Flexibility
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how flexibility affects the body and can perform static and dynamic flexibility activities to develop my own flexibility.
Key learning points
- Move: our muscles show flexibility when the body is moving and when it is still.
- Think: the more we stretch our muscles before and after exercise, the more this will increase our flexibility.
- Feel: continuing to improve our flexibility shows excellent resilience.
- Connect: cooperating with each other to help improve our flexibility ensures we stay motivated.
Keywords
Flexibility - the elasticity of muscles when stretching and the ability to move joints through a full range of motion
Stretch - a movement in which you gently pull or extend your muscles to make them longer
Extend - making a body part lengthened or straighten
Common misconception
Flexibility can only be challenged when we are holding a specific postion and staying still.
Flexibility of our muscles can be performed when still (static) and on the move (dynamic).
Teacher tip
Pupils should never feel pain when stretching. Encourage pupils to notice the muscle lengthening, but not to take the stretch beyond this point. Dynamic (moving) stretches are different to 'bouncing' in a static stretch. Bouncing should be avoided.
Equipment
20 beanbags, 30+ coloured cones, 10 quoits, 6 gymnastics mats, 10 floor markers, hoops, additional materials/pencils
Content guidance
Risk assessment required - physical activity
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Why is strength important?
Q2.Where is strength developed?
Q3.Which of these activities is good for improving strength?
Q4.Which word describes one benefit of performing activities with others?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Which of these words describes a type of stretching action?
Q2.Which of these words describes the flexibility of muscles?
Q3.What should you be aware of when stretching, so you do not cause an injury?
Q4.Why is resilience good to encourage regular stretching?
To help you plan your 5 physical education lesson on: Flexibility, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 5 physical education lesson on: Flexibility, 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 2 physical education lessons from the Health and wellbeing: stamina, strength and flexibility unit, dive into the full primary physical education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.