Animal Stories in Gymnastics
Gymnastics
•Year 1
•8 Lessons
This unit introduces Year 1 students to fundamental gymnastics skills through imaginative animal movements and storytelling contexts. The approach builds body awareness, control, and coordination whilst maintaining the playful exploration that young children need. Through progressive skill development from basic travelling to apparatus work, students develop confidence in their physical abilities whilst learning to move with purpose and control.
Lessons in This Unit
8 lessons in this unit
Lesson 1
Big Question:
How can we travel like different animals while staying safe and creating interesting movements?
Key Objectives:
- • To explore travelling movements using the space around you
- • To link simple actions together in sequence
Lesson 2
Big Question:
How can we use our bodies to create strong, controlled shapes that tell a story?
Key Objectives:
- • To learn and perform basic gymnastic shapes with control and quality
- • To link simple actions and shapes together in sequence
Lesson 3
Big Question:
How can we make our bodies work like statues - perfectly still and controlled?
Key Objectives:
- • To develop stability and control when performing balances
- • To understand the importance of muscle tension in maintaining balance
Lesson 4
Big Question:
How can we change our body shape whilst jumping and landing safely?
Key Objectives:
- • To develop technique and control when performing shape jumps
- • To explore different take-off and landing combinations
Lesson 5
Big Question:
How can we use different body shapes to roll safely and with control?
Key Objectives:
- • To develop technique and control in barrel, straight and forward rolling
- • To understand how body shape affects rolling movement
Lesson 6
Big Question:
How can we use our hands to support our body weight like animals do?
Key Objectives:
- • To develop strength and coordination for taking body weight on hands
- • To understand and demonstrate body tension in different positions
Lesson 7
Big Question:
How can we move with control and balance when using different pieces of apparatus?
Key Objectives:
- • To explore key skills on apparatus showing quality, control and balance
- • To link simple actions together on apparatus
Lesson 8
Big Question:
How can we join different gymnastic movements together to create a flowing sequence that tells a story?
Key Objectives:
- • To link simple gymnastic actions together in a flowing sequence
- • To demonstrate control and awareness when using apparatus safely