Balance circuit
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can perform a range of activities that demonstrate effective balance and my ability to remain motivated to succeed.
Key learning points
- Move: being balanced at each circuit station requires us to use a range of body parts and hold them steady.
- Move: demonstrating good strength and control will help you to successfully complete the balance stations.
- Think: high quality balance requires concentration, focus and silence in order to hold balanced body positions.
- Feel: encouraging our partner to improve and helping to motivate them shows a strong sense of empathy.
- Connect: being motivated and encouraging your partner to be motivated shows great determination and self-belief.
Keywords
Balance - keeping a steady and stable body position
Circuit - series of physical activities or exercises
Quality - the good characteristics of a performance that suggest the movements and balances are performed correctly
Common misconception
Some pupils may think that balance is a fixed skill that you are either good at or not.
There are many elements to balance: working on all of these elements contributes to overall improvement. Improving focus and concentration can help, along with developing muscular strength, proprioception and self-belief.
Teacher tip
The equipment listed allows for both partners to exercise at the same time. If only half the equipment is available, pupils can take turns at each station. Alternatively, these stations can be removed from the circuit and another activity repeated twice.
Equipment
30+ cones and 2 tall cones, 4 balls, 6 benches, 2 bean bags, 2 sticks
Content guidance
Risk assessment required - physical activity
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What helps when you are balancing?
Q2.Which body parts help when balancing?
Q3.What can help you to keep trying, even when things are hard?
Q4.How might your partner feel if you say “well done”?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Which of these qualities is most likely to help you to succeed in circuit activities?
Q2.When is a focussed mindset helpful during balancing activities?
Q3.How should we move our body parts during activities that require good balance?
Q4.How can you help a partner to complete a circuit exercise?
To help you plan your 2 physical education lesson on: Balance circuit, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 2 physical education lesson on: Balance circuit, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom.
Explore more key stage 1 physical education lessons from the Health and wellbeing: agility, balance and coordination unit, dive into the full primary physical education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.