This foundational gymnastics unit introduces Nursery students to core movement patterns through imaginative play and exploration. The focus is on body awareness - discovering what different body parts can do when travelling, balancing, jumping and rolling. Through animal movements and playful imagery, students build confidence in physical activity while developing the fundamental motor skills that underpin all future PE learning.

Lessons in This Unit

6 lessons in this unit

Lesson 1

Travelling Close to the Ground
45 min

Big Question:

How can we move like animals and travel close to the ground safely?

Key Objectives:

  • • To explore different ways of travelling close to the ground
  • • To create a simple sequence of animal movements

Lesson 2

Travelling on Body Parts and Balance
45 min

Big Question:

How can we use different parts of our body to travel and balance safely?

Key Objectives:

  • • To travel with confidence using large body parts (patches)
  • • To create and hold balances on different body parts

Lesson 3

Balancing on Patches and Rolling
45 min

Big Question:

How can we use our patches to make beautiful balances and rolls like gymnasts?

Key Objectives:

  • • To balance on different patches with tension and control
  • • To roll in different ways connecting movements

Lesson 4

Jumping, Landing and Linking Movements
45 min

Big Question:

How can we move like animals and combine different body movements safely?

Key Objectives:

  • • Jump off an object and land appropriately
  • • Link 2 movements together safely

Lesson 5

Asymmetric Balances and Sequences
57 min

Big Question:

How can we use different body parts to create interesting asymmetric shapes and movements?

Key Objectives:

  • • Perform sequences of asymmetric balances and movements on floor and apparatus
  • • Create clear starting and finishing positions in gymnastics work

Lesson 6

Body Shapes and Letter Formations
45 min

Big Question:

How can our bodies become different letters and shapes to tell stories?

Key Objectives:

  • • To create a variety of shapes using the body with increasing control
  • • To start and finish movements in clear, strong positions