Objectives (5 - 7 minutes)

1. Present the basic concepts of Einstein's Theory of Relativity, including Special Relativity and General Relativity, and explain how these theories revolutionized the understanding of modern physics.
2. Develop students' ability to think critically and question preconceived ideas, by discussing how the Theory of Relativity challenged established concepts of time, space, and gravity.
3. Promote the understanding that the laws of physics can vary depending on the observer and the observer's conditions, through examples and practical activities.

Secondary Objectives:

• Stimulate active participation of students, encouraging questions and discussions during the class.
• Foster students' interest in theoretical physics and the history of science, by contextualizing the discovery of the Theory of Relativity within the historical context.

Introduction (10 - 15 minutes)

1. Review of previous concepts: The teacher starts the class by reviewing the concepts of time, space, and gravity, briefly discussing how these phenomena are understood in classical physics. This review serves as a basis for introducing the concepts of the Theory of Relativity. (3 - 5 minutes)

2. Problem-solving scenarios: Next, the teacher proposes two problem-solving scenarios to arouse students' curiosity and prepare them for the new content:

   • "Imagine you are on a moving train and someone throws a ball upwards. For you, inside the train, the ball falls directly into your hands. But what would an observer outside the train see?"
   • "What if you were in a rocket traveling close to the speed of light and looked at a wristwatch, would you see time passing normally? How does this relate to time on Earth?" (5 - 7 minutes)

3. Contextualization: After discussing the problem-solving scenarios, the teacher contextualizes the importance of the Theory of Relativity, explaining that Einstein's revolutionary ideas forever changed the way we understand the universe. The teacher may briefly mention how the Theory of Relativity was confirmed by experiments, such as the famous solar eclipse of 1919. (2 - 3 minutes)

4. Introduction to the topic: Finally, the teacher formally introduces the topic, explaining that the Theory of Relativity is one of the pillars of modern physics and that in this class, students will explore the basic concepts of this theory. To capture students' attention, the teacher may share some curiosities, such as the fact that the Theory of Relativity predicts the existence of black holes, which were only experimentally confirmed decades after Einstein's predictions. (3 - 5 minutes)

Development (20 - 25 minutes)

1. Activity "The Space Train" (10 - 12 minutes)

   • The class is divided into groups of up to 5 students. Each group receives a set of materials: a toy car (representing the train), a ping-pong ball (representing the object thrown), and a wristwatch.
   • The teacher sets up a race track (representing the train track) and marks a starting line and a finish line. The watch is placed on the car.
   • Each group must throw the ball upwards when the car crosses the starting line and try to catch it when the car crosses the finish line.
   • Meanwhile, the watch on the car is turned on. The goal is to see if the time marked on the watch changes during the throw and catch of the ball.
   • The groups should record the results and discuss their observations. The teacher circulates around the room, guiding the discussions and clarifying doubts.
   • At the end of the activity, each group must present their conclusions to the class, explaining how the activity relates to the Theory of Relativity.

2. Activity "The Weight of Time" (10 - 12 minutes)

   • Still in groups, students receive a sheet of paper and colored pens. They are invited to draw a rocket on the paper and create a space scenario around it.
   • In the scenario, students should draw a sundial, a planet (representing Earth), and a star (representing a distant star).
   • The teacher explains that the rocket is flying at a speed close to the speed of light and the challenge is to draw how time passes in the rocket and in the other elements of the scenario.
   • Students should color the rocket with one color, the star with another, and Earth with a third color. Each color represents a "time": the time in the rocket, the time in the star, and the time on Earth.
   • After the activity, students share their drawings and explain what each color represents. The teacher connects the students' explanations with the concepts of time dilation and the relativity of simultaneity.

3. Group discussion (5 - 7 minutes)

   • After the activities, the teacher leads a group discussion, revisiting the problem-solving scenarios from the Introduction and connecting them with the practical activities.
   • The teacher can also take this opportunity to provide a quick review of the theoretical concepts of the Theory of Relativity, reinforcing the idea that the laws of physics can vary depending on the observer and the observer's conditions.
   • The teacher should encourage students to ask questions and share their experiences during the discussion, promoting an environment of active and participatory learning.

Return (8 - 10 minutes)

1. Group discussion (3 - 4 minutes)

   • Start the Return phase with a group discussion, where each team shares their conclusions and solutions from the activities carried out. Each group will have up to 3 minutes to present. The teacher should encourage students to explain their logic and reasoning, and to relate their discoveries to the theoretical concepts discussed in class.

2. Connection to theory (2 - 3 minutes)

   • After all presentations, the teacher summarizes the conclusions, highlighting how the activities performed demonstrated the theoretical concepts of the Theory of Relativity, such as time dilation and the relativity of simultaneity.
   • The teacher may revisit the problem-solving scenarios from the Introduction and ask students to explain how their perceptions changed after the practical exploration and theoretical discussion.

3. Individual reflection (2 - 3 minutes)

   • The teacher then proposes a moment of individual reflection, where students should silently think about the questions:
     1. What was the most important concept learned today?
     2. What questions have not been answered yet?
   • After a minute of reflection, students are encouraged to share their answers with the class. The teacher should note down the unanswered questions to guide the planning of future classes.

4. Feedback and Closure (1 minute)

   • To conclude the class, the teacher briefly answers the unanswered questions and provides general feedback on the class's participation and performance.
   • The teacher may also provide a preview of the content of the next class, to maintain students' interest and prepare them for the next topic.

Conclusion (5 - 7 minutes)

1. Recap of content (2 - 3 minutes)

   • The teacher begins the Conclusion phase by recapping the main points discussed during the class, recalling the definition of the Theory of Relativity, the idea that the laws of physics can vary depending on the observer and the observer's conditions, and how the Theory of Relativity challenged previous concepts of time, space, and gravity.
   • The teacher may also take this opportunity to clarify any misunderstandings that may have arisen during the class, ensuring that all students have a clear understanding of the concepts covered.

2. Connection between theory, practice, and applications (1 - 2 minutes)

   • Next, the teacher highlights the importance of the practical activities carried out and how they helped illustrate, in a concrete way, the theoretical concepts of the Theory of Relativity.
   • The teacher may also discuss some real-world applications of the Theory of Relativity, such as the relativistic correction of global positioning satellite systems, which need to take into account time dilation due to velocity and gravity.

3. Extra materials (1 minute)

   • The teacher suggests extra materials for students who wish to deepen their knowledge of the Theory of Relativity. These may include books, documentaries, websites from renowned universities, and virtual experiments.
   • For example, the teacher may suggest the book "A Brief History of Time" by Stephen Hawking, or the documentary "Einstein's Biggest Blunder", which explores the history and implications of the Theory of Relativity.

4. Importance of the topic for everyday life (1 minute)

   • Finally, the teacher emphasizes the relevance of the Theory of Relativity for everyday life, even if it is not immediately noticeable. They may mention how technological advances, such as GPS, depend on the correct application of the Theory of Relativity.
   • The teacher can end the class by reinforcing the importance of questioning and challenging established concepts, inspiring students to apply the scientific mindset not only in their physics classes but in all aspects of their lives.