Aerobic exercise in action
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can perform aerobic exercise and understand how this can improve different components of fitness.
Key learning points
- Move: aerobic exercise requires low intensity movement for a sustained amount of time (at least 20 minutes).
- Move: aerobic exercise can include running, cycling, swimming and rowing.
- Think: regular aerobic exercise is often used to improve cardiovascular and muscular endurance.
- Feel: a steady pace is best when doing aerobic exercise to avoid fatigue too early in the training session.
- Connect: supporting others regardless of their aerobic fitness helps to motivate them to complete all activities.
Keywords
Aerobic exercise - exercise using oxygen, usually done for longer periods of time (e.g. long distance running)
Cardiovascular endurance - the ability of the heart, lungs and blood to transport oxygen during sustained exercise
Muscular endurance - the ability of a muscle or muscle group to undergo repeated contractions, avoiding fatigue
Common misconception
Pupils think aerobic training is only relevant for endurance athletes like long distance runners.
Aerobic training is useful for any athletes that play sports that last longer than 20 minutes, e.g. rugby, netball football, hockey.
Teacher tip
Activities like step ups or skipping could be used to achieve the same aerobic outcomes if you do not have the suggested equipment.
Equipment
Optional: treadmill (1 per 3rd of the class), rowing machine (1 per 3rd of the class), exercise bike (1 per 3rd of the class).
Content guidance
Risk assessment required - physical activity
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What does anaerobic training mean?
Q2.Which component of fitness is most likely to be improved by anaerobic training?
Q3.What type of intensity should anaerobic training be performed at?
Q4.How long should you work for each station when working anaerobically?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Aerobic exercise is exercise that has the presence of what?
Q2.Which is an example of an aerobic exercise?
Q3.How long should you do aerobic training for?
Q4.Which athlete is most likely to benefit from aerobic training?
To help you plan your 8 physical education lesson on: Aerobic exercise in action, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 physical education lesson on: Aerobic exercise in action, 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 3 physical education lessons from the Health and wellbeing: long term benefits of physical activity through circuits unit, dive into the full secondary physical education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.