starting point for exploring physics. Video games often include simplified versions of physics principles; noticing those elements together can be fun and eye-opening. You can use these moments as a bridge to more accurate tools that bring real-world science to life.
Point out how gravity affects Mario’s jumps, how velocity changes the trajectory in Angry Birds, or how friction changes movement across surfaces in Minecraft, like how players slide more on ice than on grass, mimicking friction.
But while video games offer some fundamental interactions with motion and force, they don’t accurately reflect real-world physics. If your learner is curious about how things really work, try exploring these free online physics simulators together:
- PhET Simulations: Interactive visual models covering motion, electricity, waves, and more.
- MyPhysicsLab: A hands-on space to experiment with levers, springs, collisions, and systems in motion.
Make sports into science
Use the curve of a soccer ball or the acceleration of a skateboard to talk about motion, force, and momentum.
Discover outdoors
The playground is a physics lab in disguise. Swings are pendulums, slides illustrate friction, and seesaws teach balance. Even a casual bike ride demonstrates concepts like acceleration and inertia.
Create a photo safari
Encourage your learner to capture images of shadows, splashes, spinning wheels, or bouncing balls. These photos can prompt questions like “What’s happening here?” and spark light, motion, and energy investigations. Use the snapshots to build a DIY science journal or reflection project.
Teach problem-solving like a puzzle, not a test
Physics isn't just about getting the correct answer; it's about developing the mindset to explore, break things down, and try again. Encourage your learner to treat problems like puzzles: something to be solved with curiosity, creativity, and persistence. This approach helps reduce stress and builds confidence, especially when a learner feels overwhelmed by unfamiliar terms or symbols.
There’s no one-size-fits-all method to teaching physics, because every learner is different. Some learners are visual and need to see the concept unfold. Others are tactile and grasp it best by doing. The teaching strategies below are adaptable and effective for various learning styles, helping you meet your learner where they are and build their confidence step by step.
Here are a few flexible frameworks to explore:
Use analogies and anchoring
Physics can initially feel abstract, but connecting new ideas to familiar experiences helps learners build understanding. For example, you might compare electricity to water flowing through pipes or describe inertia like an ice skater gliding smoothly across the rink, continuing to move until friction or another force gently slows them down. Analogies make complex concepts more relatable and memorable.
Force Diagram (Free-Body Diagrams)
Free-Body Diagrams are a pretty standard approach to understanding forces and motion, but they can still feel a little abstract to new learners. Instead of just drawing Free-Body Diagrams, try bringing them to life with hands-on recreations. Use small toys, blocks, or even yourself to act out the forces, like using a finger to show a push or stacking books to show weight. This physical play helps learners “see” the forces in action before they put them on paper
Layered questioning
Start with an observation or scenario your learner already understands, like riding a bike or dropping a toy. Then, ask open-ended follow-up questions to deepen their thinking: "Why do you think that happens? What would happen if we changed the weight?" This builds reasoning skills gently and invites your learner to take the lead.
Celebrate progress, not just correct answers
Every “aha” moment, big or small, signals real progress. When your learner grasps why ice floats, shadows change, or a ball rolls farther on tile than on carpet, they move beyond memorization. They’re making sense of the world like a young scientist.
And just as important are the moments when things don’t go as planned. If a calculation goes amiss or the concepts like refraction don’t click, resist the urge to answer for them. Ask questions instead. "What do you think went wrong? What would you try next time?" Learners thrive when mistakes are seen as learning, not failure. These experiences build resilience, curiosity, and creative problem-solving.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about teaching physics
If you're new to teaching physics or wondering how to support your learner more effectively, you're not alone. These common questions from parents and caregivers can help you feel more confident, supported, and ready to take the next step.
What if I don’t have a science background?
That’s okay! You don’t need to be a physicist to support your learner. Outschool’s classes are taught by experienced teachers who make complex ideas easy to understand. Your role is to encourage curiosity and help your learner stay engaged.
What age is best to start learning physics?
Most learners aren’t ready for formal physics until around age 11 or 12, when abstract thinking and stronger math skills start to click. But the foundations can begin much earlier. For kids ages 5 to 10, physics shows up through hands-on exploration - rolling objects, building towers, and asking “what if?” questions. These playful experiences set the stage for deeper learning later on, even if the subject physics isn’t introduced yet.
How do I choose the right physics class for my learner?
Consider your learner’s interests, comfort with math, and preferred learning format. Whether they love experiments, video games, or independent study, there’s a class, camp, or tutoring option that matches their needs. Check out classes on Outschool that will bring physics to life.
What if my learner struggles or feels frustrated when learning physics?
Physics can challenge even the most curious minds, and confusion is often the first step to real understanding. Try breaking things into smaller chunks, using everyday examples, or giving them space to figure things out with a bit of support. The goal isn’t perfection, it’s progress. You can also try 1-on-1 tutoring for focused support.
How does physics fit into a homeschool or flexible learning plan?
Physics works wonderfully in flexible environments because it’s all around us. You can explore it through experiments at home, outdoor observations, video lessons, or project-based learning. Whether you prefer a structured curriculum or interest-led discovery, physics can adapt to your family’s rhythm.
You don't have to be a physics expert to teach it
If you're feeling unsure, you're not alone. Many parents and caregivers start exploring physics without a formal background.. What truly matters is your willingness to support your learner’s curiosity, ask questions together, and create space for discovery.
With Outschool, you don’t have to do it alone. Whether your learner connects best through hands-on projects, benefits from the structure of 1:1 tutoring, or wants to go deeper in a small-group course, there’s a flexible option designed to fit their style. With the right support, physics can be both accessible and exciting for you and your learner.
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