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Lesson 1 of 6
  • Year 6

Travelling over equipment: vaulting

I can perform and link fundamental vaults over low obstacles with control and fluidity.

Lesson 1 of 6
New
New
  • Year 6

Travelling over equipment: vaulting

I can perform and link fundamental vaults over low obstacles with control and fluidity.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Move: a step vault requires good balance and coordination to take weight on one foot and one hand to clear an obstacle.
  2. Move: a lazy vault requires coordination and upper body support so the movement is performed with fluidity.
  3. Think: learning the correct technique for the vaults provides a solid foundation to learn more advanced techniques.
  4. Feel: learning new skills requires resilience and self-motivation to develop good vault technique.
  5. 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.


To help you plan your year 6 physical education lesson on: Travelling over equipment: vaulting, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

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.
Teacher tip

Equipment

4 benches, 4 gymnastics tables

Content guidance

  • Additional qualification required
  • Risk assessment required - physical activity

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
What is needed to perform a skill or movement really well?

Correct answer: good technique
good flexibility
good teamwork

Q2.
Which word do we use to describe linking movements seamlessly together in a routine?

Correct answer: flow
flexibility
fast

Q3.
Which skill is most useful to help each other to learn new skills?

coordination
Correct answer: communication
creativity

Q4.
What do we call something that we try to pass by moving over or under an object?

rope
Correct answer: obstacle
climbing wall

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following attributes is most useful when learning new skills?

urgency
daydreaming
Correct answer: resilience

Q2.
What is it called when you travel over an obstacle using hands or legs?

Correct Answer: a vault, vaulting

Q3.
When performing a lazy vault, which leg travels up and over first?

Correct answer: the inner leg
the outer leg
either leg

Q4.
Which leg would be on the obstacle if you place your right hand down to perform a step vault?

Correct Answer: left