Jesse Lucas

Lucas’ innovative teaching idea, “Newton’s Playground,” focuses on implementing physics labs so that students focus on the important aspects of the end goals of the class and don’t get lost in the nonessentials. The physics class will be taught for the first time in five years at the school, where students will discover information the same way Newton did, through a series of experiments. Students will collect accurate data in a simplified way. Labs will follow Newton’s quote, ‘Truth is ever to be found in simplicity, and not in the multiplicity and confusion of things.’ The Voya grant will be used in the purchase of materials for students to conduct experiments using wireless photogates, sensor carts, sound sensors, and voltage probes. Through practical experiences applying basic physics concepts in the classroom, Lucas hopes students will discover the knowledge on their own.