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      Understand how your body responds to exercise

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can start to identify the way my body responds to exercise.

      Key learning points

      1. Move: completing exercises correctly and safely will develop your strength and endurance.
      2. Move: to continue working for an extended period of time requires effective pacing.
      3. Think: heart rate, breathing rate and body temperature all increase in response to exercise.
      4. Feel: being able to keep going with challenging exercises requires determination.
      5. Connect: support for one another can help you achieve higher outcomes.

      Keywords

      • Safe - protecting yourself from danger or risk by completing exercises with good form will prevent injury

      • Determination - the quality you show when you set your mind to achieving something and you don’t let anything stop you

      • Circuit - exercises can be organised in a particular order where you start and finish at the same place

      Common misconception

      A fast heart rate and feeling of nausea is dangerous and you should stop exercising.

      This is quite normal and a sign that we are challenging our fitness. It is important to get used to the way our body feels when we start to exercise. Seek guidance if this concerns you.

      Teacher tip

      Set up your stretching mats at the start of the lesson and use these as the exercise mats for learning cycle one. Have your circuit layout printed ready with circuit station cards, 2 benches and extra mats so they can be put out by students using the diagram at the start of Learning Cycle Two.

      Equipment

      1 circuit layout, 1 copy of the circuit station cards and 1 between 2 of the printed pupil worsheets. 4 - 8 floor mats, 2 benches.

      Content guidance

      Risk assessment required - outdoor learning

      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 is the benefit of supporting your teammate when performing or exercising in PE?

      demotivate them
      beat them
      Correct answer: achieve higher outcome

      Q2.
      What is the technique called that can help us track our position on a map?

      twist the map
      birds eye view
      Correct answer: thumbing the map

      Q3.
      To ensure we are given the independence to navigate around our school site, what must we demonstrate that we can be?

      fast
      agile
      Correct answer: responsible

      Q4.
      To ensure we can keep going to complete the whole orienteering course, what must we do?

      run fast
      Correct answer: pace ourselves
      be agile

      4 Questions

      Q1.
      What happens to our breathing rate when we start exercising?

      Correct answer: deeper and faster
      heavier and slow
      rapid and weak

      Q2.
      Is an increased heart rate and feeling slightly sick when we exercise something to worry about?

      Correct Answer: no

      Q3.
      What is required to keep going with a task even if it feels difficult?

      strong muscles
      Correct answer: determination
      low self-esteem

      Q4.
      Why must we really concentrate on the technique of exercises we complete?

      to finish quicker
      to improve fitness
      Correct answer: to prevent injury

      To help you plan your 7 physical education lesson on: Understand how your body responds to exercise, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...