Resumen. La relatividad es una parte importante de la física moderna. En este artículo se analiza su aprendizaje en la enseñanza secundaria y se argumenta razonadamente contra prácticas tradicionales en la enseñanza de la relatividad. Finalmente se presenta una nueva aproximación a su enseñanza y se concluye que es posible una enseñanza ajustada a las contribuciones de la comunidad científi ca y que suscite en los estudiantes un cambio actitudinal, conceptual y metodológico. Palabras clave. Enseñanza-aprendizaje, relatividad, cambio actitudinal, conceptual y metodológico. An approach to teaching relativity in secondary education as a tool to motivate pupils in their learning of physics Summary. Relativity is a very important part of modern physics. In this paper we analyze the teaching and learning of the theory of relativity in secondary education and we show some reasoned arguments against traditional methods to teach it. Finally, a didactic proposal for the teaching of relativity is presented; it comes as a conclusion that it is possible a suitable teaching of the principles of relative which should bring into the students a change in attitude, concepts and methodology. Keywords. Teaching and learning, relativity, change in attitude, concepts and methodology.