Objectives (5-7 minutes)

1. Understand the concept of work in Physics, identifying how gravitational potential energy is related.

2. Develop skills to calculate the work done by a constant force acting on an object moving vertically.

3. Apply the acquired theoretical concepts to solve practical problems related to gravitational potential energy and work.

Secondary objectives:

• Stimulate critical thinking and problem-solving through the application of learned theoretical concepts.

• Promote collaboration and teamwork through practical group activities.

• Encourage curiosity and interest in studying Physics, demonstrating the relevance of the learned concepts to everyday situations.

Introduction (10-15 minutes)

1. Review of previous concepts: The teacher starts the class by recalling fundamental concepts for understanding the class topic. This may include a brief review of what energy is, what force is, and what motion is. If the teacher deems it necessary, they can briefly review the concept of kinetic energy. The teacher can do this through direct questions to the students or through a quick slide presentation. (3-5 minutes)

2. Problem situation: The teacher presents the students with two problem situations that involve gravitational potential energy. The first situation could involve an object being lifted vertically, and the second situation could involve an object falling from a height. The teacher asks the students to think about how gravitational potential energy is related to the work done in each of the situations. (3-5 minutes)

3. Contextualization: The teacher then contextualizes the importance of studying gravitational potential energy, highlighting practical examples where this concept is applied. Some examples may include the construction of elevators, the operation of roller coasters, and even the movement of planets in the solar system. The teacher can use images or videos to illustrate these examples and make them more concrete for the students. (2-3 minutes)

4. Introduction to the topic: To introduce the topic captivatingly, the teacher can tell the story of the famous British physicist Sir Isaac Newton and how he formulated the laws of motion and the law of universal gravitation, which are fundamental to the study of gravitational potential energy. Another curiosity that can be mentioned is how gravitational potential energy is what allows us to hold an object without it falling, or how potential energy is released in a parachute jump. These stories and curiosities can help spark students' curiosity and make the topic more interesting. (2-3 minutes)

Development (20-25 minutes)

1. "Space Elevator" Activity (10-12 minutes)

   For this activity, the teacher will divide the class into groups of four students. Each group will receive a quantity of string, a toy car, a heavy object (such as a book), and a ruler.

   The teacher will explain that the objective of the activity is to calculate the work done to lift the object to a certain height, using the toy car and the string as a kind of "space elevator".

   The students must plan and carry out the activity, measuring the height of the object from the ground and the distance traveled by the toy car to lift the object to that height. With this data, the students must calculate the work done.

   The teacher should circulate around the room, assisting the groups and answering any questions that may arise. At the end of the activity, each group should present its results to the class.

2. "Parachuting" Activity (10-12 minutes)

   In this activity, the teacher will again divide the class into groups of four students. Each group will receive a plastic doll, a string, scissors, a ruler, and a stopwatch.

   The teacher will explain that the objective of this activity is to calculate the gravitational potential energy of the plastic doll at different heights, simulating a parachute jump.

   The students must plan and carry out the activity, measuring the height at which they will drop the plastic doll and the time it takes to reach the ground. With this data, the students must calculate the gravitational potential energy of the plastic doll at each height.

   The teacher should circulate around the room, assisting the groups and answering any questions that may arise. At the end of the activity, each group should present its results to the class.

3. Discussion of Results (5-7 minutes)

   After all the presentations, the teacher should lead the class in a discussion of the results obtained. The teacher should reinforce the concepts of gravitational potential energy and work and how these concepts apply to the activities performed.

   The teacher can ask the class questions, such as, "What would happen if the height of the object in the first experiment were doubled?" or "How would the velocity of the plastic doll change if the height of the second experiment were increased?"

   The objective of this discussion is to solidify the students' understanding of the topic and stimulate critical thinking.

Feedback (8-10 minutes)

1. Group Discussion (3-4 minutes)

   After the activities are completed, the teacher should bring all the students together for a group discussion. Each group will have a maximum of 3 minutes to share their results, conclusions, and any difficulties they may have encountered. The teacher should encourage students to listen carefully to the other groups' presentations and ask questions or make comments.

2. Connection to Theory (2-3 minutes)

   After the groups' presentations, the teacher should summarize the main points discussed, reinforcing the connection between the practice carried out and the theory studied. For example, the teacher can highlight how the "Space Elevator" activity illustrates the calculation of work done by a constant force acting on an object moving vertically, while the "Parachuting" activity illustrates how gravitational potential energy varies with height.

3. Individual Reflection (2-3 minutes)

   After the group discussion, the teacher should encourage the students to reflect individually on what was learned. The teacher can do this through questions such as, "What was the most important concept you learned today?" and "What questions are still unanswered?"

   The students should have a minute to think about these questions. The teacher can ask some students to share their reflections with the class, which can help identify any gaps in the students' understanding and plan future classes accordingly.

4. Teacher Feedback (1 minute)

   At the end of the class, the teacher should provide general feedback on the class's performance. The teacher can praise the students' efforts, highlight their strengths, and point out areas that need improvement. The teacher's feedback should be constructive and motivating and should encourage students to continue striving and learning.

5. Homework (1 minute)

   Finally, the teacher should assign homework that reinforces the concepts learned in class. This assignment could be a set of problems to be solved or an experiment to be performed at home. The teacher should clearly explain the assignment and clarify any questions the students may have.

Conclusion (5-7 minutes)

1. Summary of Content (2-3 minutes)

   The teacher should begin the Conclusion of the class with a summary of the main concepts and skills that were covered. This includes reinforcing the definition of work in Physics, the interpretation of gravitational potential energy, and the application of these concepts to solve practical problems. The teacher can use diagrams or charts to visualize and simplify these concepts.

2. Connection Between Theory and Practice (1-2 minutes)

   Next, the teacher should highlight how the class connected theory to practice. This can be done by recalling the activities performed and how they illustrated the theoretical concepts discussed. The teacher should emphasize that Physics is not just about formulas and calculations, but also about understanding how these concepts apply and manifest themselves in the real world.

3. Complementary Materials (1 minute)

   The teacher should then suggest complementary materials for students who wish to deepen their knowledge of the topic. These materials could include educational videos, interactive simulation websites, Physics books, or scientific articles. The teacher should provide the links or titles of these materials and encourage the students to explore them at their own pace.

4. Practical Applications (1 minute)

   Finally, the teacher should reinforce the relevance of the class topic to everyday life. This can be done by highlighting practical examples of how gravitational potential energy and work are applied in different contexts, from the construction of buildings to the operation of amusement park rides. The teacher can also challenge students to think of other examples of real-world applications of these concepts.

5. Closing (1 minute)

   To conclude the class, the teacher should thank the students for their participation and commitment and reinforce the importance of studying and preparing for upcoming classes. The teacher should remind the students about the homework assignment and clarify any final questions that may have arisen.