Overview

This lesson focuses on helping kids understand the components of physical fitness while encouraging them to brainstorm exercise activities.

 

Objectives

• Students will be able to recall various activities that lead to exercise.
• Students will be able to recall the three elements of fitness.
• Students will have fun!

 

Materials

• Copies of the "Can YOU Think of It?" worksheet for each student from the print materials.
• "Elements of Fitness" crossword puzzle for each student from the print materials.
• A pencil for each student.
• A red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and black crayon for each child.

Print materials: Download print materials. Included with the print materials is a full PDF version of the same lesson plan. (372KB PDF)

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download the print materials.

 

Teacher Talking Points

In 2008, the U.S. Depar tment of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. Par t of the fitness recommendations for children ages 6 and older includes a total of 60 minutes or more of daily physical activity. The three elements of fitness are endurance, strength, and flexibility. Endurance activities strengthen the hear t by getting it pumping harder and faster over time (e.g., running, bicycling, skateboarding). Activities that strengthen the muscles include climbing trees, on playground equipment, or helping parents bring in the groceries. Flexibility is something most children have a lot of, but needs to be practiced all through adulthood.

 

Activity

Pass out the worksheet "Can YOU Think of It?" and ask students to write down as many games or activities that they can think of that fit next to the categories. When it seems that they are finished, ask them to exchange papers. Then ask them to select one red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, black crayon (one for each category). Have them raise their hands to name activities next to the category "games you can play with a ball." Pause after each activity to allow students to look to see if the activity is under the category, underlining it with a red color crayon. When activities next to the first category are exhausted, proceed to the next category and do the same except underlining items with the orange crayon. Repeat using each of the crayons until all categories have been exhausted. Then ask the students to count up the number of red-underlined items and write it next to the category followed by counting up the number of orange-underlined items, writing it next to the category, and so for th until all categories are tallied. Reward an appropriate classroom privilege to the child with the highest number of items OR the different children with the most number in each category. After the activity pass out "Elements of Fitness" crossword puzzle and assist students in completing to reinforce the material.