Physics Lyceum: Middle School

About the Middle School Physics Lyceum

The middle school program of the SoTS Physics Lyceum. The same four topics are offered two ways:

• Single-topic two-month modules, year-round (8 weeks, twice weekly): one topic at a time, from Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Electricity & Magnetism, or Optics.
• Single-topic two-week immersion camps in summer: the same four topics.

A student can mix the two: take a topic as a summer camp, then take the rest as two-month modules or as more camps. A motivated student finishes all four topics during 7th and 8th grade and arrives at the Lyceum already grounded in classical physics.

This program is for kids with a talent to wonder and the patience to think hard.

Two formats, one curriculum. Take any topic online or in-person in Princeton, NJ.

Four Physics Topics for Grades 7–8

Each topic stands on its own and starts from first principles. A student can begin with any of the four. Each topic page shows the phenomena it explains and the six core ideas it covers.

Two Formats

The same four topics are offered two ways. Pick whichever fits your student’s year.

• Two-month modules. Each module covers one topic over two months. Twice weekly: one 1.5h theory class, one 1.5h seminar. 24 hours total. The four topics (Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Electricity & Magnetism, Optics) run year-round; a student takes one at a time, in any order. Two classes a week leaves days in between for ideas to settle.
• Single-topic summer camps. One topic over two weeks, Monday–Friday, 2.5 hours per day. 25 hours total. Two-week windows set per cohort, mid-June to late August.

A student can mix the two. Take a topic as a summer camp, then take the rest as more modules or as more camps. A motivated student finishes all four during 7th and 8th grade and arrives at the high school Lyceum already grounded in classical physics.

Clear Theory and Thought Experiments

Middle school physics is often given as a show. Blow this up, spin that, watch this explode. Exciting in the moment. For some kids, it’s not enough. They want to know why.

We teach through clear theory and thought experiments: theory built up step by step, paired with questions of the form What would happen if...? Students reason through a physical situation in their minds, debate with classmates, discover where their intuition breaks, and find out why. Then they develop new intuition.

Imagine you’re in a train with no windows. Can you tell if you’re moving? How? What if the train accelerates? What do you feel?

This is how Einstein did physics. In Princeton. With pen, paper, and imagination. It’s also how real scientists work today: the demonstration comes after the understanding, not instead of it.

We do show real phenomena, once students have done the reasoning. We use a carefully selected collection of short YouTube clips that demonstrate the physics we’ve just derived: a light ray bending as it enters water, iron filings tracing the field lines of a bar magnet, a Newton’s cradle transferring momentum down the line. The clip confirms the intuition; it doesn’t replace it.

Session Format

Theory class: Concepts built from first principles at the level appropriate to middle school: real ideas, presented honestly, not watered down. Derivations worked out on the board.

Seminar: Problems of increasing difficulty, worked individually and in small groups. Discussion follows: compare approaches, argue, check each other’s reasoning. Students may present solutions on the board. Instructor asks guiding questions and addresses common errors.

Cohort size: Up to 12 students per module or camp.

No phones or computers. We focus on thinking through problems together.

Time commitment. Plan on roughly 2–3 hours of independent work each week alongside the 3 hours of class, working through problems and reviewing what was covered in class. The homework load is intentionally lighter than at the high school level: at this age, the goal is building intuition and problem-solving habits, not pushing through dense derivations. Summer camps compress into two weeks: about 3 hours of daily class plus 1–2 hours of independent work each day.

Prerequisites

• Math: Comfort with basic algebra. Right-triangle trig (used in Optics for Snell’s law) is introduced as needed. No calculus.
• Physics: No prior physics required. Each module and camp starts from first principles.

Certificates and Transcripts

Tuition covers the teaching and one in-person Pass/Fail evaluation. The evaluation is optional. After completing a module or camp, a student may schedule it with the instructor. It may include solving problems and a conversation with the instructor about the material. It may also take into account homework and classwork grades. A passing evaluation earns a certificate for that topic. Students who earn certificates across more than one topic also receive a cumulative transcript listing them, useful for homeschool families and for students demonstrating substantial physics study before high school. See the Lyceum overview for our grading philosophy.

Cost, Enrollment & Refund Policy

In-person location: Princeton, NJ. For online, see the online program.

Enrollment: Modules start through the year. Summer camps run in summer. Schedule a call to find the right entry point and topic.

Payment due at enrollment. Full refund if we cancel or minimum cohort size is not formed. If you need to cancel: full refund 1+ week before start; no refund less than 1 week before.

Lyceum courses are taught by Dr. Sergey Samsonau and other expert physicists. See who leads the Lyceum.