Travelling over equipment: vaulting
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can perform and link fundamental vaults over low obstacles with control and fluidity.
Key learning points
- Move: a step vault requires good balance and coordination to take weight on one foot and one hand to clear an obstacle.
- Move: a lazy vault requires coordination and upper body support so the movement is performed with fluidity.
- Think: learning the correct technique for the vaults provides a solid foundation to learn more advanced techniques.
- Feel: learning new skills requires resilience and self-motivation to develop good vault technique.
- Connect: collaborating with others is a useful way to improve your vault technique and communication skills.
Keywords
Technique - the way you perform a skill or movement
Step vault - placing one hand and the opposite foot on an obstacle to help you step over it smoothly and safely
Lazy vault - travelling over an obstacle by swinging your legs around the side while using each hand for support, making it look smooth and effortless
Common misconception
Incorrect hand placement when performing vaults can lead to poor balance and coordination.
Ensure that pupils perform with the correct hand position, using one hand for the lazy vault and opposite hand to foot with the step vault. Perform the vaults slowly to build confidence.
Teacher tip
If pupils fear falling over or from obstacles, reduce the height of the obstacle or remove it altogether and recap on some basic weight on hands work that is covered in previous units of gymnastics to build confidence.
Equipment
4 benches, 4 gymnastics tables
Content guidance
Additional qualification required
Risk assessment required - physical activity
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What is needed to perform a skill or movement really well?
Q2.Which word do we use to describe linking movements seamlessly together in a routine?
Q3.Which skill is most useful to help each other to learn new skills?
Q4.What do we call something that we try to pass by moving over or under an object?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Which of the following attributes is most useful when learning new skills?
Q2.What is it called when you travel over an obstacle using hands or legs?
Q3.When performing a lazy vault, which leg travels up and over first?
Q4.Which leg would be on the obstacle if you place your right hand down to perform a step vault?
To help you plan your 6 physical education lesson on: Travelling over equipment: vaulting, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 6 physical education lesson on: Travelling over equipment: vaulting, 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 Parkour: developing confidence and creative movement unit, dive into the full primary physical education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.