Spartan Snapshot: Bringing Physics to Life 

During the annual Graph Matching assembly, Physics 9 concepts come alive for the whole Upper School, accompanied by pop hits on the speaker and very (very) loud cheering. 

In their first unit of Physics 9, one way students learn how to represent motion is by using position vs. time graphs. And, back in 2014, Scot Hovan and Karissa Baker, Upper School science teachers, figured out how to bring that learning to life. 

The annual Graph Matching Competition, now in its 11th year, showcases students who demonstrated the best preliminary scores in their respective class periods in a friendly competition that involves walking in front of a sensor to try to get their data to match an existing line on the screen. 

It sounds simple enough, but when you see how quickly a pause or a misstep can create an errant line, you’ll understand the audience’s excitement. One of the graphs that they match in the final round — when it’s neck and neck between two budding physicists — actually introduces students to acceleration, a type of motion that they will study later on in Unit 3.

As one teacher said, Graph Matching captures the best of SPA: combining unexpected fun with deep learning opportunities. It’s a hallmark of the Grade 9 year, one that will continue — hopefully on the direct path of the graph — for years to come. The winner of this year's championship was Peter Gillen-O'Neel, '29. Congrats, Peter! 

Dr. Hovan teaches Physics 9, Principles of Engineering, and Aerospace Engineering, and Ms. Baker teaches Physics 9 and Advanced Science Research. Mr. Joe Martin joined the Physics 9 team five years ago, and he also teaches astronomy electives. 

Learn more about our Upper School academic departments.