Objectives (5 - 10 minutes)

1. Understand the concept of gravitational potential energy: The main objective of this class is to ensure that students understand what gravitational potential energy is, how it is defined, its mathematical formula and how it is affected by the height and weight of the object.

2. Apply the gravitational potential energy formula to practical problems: In addition to understanding the concept, students should be able to apply the gravitational potential energy formula to real-world situations. This involves the ability to identify the correct values for the object's mass, the height from which it falls, and the acceleration of gravity.

3. Discuss energy conservation and its implications: Finally, students should be able to discuss the principle of energy conservation and how it applies to the concept of gravitational potential energy. This includes the understanding that energy is neither created nor destroyed, only transformed.

Secondary objectives:

• Develop critical thinking skills: Through problem solving and classroom discussions, students must be able to develop critical thinking skills to analyze and understand the concept of gravitational potential energy.

• Promote autonomous learning: Students should be encouraged to research and learn more about the topic outside of the classroom in order to deepen their knowledge on the subject.

Introduction (10 - 15 minutes)

1. Review of previous concepts: The teacher should begin by reviewing the concepts of work and energy that were covered in previous classes. This includes defining work as the transfer of energy through a force applied over a distance, and discussing the different forms of energy (kinetic, potential, thermal, etc.). This will help to set the stage for the introduction of the concept of gravitational potential energy.

2. Problem situation: Next, the teacher should present two problem situations to arouse students' interest and contextualize the topic of the class. The first situation could involve a discussion about why an object falling from a height has the capacity to do work (for example, a hammer that falls from a shelf and breaks the floor). The second situation could be the question: "If you have two bowling balls, one of 2 kg and the other of 5 kg, and you lift them to the same height, which one has more gravitational potential energy?"

3. Contextualization: The teacher should then explain how gravitational potential energy is an important concept in many areas of physics and engineering. This includes applications in fields as diverse as the construction of high bridges and buildings, the operation of elevators and aircraft, and even the understanding of the movement of planets and stars in the universe.

4. Topic introduction: Finally, the teacher should introduce the topic of the class - gravitational potential energy - in an interesting and engaging manner. This can be done through the presentation of curiosities or stories that illustrate the concept. For example, the teacher could tell the story of how Isaac Newton's discovery of the law of gravity led to the development of the concept of gravitational potential energy. Or he could talk about how gravitational potential energy is used in sports such as pole vaulting or skydiving.

Development (20 - 25 minutes)

1. Theory - Gravitational Potential Energy (10 - 12 minutes)

   1.1. Definition: The teacher should begin by explaining that gravitational potential energy is the energy that an object has due to its position in a gravitational field.

   1.2. Formula: The mathematical formula for calculating gravitational potential energy should be presented: Epg = m * g * h, where Epg is the gravitational potential energy, m is the mass of the object, g is the acceleration of gravity and h is the height from which the object falls.

   1.3. Units of measurement: The teacher should explain the units of measurement involved in the formula: mass in kilograms (kg), acceleration of gravity in meters per second squared (m/s²), and height in meters (m).

   1.4. Variation with height and mass: The teacher should discuss how gravitational potential energy varies with the height and mass of the object. For example, if the height increases, the gravitational potential energy increases. If the mass increases, the gravitational potential energy also increases.

   1.5. Practical examples: To illustrate the theory, the teacher should present some practical examples of gravitational potential energy calculations. For example, the teacher could ask the students to calculate the gravitational potential energy of an object at different heights or with different masses.

2. Practice - Problem Solving (10 - 13 minutes)

   2.1. Application exercises: The teacher should propose some exercises to apply the concept of gravitational potential energy. The exercises should involve solving real problems, such as calculating the gravitational potential energy of an object at different heights, or the height from which an object must fall in order to have a certain gravitational potential energy.

   2.2. Group discussion: Students should be encouraged to discuss the solutions to the problems in small groups. This helps to promote collaboration and critical thinking, and allows students to learn from each other.

   2.3. Feedback and correction: The teacher should provide feedback and correct the students' mistakes, ensuring that everyone understands the concept and application of gravitational potential energy correctly.

