Gymnastics - Lesson 1

The first lesson in a series of gymnastics classes for nursery-aged children focuses on learning to move safely around the hall and on mats. The learning objectives set out for the pupils include exploring different ways to move, moving safely within the space, and being able to listen and follow instructions. To achieve these goals, the lesson incorporates a variety of movements such as walking, jumping, skipping, hopping, and crawling. The warm-up activity involves spacing out mats and having the children find a spot that is not on a mat, ensuring they understand the mats are part of the learning space and must be navigated carefully. This is followed by a 'Frozen statues' game where pupils move around to different movements and freeze on a mat when instructed, allowing them to warm up their bodies and notice changes in their breathing.

The main part of the session is a 15-minute activity where children are paired up and assigned a mat as their learning space. They are given time to explore the mat and discover different ways of moving, such as spinning, rolling, and jumping. The teacher demonstrates each movement, and the children take turns practicing, with variations and extensions offered to cater to different skill levels. The lesson concludes with a cool-down period where the children slow down from jogging to standing still and perform various stretches to cool their bodies. They also have a moment of quiet to focus on their breathing, which helps them understand the importance of cooling down after exercise. Pupil talk is encouraged throughout the lesson to reflect on their experiences and what they have enjoyed the most.