This unit introduces Reception students to fundamental gymnastics skills through imaginative storytelling and nature themes. By embedding basic body movements, rolling, balancing, and travelling patterns within engaging narratives about woodland animals and giants, students develop physical literacy whilst nurturing their natural creativity and love of movement.

Lessons in This Unit

6 lessons in this unit

Lesson 1

Shapes and Travelling Patterns
45 min

Big Question:

How can we combine different shapes and ways of travelling to tell a story through movement?

Key Objectives:

  • • Discover different shapes and ways to link shapes with travelling movements
  • • Choose and perform 2 shapes and 2 ways of travelling with control

Lesson 2

Egg Roll and Log Roll Development
45 min

Big Question:

How can we roll our bodies smoothly like different shapes in nature?

Key Objectives:

  • • To demonstrate shapes and movements from previous lessons with control
  • • To perform egg roll and log roll with correct technique and body tension

Lesson 3

Pathways and Direction
30 min

Big Question:

How can we create interesting pathways to travel along, just like woodland animals finding their way through the forest?

Key Objectives:

  • • To travel in different directions and pathways with control
  • • To follow a partner through different pathways accurately

Lesson 4

Points and Patches Balance
45 min

Big Question:

How can we use different parts of our body to create steady balances like statues?

Key Objectives:

  • • Identify different parts of the body that can be used for balancing (points and patches)
  • • Demonstrate controlled balances on various body parts for 3 seconds

Lesson 5

Points, Patches, Linking Moves
45 min

Big Question:

How can we smoothly connect our balances to create a magical Giant's story?

Key Objectives:

  • • To perform point and patch balances with control and confidence
  • • To link balances together using smooth travelling movements

Lesson 6

Pathways and Balances
30 min

Big Question:

How can we create our own movement story using different pathways and balances?

Key Objectives:

  • • To choose 3 point or patch balances from the Giant's story and use them in a sequence
  • • To link balances by travelling using square and triangle pathways