3. Discussion - Energy Conservation (5 - 7 minutes)

   3.1. Introduction to the concept: The teacher should introduce the concept of energy conservation, explaining that energy is neither created nor destroyed, only transformed.

   3.2. Application to the topic: The teacher should explain how the principle of energy conservation applies to the topic of the class. For example, when an object falls, its gravitational potential energy is converted into kinetic energy.

   3.3. Discussion: Students should be encouraged to discuss energy conservation and its implications. This could include discussing examples of how energy is transformed in different situations, and the importance of energy conservation in various aspects of daily life and science.

Feedback (10 - 15 minutes)

1. Content Review (5 - 7 minutes)

   1.1. Connection with practice: The teacher should begin this stage by making the connection between the theory presented and the practice of the exercises solved. It should highlight how the gravitational potential energy formula was applied to solve the proposed problems and reinforce the idea that gravitational potential energy is a measure of the energy that an object possesses due to its position in a gravitational field.

   1.2. Discussion on key concepts: The teacher should then review the key concepts of the class, such as the definition of gravitational potential energy, the formula for its calculation, the variation of gravitational potential energy with height and mass, and the principle of energy conservation. It should ensure that students understand these concepts and can explain them in their own words.

   1.3. Review questions: The teacher should ask some review questions to check the students' understanding. This may include questions such as "What is gravitational potential energy?" or "How does gravitational potential energy vary with the height and mass of the object?".

2. Reflection (3 - 5 minutes)

   2.1. Thinking about learning: The teacher should ask the students to think about what they learned in class. What were the most important concepts? What questions have not yet been answered? What did they find easier or more difficult?

   2.2. Teacher feedback: The teacher should give feedback to the students on their performance in class. It should praise the students' effort and participation and provide suggestions for future improvement, if necessary.

3. Homework (2 - 3 minutes)

   3.1. Complementary reading: The teacher should suggest some complementary reading on the topic of the class. This may include a chapter from a textbook, a journal article, or an online resource such as a YouTube video or an educational website.

   3.2. Additional Practice: The teacher should propose some extra exercises for students to practice what they have learned. These exercises can be done at home and discussed in the next class.

   3.3. Preparation for the next class: If the next class is related to the topic of the current class, the teacher may suggest that the students prepare for the next class by reading a specific chapter of the textbook, watching an online video, or researching a related topic.

Conclusion (5 - 10 minutes)

1. Summary of the class (2 - 3 minutes): 1.1. The teacher should summarize the main points covered during the class, recalling the definition of gravitational potential energy, the formula for its calculation, and how it is affected by the height and mass of the object. 1.2. The importance of gravitational potential energy in our daily lives should be emphasized again, from everyday situations such as falling objects to more complex applications such as the construction of buildings and the movement of aircraft. 1.3. The teacher should reinforce the idea of energy conservation, briefly explaining how gravitational potential energy transforms into kinetic energy during the fall of an object.

2. Connection between theory and practice (1 - 2 minutes): 2.1. The teacher should explain how the class connected the theory of gravitational potential energy with practice through problem solving and group discussions. 2.2. It should emphasize how the gravitational potential energy formula was applied to solve the proposed exercises, and how this helps to better understand the theoretical concept.

3. Suggestions for extra materials (1 - 2 minutes): 3.1. The teacher should suggest some extra materials for students who wish to further their knowledge of gravitational potential energy. This may include reference books, scientific articles, educational videos and physics websites. 3.2. The teacher may also encourage students to explore more about energy conservation and other types of energy, such as kinetic energy and elastic potential energy.

4. Relevance of the subject (1 - 2 minutes): 4.1. In conclusion, the teacher should reinforce the importance of the topic covered to the students' everyday lives, explaining how the understanding of gravitational potential energy can help them better understand the world around them. 4.2. The teacher may give concrete examples of everyday situations where gravitational potential energy is present, such as falling objects, the operation of elevators, or even the movement of planets. 4.3. It should emphasize that learning about gravitational potential energy is not only relevant to the subject of physics, but also to many other areas of knowledge, such as engineering, architecture and astronomy.