Gymnastics 1 - Lesson 1

The first lesson of Year 2 Gymnastics focuses on teaching pupils to create basic shapes with their bodies while maintaining control, with an introduction to linking these shapes. The learning objectives are clear: pupils should be able to form pencil and star shapes accurately and with control, and also use balance to enhance their performance, showcasing creativity with their own balances. The lesson is peppered with key vocabulary such as 'entrance', 'exit', 'linking', 'balance', 'control', and 'mirroring', which are crucial for understanding the movements and instructions. Essential equipment includes safety mats and cones for setting up the activity space and for the cool down game. The warm-up consists of activities that encourage pupils to move around the hall in various ways, such as walking, jogging, skipping, and jumping, while responding to the teacher's signals for stopping and starting.

The main part of the lesson, lasting 35 minutes, involves pupils sitting in pairs on mats and forming different letter shapes with their bodies, such as 'O', 'n', 'l', 'L', 'p', 'J', 'S', and more. The class teacher demonstrates each shape on the mat, emphasizing the importance of balance, control, and posture. Pupils are encouraged to hold each shape for three seconds and to think about how they can transition quietly and controlled from one shape to another. They are then asked to spell their names or other words using the shapes they've learnt, focusing on the precision of their movements. The lesson ends with a cool down where pupils play a game that involves responding to instructions such as 'pencil', 'star', 'up', and 'down', and reflecting on their performance and that of their partner, using the key vocabulary to describe what they have achieved.