Lesson 3 - Core Strength Challenge
Athletic Foundations: Endurance to Power
•Year 3
•Health Related Fitness
•Start Planning Better PE Lessons
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- Complete activity instructions & timing
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How can developing our core strength help us become better athletes and improve our performance in all sports?
Learning Objectives
- To demonstrate good core strength through sustained exercises
- To understand the importance of core strength and flexibility in sports performance
- To develop perseverance and resilience during challenging physical activities
Key Outcomes
- Students will perform a range of core strengthening exercises with correct technique
- Students will explain why core strength is important for sports performance
- Students will demonstrate improved endurance and persistence when muscles fatigue
Equipment & Resources Required
Distributed around circuit stations
Alternative: Tennis balls, bean bags for passing activities
Mark 20m running distance and 5m leopard crawl distance
Alternative: Markers, spots, or tape marks on floor
Pre-prepared with station names and scoring columns
Alternative: Clipboards with paper, mini whiteboards
Visible timing for all activities
Alternative: Phone timer, classroom clock with second hand
For filming assessment evidence during circuits
Alternative: School camera for recording evidence
Key Vocabulary
The strength of muscles in your trunk and pelvis that support your spine
An exercise where you hold your body straight like a wooden plank
The ability to keep going for a long time without giving up
Moving between different exercise stations to work different muscles
When your muscles feel tired and want to stop working
Skill Progression Pathway
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Prior Learning
- Basic understanding of muscle groups from previous lessons
- Experience with simple fitness activities
- Ability to follow safety instructions during physical activity
Current Skills
- Core muscle engagement and control
- Sustained physical effort during fatigue
- Self-assessment and personal challenge
Next Steps
- Complex core stability exercises
- Sport-specific core training
- Leading fitness sessions for others
Milestone Indicators
Key Teaching Points
- Core strength is fundamental to all sports and physical activities
- Quality of movement is always more important than quantity or speed
- Personal challenge and improvement matter more than comparison with others
- Honest self-assessment builds character and realistic goal-setting
- Perseverance through appropriate challenge builds physical and mental strength
- Supporting others creates a positive learning environment for everyone
- Proper technique prevents injury and maximises benefit from exercise
Common Misconceptions
- Misconception: 'Faster/more repetitions means better fitness' - Correction: Focus on controlled, quality movements
- Misconception: 'Core strength is only about stomach muscles' - Correction: Explain core includes back, sides and deep muscles
- Misconception: 'Pain and fatigue are the same thing' - Correction: Teach difference between appropriate challenge and harmful pain
- Misconception: 'Some people are naturally good at fitness' - Correction: Emphasise that everyone can improve with effort and practice
- Misconception: 'Fitness is only important for athletes' - Correction: Show how core strength helps in daily life activities
SEN Adaptations
ADHD
- Regular movement changes, clear activity boundaries, positive reinforcement for focus, partnership support
dyspraxia
- Simplified movement patterns, extra demonstration time, buddy support for complex activities, modified equipment if needed
autism spectrum
- Clear routine structure, visual schedule of activities, quiet space available if needed, predictable timing patterns
visual impairment
- Clear verbal instructions for all activities, tactile guidance for positioning, buddy system for station rotations
hearing impairment
- Visual demonstration of all exercises, written instruction cards at stations, clear visual timing signals
physical disability
- Modified exercises suitable for wheelchair users, seated versions of core exercises, adapted scoring systems
Cross-Curricular Links
English
Following complex instructions, using fitness vocabulary accurately, explaining techniques to others
Maths
Timing activities in seconds and minutes, counting repetitions and recording scores, comparing improvements using data
Science
Understanding muscle groups and how they work, exploring fatigue and recovery, learning about heart rate and breathing
PSHE
Building resilience and perseverance, honest self-assessment, supporting and encouraging others through challenges
Teacher Guidance
Positioning
Central position during demonstrations, circulate between stations during circuits to monitor technique and safety
Observation Focus
Watch for core engagement, proper form maintenance, signs of fatigue, peer support and encouragement
Intervention Points
Step in when technique deteriorates due to fatigue, if students are overexerting unsafely, or if scoring becomes competitive rather than personal
Demonstration Notes
Demonstrate: Perfect technique for each exercise, common mistakes to avoid, modified versions for different abilities, enthusiasm and positive attitude
Verbal Cues
- •'Feel those core muscles working!'
- •'Quality over quantity!'
- •'Keep breathing steadily!'
- •'Challenge yourself, not others!'
Safety Considerations
Space & Surface Requirements
Space Requirements
Large indoor hall or outdoor area, minimum 20m x 15m with wall space available
Surface Check
Non-slip surface essential for all floor exercises, clean area for ground work
Equipment Safety
Safety Checks
- •Footballs properly inflated and in good condition
- •Cones stable and not presenting trip hazards
- •Wall area clear of obstacles and safe for squats
Risk Management
Key Risks
- •Muscle fatigue leading to poor technique
- •Overexertion during sustained holds
- •Falls during leopard crawls or moving exercises
Risk Mitigation
- •Progressive building of intensity throughout lesson
- •Continuous monitoring of technique as fatigue increases
- •Clear instruction to stop if experiencing pain rather than discomfort
- •Adequate rest periods and hydration opportunities
Supervision & Emergency Procedures
Supervision Points
- •Position to observe all stations during circuit activities
- •Monitor wall squat technique for knee safety
- •Watch for signs of overexertion or distress
Emergency Procedures
Stop activity immediately if injury occurs, assess severity, apply first aid if qualified, seek additional support as needed