Gymnastics 1 - Lesson 4

In the fourth lesson of Gymnastics 1 for Year 2 students, the aim is to delve into medium level gymnastic shapes, focusing on linking, mirroring, and balancing techniques. The session starts with a dynamic warm-up called 'Toilet Tag' which enhances core, posture, and leg strength. This is followed by 'Kitty Cats', a series of movements including the Angry Cat, Happy Cat, Scratchy Cat, and Seal Position, which children mimic to prepare their bodies for the main activities. The lesson's success criteria are centered around pupils consolidating low level shapes such as pike, tuck, dish, arch, and straddle, and performing them with pointed toes and interlinked fingers, using linking and mirroring to enhance their skills.

The main part of the lesson, lasting 35 minutes, involves pupils sitting in pairs and revisiting five low-level shapes, taking turns to model and perform each one. The teacher provides key teaching points to ensure correct posture and technique. The lesson then progresses to medium level shapes, where students are encouraged to discuss how these shapes differ from the low level and challenge themselves to maintain balance on their tiptoes. The lesson concludes with a cool-down where pupils reflect on their performance, focusing on what they did well and how they can improve further. Throughout the lesson, key vocabulary such as 'dish', 'arch', 'pike', 'tuck', 'straddle', 'entrance', 'exit', 'linking', 'balance', 'control', and 'mirroring' is emphasized to help students articulate their learning and understanding of gymnastics.