Exploring Movement Patterns Through Playful Travel and Balance
•Nursery
•Gymnastics
•Scattered around activity area, 3 per team
Alternative: Cones, hoops laid flat, or tape crosses
Create pond boundaries 4 metres apart
Alternative: Blue hoops or blue tape lines
Placed between blue cones to create crossing pathways
Alternative: Large circles drawn in chalk or tape
Placed at far side of pond for collection
Alternative: Small balls, foam shapes, or scarves
For log rolling and safe landing areas
Alternative: Carpet squares or yoga mats
Height appropriate for crawling under/sliding along
Alternative: Balance beams or wooden planks (supervised)
Maximum 30cm height for safe jumping
Alternative: Sturdy boxes or gym blocks
Create tightrope walking lines 3 metres long
Alternative: Chalk lines or coloured tape
For recording sequences and apparatus setup reference
Alternative: Smartphone or video camera
Pushing off the ground with one or both feet and landing safely
Coming down from a jump with bent knees and balanced body
A series of movements performed one after another
Equipment used in gymnastics like mats, benches, and hoops
Staying steady and in control of your body
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Counting jumps in sequences, identifying patterns in movement, understanding spatial concepts like over/under/through
Exploring forces in jumping and landing, understanding how muscles work, investigating balance and gravity
Building confidence through physical achievement, learning to take turns and share, developing resilience when activities are challenging
Move constantly around activity area, position at corner during demonstrations to maintain visual contact with all children
Watch for: bent knees on landing, balanced takeoffs, appropriate risk-taking, positive social interactions
Step in when: children not following safety rules, technique needs correction, conflicts over equipment sharing
Always demonstrate at child height, use exaggerated movements for clarity, include sound effects to maintain engagement
Minimum 15m x 10m clear space, additional storage area for apparatus
Non-slip surface essential, check for wet patches or debris before lesson
Stop activity immediately for any injury, assess need for first aid, remove other children from immediate area if needed
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