Gymnastics 3 - Lesson 5

In the fifth lesson of Gymnastics 3 for Year 2 pupils, the learning objective is to effectively use large apparatus to perform a variety of gymnastic actions. To achieve success, pupils must be able to replicate actions learned in previous lessons and understand the importance of adhering to safety rules while using the equipment. The key vocabulary for this lesson includes terms such as shapes, travel, balance, rolls, jumps, climbing, control, linking, and direction. The equipment required for this lesson includes wall bars, benches, tables, mats, and a springboard. The lesson starts with a warm-up where pupils assist in setting up six sections of the hall, each with different apparatus, excluding the wall bars which are set up by adults for safety reasons.

During the main part of the lesson, which lasts 35 minutes, pupils are divided into six groups and rotate through stations that each focus on a specific gymnastic skill, spending four minutes at each. The stations include climbing on wall bars, travelling across mats, balancing on tables, dynamic balancing on beams or upturned benches, jumping on and off benches or springboards, and rolling on a line of mats. Teachers are encouraged to discuss safety rules, particularly for the wall bars, and to demonstrate good practice. Extensions and variations are suggested to challenge pupils who find the activities easy, with a focus on improving climbing, hanging, travelling, balancing, dynamic balancing, jumping, and rolling skills. To conclude the lesson, pupils help to pack away the equipment and participate in a cool-down session led by their peers, reinforcing the day's safety rules and skills practiced.