Lesson Plan | Active Learning | Gymnastics

Assumptions: This Active Lesson Plan assumes: a 100-minute class, prior student study with both the Book and the start of Project development, and that only one activity (among the three suggested) will be chosen to be conducted during the class, as each activity is designed to take up a significant portion of the available time.

Objectives

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The Objectives stage is crucial for guiding both the teacher and the students about the focus of the lesson. It establishes a clear foundation of what is expected to be achieved, ensuring that everyone involved is aligned and prepared for the subsequent activities. In this stage, the teacher should ensure that students can articulate the prior knowledge acquired at home and thus deepen their understanding through discussions and practices in the classroom.

Main Objectives:

1. Empower students to recognize and describe the concept of gymnastics, identifying its types and main characteristics.

2. Explore how the practice of gymnastics contributes to the physical and mental development of practitioners, especially in fifth-grade elementary school children.

Side Objectives:

1. Encourage active participation of students through group discussions and practical application of gymnastic movements.

Introduction

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The Introduction serves to engage students and connect the theoretical content they studied at home with practical and real situations. Problem situations encourage students to think critically about gymnastics and its applications, preparing them for a deeper understanding during the lesson. The contextualization of the topic shows the relevance of gymnastics in everyday life and history, increasing students' interest and motivation to learn more about the subject.

Problem-Based Situations

1. Imagine you are an Olympic athlete and need to choose between practicing artistic or rhythmic gymnastics. What factors would you consider to make this decision, and why is gymnastics so important for high-performance athletes?

2. Think of a situation where a group of friends has to create a gymnastics routine for a school presentation. How could they use the principles of flexibility, strength, and coordination to put together an interesting and safe performance?

Contextualization

Gymnastics is not just for professional athletes; it plays an important role in the physical and mental development of people of all ages. For example, at school, gymnastics can help improve posture, flexibility, and motor coordination, as well as promote socialization and self-confidence. Interestingly, gymnastics has a rich history, dating back to the ancient Greeks, who used physical exercises to train soldiers and compete in festivals. This practice has evolved over the centuries and is now a popular activity in many schools and clubs around the world.

Development

Duration: (65 - 75 minutes)

The Development stage is designed to allow students to apply the knowledge acquired about gymnastics in a practical and creative way. By participating in playful and contextualized activities, students have the opportunity to explore the different aspects of gymnastics, such as flexibility, strength, and coordination, in a way that is both educational and fun. This approach not only reinforces learning but also promotes teamwork skills, creativity, and critical thinking.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended to carry out only one of the suggested activities

Activity 1 - Cirque du Gym

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Develop the creativity and motor skills of students by applying the principles of gymnastics in a playful and contextualized way.

- Description: In this activity, students will create small gymnastics routines that include movements of flexibility, strength, and coordination, inspired by circus elements like acrobatics and juggling. Each group will have to put together a presentation that tells a story using these elements, demonstrating creativity in the choice of movements and the narrative.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Explain that each group must choose a circus theme to base their gymnastics routine.

• Students should choose and practice basic gymnastics movements, incorporating circus elements (like balance and juggling).

• Each group should create a sequence of 1 to 2 minutes that tells a small story or demonstrates a special skill.

• After preparation, each group will present their routine to the class, and peers will evaluate creativity, technique, and execution.

Activity 2 - Flexibility Olympics

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Promote the practice of flexibility positions in a fun and competitive way, encouraging personal overcoming and teamwork.

- Description: Students will participate in a flexibility competition, where they will have to perform a series of classic positions from artistic and rhythmic gymnastics. The activity will be divided into stations, where each station represents a different 'country', and students must pass through flexibility challenges created by the teachers.

- Instructions:

• Set up gymnastics stations in different parts of the room, each representing a 'country'.

• Students, divided into groups, will move between the stations, performing the proposed flexibility positions.

• Each group will have a limited time at each station to complete the challenge.

• Challenges may include positions like the bridge, splits, and other classic gymnastics positions.

• At the end, each group's points will be tallied, and the group with the highest score will be the winner.

Activity 3 - Gymnastics Relay Race

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Develop students' physical and cognitive skills in a playful and challenging environment, emphasizing the importance of gymnastics in motor development.

- Description: This activity transforms the classroom into a gymnastics circuit, where students will have to pass through different challenges involving strength, balance, and coordination. Each station of the circuit proposes a different challenge, such as climbing, jumping, and rotations, and students must complete the circuit in the shortest time possible.

- Instructions:

• Set up a gymnastics circuit in the classroom, including stations such as rope climbing, jumping over obstacles, and rotating cones.

• Divide the students into groups and explain how the circuit works.

• Each group should complete the circuit as quickly as possible, passing through all stations.

• Time each group's performance and record it.

• At the end, discuss with the class about the techniques used and how they can improve their performance in gymnastics.

Feedback

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The purpose of this feedback stage is to consolidate learning, allowing students to reflect on the activities performed and verbalize what they learned. The group discussion helps reinforce understanding of gymnastics concepts, as well as promote the expression of ideas and active listening. This moment also serves for the teacher to assess students' understanding and clarify any remaining doubts, ensuring that learning objectives have been achieved.

Group Discussion

At the end of the activities, gather all students for a group discussion. Start the conversation by recalling the objectives of the lesson and encouraging students to share their experiences. Ask how they felt participating in the activities, what they learned new about gymnastics, and how they would apply that knowledge in other situations. Encourage each group to present a brief summary of their routine or the most memorable experience.

Key Questions

1. What were the main challenges you faced while creating and executing the gymnastics routines?

2. How can gymnastics help in the development of skills such as coordination, flexibility, and strength?

3. What lessons can you take from today’s activities to improve in other areas of life, such as studies or sports?

Conclusion

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The purpose of the Conclusion stage is to ensure that students have a clear and consolidated understanding of the content addressed during the lesson. This moment is crucial to reinforce what was learned, connect theory with practice, and highlight the importance of the topic in students' daily lives. Furthermore, it serves to verify whether learning objectives have been achieved and whether there is a need for review or clarification on specific points.

Summary

At this conclusion moment, the teacher should summarize and recapitulate the main concepts covered about gymnastics, including the definition of the term, the different types of gymnastics (artistic, rhythmic, acrobatic, among others), and their distinctive characteristics. It should also recall how the practice of gymnastics contributes to the physical and mental development of practitioners, emphasizing the benefits of flexibility, strength, and coordination.

Theory Connection

The teacher should highlight how today’s lesson connected the theory studied at home with practice in the classroom, illustrating the application of theoretical concepts through practical activities, like the circus-inspired gymnastics routines, the flexibility competition, and the gymnastics relay race. This connection helps reinforce learning, showing students the importance of understanding theoretical foundations for efficient practice.

Closing

Finally, the teacher should emphasize the relevance of gymnastics in students' daily lives, not only as a sports activity but also as a means of promoting health, well-being, and socialization. Highlight how gymnastics is a versatile tool that can be applied in various situations, from enhancing physical skills to developing values such as discipline and teamwork.