The only physics lesson Omokoroa teacher Stephen Hall had planned on yesterday involved a whiteboard and classroom - not an aeroplane and jumping out of it at 10,000 feet above Tauranga.
The Omokoroa Point School teacher won a competition organised by radio station Classic Hits to throw a teacher out of a plane.
Mr Hall was nominated by the mother of one of his students for the honour.
"I'll take that as flattery, I think," Mr Hall said.
It was the second competition of its kind in Tauranga and received nominations from 60 schools across the Western Bay of Plenty. Mr Hall's name was plucked from a random draw. The reason behind his entry was mostly because he was the only male teacher at his school.
"About four weeks ago they came in and said 'you've been nominated' and then [yesterday] morning the Classic Hits people just appeared and whisked me away with the kids to take us to the airport in Tauranga."
Mr Hall was suited up and flown to 10,000 feet, where he was attached to jump partner Sam Perry and promptly thrown out of the plane.
"The free fall was exhilarating. You are falling toward the Earth at 200km/h. You can't scream because the wind's just coming into your mouth and the ground is coming up to you so quickly. It's indescribable," Mr Hall said.
"I was holding on hard to my harness but he [Mr Perry] gave me the sign to let go and relax, which I did. It was awesome.
"Then the chute opened and it became real peaceful. You are just sort of gliding there."
After having a go with the steering of the parachute, Mr Hall said he and his jump partner came in for a near perfect landing, cheered on by his students.
Mr Hall told the Bay of Plenty Times yesterday afternoon he was still on such high from the jump, he was having trouble getting any work done.
"It was a really nice surprise and an awesome experience," he said.
Another Western Bay teacher has been drawn and will be surprised with a jump today.
Classic Hits breakfast show host Bridget Hastie said some of the nominations were sent in because some teachers "gave too much homework", and others were because the teacher was "awesome" and deserved a treat.