Gymnastics / Mats #1

Physcial Education Lesson Plan

S: Physical Education
T: Gymnastics/Mats #1
O: Kindergarten – To help students try unusual movements with their bodies. To feel comfortable as they practice weight change, rhythm and timing as they move down the mats.
1st grade – To introduce gymnastics in a non-threatening way to help students become more flexible. To improve rhythm.
2nd grade – To help students improve their coordination and body control as they transfer weight from hands to feet, etc.
P: Teacher explanation and demonstration.

I start out with Animal Movements or Body Movements. I place two mats end to end and have three different waiting lines. I have them to do the skill down the mats and then stand up and walk off the mats back to the end of the line.

1) Puppy Dog Run – Students place hands and feet on the floor, bending knees and elbows and move down the mats in a happy puppy fashion.

2) Bear Walk – Bend forward with hands and feet on the mats. Bend knees as little as possible. Move forward slowly by moving the hand and foot on the same side together. (If they start with their right hand then their right foot should move at the same time.)

3) Rabbit Jump – Crouch down and place hands and feet on the mats. Move forward by moving both hands out in front and then bringing both feet up to the hands. It is a hands, feet movement. When the hands go, the feet don’t and when the feet go, the hands don’t.

4) Lame Dog Walk – Walk on both hands but only one foot. The other foot should be held up as injured. This is a hopping type of movement.

5) Crab Walk – Squat down with your back to the mats and reach back with both hands on the floor. Your bottom should not be touching the mats. Move backward using hands and feet.

6) Seal Walk – Laying straight and flat on your front side, using your arms, push your chest up off the mat. You then move forward, using only your arms. You will be pulling/dragging your legs.

7) Inchworm Crawl – Get into a push-up position. Without moving your hands, you inch by inch walk your feet as close to your hands as you can. Your legs should be kept completely straight. When your leg muscles start to fell stretched as far as they can go, then you do not move your feet, but now you move your hands forward until you are in a push-up position again. Keep hands planted and move feet, keep feet planted and move hands. This is a very slow process when done correctly.

8) Frog Jump – Unlike the Rabbit Jump where the hands and feet moved at different times, this jump is done where the hands and feet move and jump at the same time. Students should spring/jump down the mat.

9) Cricket Walk – Squat down with knees spread apart. Arms should go in between the legs and wrap around the outside of your ankles. Hands should be held on your ankles while you walk. Students need to bend at the knees and waist. Their bottoms should be down low.

10) Log Roll – Students should lie straight across the beginning of the mat. Their bodies should be completely straight. Their arms should be straight above their heads. Their legs should be straight and kept tight together. They roll, like a log, down the mat, trying to stay straight.

11) Egg Roll – The students should be sideways to the mat. They should squat into a tight ball, wrapping their arms around their knees. They are to roll sideways down the mat. They will look like wobbly eggs.

12) Siamese Twin Walk – Stand back to back with a partner. They should hook their elbows. With one partner leading on the way down the mat and the other partner leading on the way back, they should try to walk together.

13) Wheelbarrow – Students need to be with a partner. One student will be holding their weight on their hands while the other student is holding their partners ankles. The student with their hands on the mat should have their legs straight. The front student walks on the hands while the other student follows holding their legs. Then they need to switch positions.