Warm up
Ask children to sit in a space and remind them that each gymnastics
lesson will start with a warm up. Discuss the importance of warming
up their bodies and how the body changes during exercise.
Remind
children that in the last lesson the warm up activity was 'Follow my
Leader' and that they moved in different pathways. Quickly recap on
the different pathways that could be used then choose a child to be
the leader and ask them to walk around the room using different
pathways. Choose another child to be the leader and ask them to
repeat the activity but to jog. Choose a third child and repeat the
activity asking them to run.
Floor Work
Ask a child to tell the rest of the class how to find a space of
their own [stretch out arms and make sure they can turn all around
without touching anybody] and recap on how to use the workspace
safely. Remind them of the stretched and curled shapes they used
during the last lesson then tell children you want them to move
around the workspace making as many different shapes as they can.
Give children a few minutes to make shapes as they move then choose
different children to demonstrate the shapes they made. Ask the class
to describe the shape and how they could make it longer, taller,
wider, smaller, etc. Give everyone a chance to make the same shape
then let another child demonstrate a different shape.
Ask children to
make wide, stretched shapes. Challenge them to use different parts
of their bodies on which to balance their weight. Can they move with
wide stretched shapes? Tell them to make tall, thin shapes or long
thin shapes. Again remind children they can use different parts of
their bodies on which to take their weight. Can they move in these
thin shapes? Choose one or two children to demonstrate and discuss
the shapes and actions. Which was the easiest shape for moving? Did
the shape change when they moved?
Large Apparatus
Talk to children about putting out the apparatus safely and
establish some rules that can be used in each lesson. e.g. 4
children to a mat, one to each corner. Ask children to sit quietly
when they have completed the task given and to watch and check that
other children have put out apparatus correctly. Have enough
apparatus for five or six different groups. Tell children that when
they are working on the first set of apparatus you want them to
explore ways of travelling over, under, along and around it. Give
children a few minutes to explore the apparatus then ask children to
sit quietly by their apparatus. Choose one or two children to
demonstrate what they have done. Try to choose children who have
performed a stretching or curling action.
Ask children to walk to
their next set of apparatus, a group at a time, and to stand until
everyone has changed. This time ask children to think about the way
they are using the apparatus. Are they using wide stretched shapes,
long narrow shapes or are there times when they use curled shapes?
What parts of their bodies are taking their weight?
When children
change apparatus again ask them to make sure they use at least one
stretched shape and one curled shape when using the apparatus.
Choose one or two children to demonstrate and discuss if the
stretched shapes were thin or wide. Discuss the rules for putting the
large apparatus away safely then ask children to do so. When they
have finished ask them to find a space on the floor and lie down.
Cool Down
Ask children to lie on their backs and stretch their legs and arms
as far away from their bodies as they can. Tell them to hold still
for a moment and then slowly bring their arms and legs back towards
their bodies and hold a curled shape still lying on their backs.
Repeat this movement then tell children to relax while the teacher
reminds them of the skills learnt in today's lesson.
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