Teaching Einsteinian Physics at Schools: Part 1, Models and Analogies for Relativity

TL;DR

This paper introduces models and analogies designed to teach Einsteinian concepts of relativity to school students, aiming to modernize science education early in the curriculum.

Contribution

It develops and describes specific models and analogies as foundational tools for teaching relativity concepts to young learners.

Findings

Models effectively illustrate relativity principles

Analogies facilitate understanding of complex concepts

Framework supports early science education reform

Abstract

The Einstein-First project aims to change the paradigm of school science teaching through the introduction of modern Einsteinian concepts of space and time, gravity and quanta at an early age. These concepts are rarely taught to school students despite their central importance to modern science and technology. The key to implementing the Einstein-First curriculum is the development of appropriate models and analogies. This paper is the first part of a three-paper series. It presents the conceptual foundation of our approach, based on simple physical models and analogies, followed by a detailed description of the models and analogies used to teach concepts of general and special relativity. Two accompanying papers address the teaching of quantum physics (Part 2) and research outcomes (Part 3).