Contextualization
Introduction to Physical Conditioning
Physical Conditioning Gymnastics is an essential practice for developing and maintaining health and well-being. Based on a set of systematized exercises, this method aims at strengthening, endurance, and flexibility of various muscle groups, as much as to contribute significantly to the improvement of cardiorespiratory capacities. This type of gymnastics is composed by activities that can be adapted to different ages and physical conditions, which makes it an inclusive and democratic tool for promoting physical exercise.
Key theoretical concepts involve knowing the distinct physical capacities that are developed: strength, muscular endurance, cardiorespiratory endurance, flexibility, and body composition. Furthermore, it is of upmost importance to understand the idea of progression of the exercises, which should happen gradually, respecting the limits of each individual, as well as the principles of training, such as regularity, individuality and overload.
Within this perspective, two main approaches stand out: Body Awareness Gymnastics, which is focused on understanding one's own body, by promoting the perception of its capacities and limits; and the proprium Physical Conditioning Gymnastics, which focuses on the improvement and optimization of such capacities, often aiming at improving sports performance.
Relevance of Physical Conditioning in Daily Life
In the contemporary world, the regular practice of physical activities has become essential, given the sedentary lifestyle imposed by long hours of work and study, often in front of computers and mobile devices. The adoption of a physical conditioning program is a fundamental part of a healthy lifestyle, and its positive impacts go beyond physical well-being, for they are also reflected on the improvement of mental health, concentration capacity, and even academic performance.
The inclusion of physical conditioning gymnastics in the school context is a valuable strategy for establishing healthy habits since adolescence. Approaching this subject in the 9th grade of elementary school allows students not only to understand the value of physical activity, but also to experience and learn how to incorporate such exercises into their daily life, thereby acknowledging the short-term and long-term benefits. Furthermore, this practice encourages teamwork and the development of socio-emotional skills, such as leadership, mutual respect and empathy.
Resources for Deepening and Basis for the Debate
So that you, students, can further explore the topic and have a wider basis for the debate, the following references are suggested:
- Book "Physical Education in Elementary School: First Cycle" - by Neila Costa, which tackles didactic strategies for practicing Physical Education at school, including gymnastics.
- Book "Sports Training: Structuring and Periodization" - by Antônio Carlos Gomes, which offers a technical and didactic perspective on physical and sports training.
- Site of the Brazilian Ministry of Health (http://www.saude.gov.br/), dedicated to physical activities, containing information about national campaigns aimed at promoting health and physical exercise.
- Physical Education Portal (https://www.educacaofisica.com.br/), which contains articles, news and pieces about many aspects of physical activity, including physical conditioning gymnastics.
Using these materials as a support tool will enrich your understanding of physical conditioning gymnastics and allow you to partake in reasoned and constructive discussions, throughout the project.
Practical Activity
Title of the Activity: "Wellness Gymkhana: A Physical Conditioning Circuit"
Objective of the Project
Encouraging the integration of high school 9th graders into a physical conditioning experience that is educational, socially and emotionally enriching. The project aims to promote the knowledge and practice of exercises related to physical conditioning gymnastics, while emphasizing cooperation and awareness about health and well-being.
Detailed Description of the Project
The project shall consist in the creation, elaboration and execution of a physical conditioning exercises gymkhana, made by the very students. Each group will be responsible for creating a circuit with different stations which will work all the main muscle groups and physical capacities.
Necessary Materials
- Cones or markers for delimiting areas
- Jump ropes
- Medicine balls
- Yoga or gymnastics mats
- Chronometer
- Cardboard and marker pens for identifying the stations
- Sound equipment for playing motivational songs (optional)
Duration of the Project
- Group size: 3 to 5 students in each group.
- Total length of the project: 5 to 10 hours for each student, to be spread along a month.
Detailed Step-by-step for Conducting the Activity
- Circuit Planning: Each group must plan a circuit with five stations, each concentrating on a different physical capacity (strength, muscular endurance, cardiorespiratory endurance, flexibility, body composition).
- Defining the Activities: Each station must have a detailed description of the activity, duration and number of sets and repetitions.
- Preparation of the Materials: All the necessary materials for the stations must be gathered; also, each station must have written instructions.
- Assembling the Circuit: Choosing a designated area (gym, sports court, classroom) for the setting up of the circuit. Each station shall be separated by cones or markers.
- Gymkhana Execution: Each person in every group must move in turns through all the stations. Students must take their time for each challenge and also register the amount of time spent and the outcome.
- Photographic and/or Video Record: Documenting the achievement of the activities must be recorded and kept for a later inclusion into a report.
- Analysis and Discussion of the Results: After the execution of the circuit, the teams must get together and discuss the results attained, then compare them with the initial goals.
- Presentation of the Report: Each group's report must comprise all the previous steps and be handed in as a report at the end of the activity.
Project Assignments and Connection with Proposed Activities
Students must hand in one final report, as follows:
- Introduction: contextualization of the theme, relevance of physical conditioning gymnastics as a daily activity and overall goal of the gymkhana project.
- Execution: theoretical overview of gymnastics types, detailed description of the planning and execution of the gymkhana project, including the applied methodology as well as the description of all the stations used and their results. Photographic or video records shall be included as documentation.
- Conclusions: an assessment of the results obtained in the competition, learnings, perceived impacts over the health and well-being of the participants, and in what way this experience helped cultivate and develop socio-emotional skills.
- Bibliography: references of all consulted materials, theoretical framework and circuit assembly guidelines and references.
The final report must be assembled in a clear and concise manner, representing all the stages of the projects and reflecting the participants' critical analysis and knowledge of the project at hand.
