BlogPhysical Activity Lesson Plans for a New School Year
Learning and engaging in physical activity within a school environment is an important foundation for developing happy, healthy adults. Thankfully, there are various fun, educational ways to incorporate physical activity into the school day and engage your students. To make planning and implementing your ideas easier, it can help to develop physical activity lesson plans. Whether you teach a physical education class or want to give your students a movement break between lessons, a formal plan will help you stay organized.
In this guide, we’ll share some helpful tips for crafting engaging physical education lessons to help you reach your teaching goals. You’ll also discover some activity ideas and learn more about the importance of your efforts.
The Importance of Physical Activity in Schools
Getting enough daily physical activity is incredibly important for children’s mental and physical health. To stay healthy, the CDC recommends that children do at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily. However, students tend to sit in class most of the day, so incorporating exercise into school lesson plans is vital. Instilling a love for movement in kids at a young age will also help them continue to prioritize it when they leave school.
Through exercise and play, kids strengthen their muscles and learn vital motor skills. Exercise also improves cardiovascular health, which reduces the risk of diseases like cancer, diabetes and obesity. Physical activity at school encourages social interaction, helping children learn how to work well with others and regulate their emotions. It can improve their mood, confidence and school performance, too.
Your students will see even more benefits from playing and exercising outside. Nature and sunlight are fantastic mood boosters, helping to reduce stress and improve behavior. A little sun also gives kids the vitamin D they need to stay healthy. When the weather is sunny and clear, consider moving your exercise activities outdoors so students can enjoy the benefits of nature and exercise simultaneously.
Tips for Physical Education Lesson Plans
Lesson plans are vital components of physical education curriculum development. They help you map out which activities and lessons to teach throughout the year so you’re prepared. A lesson plan will also ensure you align your teaching with education standards and expectations.
If you’re currently developing a physical education lesson plan or want to include outdoor activities throughout the school day, here are some helpful tips to consider:
Set goals: Create objectives for the outcomes you want to achieve for each lesson and year. Goals will help you evaluate your progress and keep you and your students on track.
Customize plans: Tailor your plans for each grade by surveying their fitness levels and abilities and asking students what they want to learn. This ensures they can complete the actions and gives them a say in their education.
Take inventory: Assess the facilities, space and resources you have available before planning activities. If you’re short on space and equipment, find activities you can do within those constraints — kids don’t need much to have fun!
Add warm-ups: Factor in a short warm-up into each lesson to prepare students for the main activity. This is a valuable time to teach students before the fun and chaos begins.
Create variety: Plan various activities and exercises for lessons and movement breaks. You can switch between individual and team sports, dancing, games and exercises to keep things interesting.
Prepare for changes: Create backup plans and alterations for all your activities in case of weather changes or unavailable resources. With multiple options, you’ll feel less stressed and can continue teaching as planned.
Incorporate learning: With some creativity, exercise can be an engaging way to teach the school curriculum. For example, you can add spelling to hopscotch or include math problems in relay races.
Outdoor Activities to Incorporate in Your Lesson Plans This Year
Use the following outdoor and classroom exercise activities to inspire your lesson planning:
Playground games: Playgrounds are an invaluable learning resource, and you can utilize their structures to your advantage. Some examples of outdoor playground activities you can try include using the equipment as part of an obstacle course or playing “Floor is Lava,” a game where players must avoid touching the ground.
Scavenger hunts: Create a list of things to find and hand them out to each student. They’ll need to walk around a specified area to see all the items on the list. You can make this activity more educational by asking students to measure or count items as well.
Fun with balloons: Balloons can make even the most basic activities more fun for kids. Challenge your students to a simple game that involves throwing a balloon into the air and having the players bat it upward with their hands to ensure it doesn’t touch the ground.
Dancing: Putting on music and getting your students to dance is an easy activity and break idea. To make it a game, turn the music off at random intervals. When the song is off, players must stop moving. You can also find easy dance routines on YouTube and teach students the steps.
Group games: There are multiple children’s games that get kids active without any equipment. One example is “Red Light, Green Light.” One player is appointed as the “traffic light” while the others line up in a row 20 feet away. The “traffic light” person will turn their back and yell, “Green light!” while everyone slowly walks toward them. Then, they can shout, “Red light!” at any time and quickly turn around while the others freeze. Any player they catch moving must go back to the start!
Exercises: Quick, easy activities are as beneficial as complex sports and group games. After sitting for long stretches, children of all ages will appreciate the chance to stretch and use their muscles. You can take them through basic stretches or get them to do jumping jacks or pushups.
Explore The Benefits of Outdoor Play With Playworx
Children thrive when they get to play outdoors, explore and be themselves. As an educator, you can help students experience the benefits of outdoor play by planning outdoor activities and creating safe play spaces. At Playworx, we have over twenty years of experience bringing the joy of outdoor playgrounds to communities across Georgia, Florida and South Carolina.
We offer playground surfacing, structures and sports equipment and multiple services, including repairs, demolition, installation and design. We’re the one-stop shop for all things playgrounds. Whether you need a playground for preschoolers or children between 5 and 12 years old, we have the expertise to create a suitable space that’s safe and inclusive.
