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      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can perform a range of fitness related activities and identify areas of fitness that I can do well and where I need to improve.

      Key learning points

      1. Move: taking part in activities that build fitness gives us awareness of our personal fitness and what can be improved.
      2. Think: reflecting on our fitness during fitness challenges is important to help recognise our fitness improvements.
      3. Feel: striving to focus on all areas of fitness helps to develop personal integrity towards our health.
      4. Connect: striving to support one another through fitness assessments develops cooperation and trust.

      Keywords

      • Measurement - quantifies how much, how long, how heavy or how fast something is

      • Challenge - a demand on the body that would exceed our normal effort

      • Improve - to make better or to increase quality

      Common misconception

      Your fitness is fixed and cannot be changed.

      Fitness can improve slowly and over time. Measuring our fitness only tells us what we can do on that day.

      Teacher tip

      Replace language of fitness testing to challenge and measure. Pupils should be encouraged to engage in fitness-based activities as a way to challenge themselves rather than create labels of how 'fit' they are that might later become fixed.

      Equipment

      Long measuring sticks or tape measures (1 between 2); stop watches (1 between 2); cones (1 between 2); lesson worksheet

      Content guidance

      Risk assessment required - physical activity

      Supervision

      Adult supervision required

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      4 Questions

      Q1.
      What can we do to improve our fitness?

      fitness cannot improve
      watch more tv
      Correct answer: be more active

      Q2.
      Why is flexibility important?

      Correct answer: increase movement
      build stamina
      lift heavy weights

      Q3.
      When is it suitable to stretch a muscle?

      before activity
      never
      Correct answer: after warming up

      Q4.
      How often should we stretch our muscles?

      every year
      every month
      Correct answer: often

      4 Questions

      Q1.
      What fitness is good for ensuring the body can keep going?

      strength
      Correct answer: stamina
      flexibility

      Q2.
      Why is it helpful to work with a partner when doing fitness challenges?

      Correct answer: to keep safe
      to beat them
      to test them

      Q3.
      How often should you take part in challenging physical activity that improves your fitness?

      Correct answer: every week
      every month
      every year

      Q4.
      What unit could you use to measure stamina?

      calories
      kilograms
      Correct answer: time

      To help you plan your 5 physical education lesson on: My personal best, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...