Gymnastics 1 - Lesson 5

In Year 1, Gymnastics 1 - Lesson 5, young learners are encouraged to explore the concepts of points and patches within gymnastics. The learning objectives for this lesson include copying, mirroring, and creating various balances, as well as recognising and recalling different points of contact on the body. To achieve these goals, the pupils are introduced to key vocabulary such as 'balance', 'shapes', 'tension', 'copy', 'mirror', and 'points and patches'. The lesson begins with a dynamic warm-up where children navigate around a safe zone marked by cones, responding to commands like 'play', 'pause', 'fast forward', and 'rewind' with corresponding movements and balances. This initial activity is designed to get the pupils thinking about points of contact and how they can be used in balance.

The main part of the lesson delves deeper into the understanding of points and patches, with the class teacher demonstrating balances using different parts of the body. For example, a balance may involve the bottom (as one point) or the chest and thighs (as two points). The pupils are then given the opportunity to experiment with these concepts, encouraged by peer discussion to identify which body parts are being used as points or patches. As the lesson progresses, they are tasked with copying and mirroring shapes demonstrated by the teacher, such as crab and bridge shapes, and incorporating these into a routine with a clear beginning, middle, and end. The lesson concludes with a cool-down where pupils skip around the area and reflect on the vocabulary and skills they have practised, such as executing a balance or stretch.