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      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can identify and apply the planes of movement and axes of rotation to various sporting examples.

      Key learning points

      1. The body rotates around the transverse axis moving along the sagittal plane.
      2. The body rotates around the sagittal axis moving along the frontal plane.
      3. The body rotates around the longitudinal axis moving along in the transverse plane.

      Keywords

      • Transverse axis - a line of rotation which goes from side to side through the hips

      • Longitudinal axis - a line of rotation which goes through the body from head to toe

      • Sagittal axis - a line of rotation which goes through from front to back through the belly button

      • Plane - an imaginary flat surface running through the body along which movement takes place

      Common misconception

      Any of the three planes can be paired with the three axes.

      Planes and axes are always paired as; sagittal plane with the transverse axis, frontal plane with the sagittal axis and transverse plane with the longitudinal axis.

      Teacher tip

      Revisit the play doh or jelly babies activity so the student can have lots of repetition of rotation. Get the students moving or playing 'simon says' to align with the sporting example being discussed / shown.

      Equipment

      Play dough, jelly babies, 3D models. Sporting images.

      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).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Which is correct for an axis?

      direction of travel
      Correct answer: line of rotation
      flat surface
      movement at a joint

      Q2.
      Which of the following is the correct description of the transverse axis?

      an imaginary line running from head to toe
      Correct answer: an imaginary line running through the hips
      an imaginary line running through the belly button

      Q3.
      The longitudinal axis runs through the body from head to ...

      Correct Answer: toe, feet, foot

      Q4.
      Which of the following images moves along the frontal plane and rotates around the sagittal axis.

      An image in a quiz
      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
      An image in a quiz

      Q5.
      Which of the following images is correct for the frontal plane?

      An image in a quiz
      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
      An image in a quiz

      Q6.
      Match the plane of movement with the correct description.

      Correct Answer:sagittal plane ,A flat surface which divides the body into left and right
      Correct Answer:frontal plane,A flat surface which divides the body into front and back
      Correct Answer:transverse plane,A flat surface which divides the body into top and bottom
      Q4 image 2 Yojo626/Shutterstock Q4 image 3 Gwoeii/Shutterstock

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Which plane of movement is paired with the transverse axis?

      Correct answer: sagittal plane
      frontal plane
      transverse

      Q2.
      Which of the following is correct for a plane of movement?

      line of rotation
      Correct answer: movement takes place
      runs from head to toe
      runs from side to side

      Q3.
      Which is the following images demonstrates rotation around the longitudinal axis and movement along the transverse plane?

      An image in a quiz
      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
      An image in a quiz

      Q4.
      A somersault rotates around which axis and moves along which plane?

      An image in a quiz
      sagittal axis, frontal plane
      longitudinal axis, transverse plane
      Correct answer: transverse axis, sagittal plane

      Q5.
      A cartwheel rotates around which axis and moves along which plane?

      An image in a quiz
      Correct answer: sagittal axis, frontal plane
      longitudinal axis, transverse plane
      transverse axis, sagittal plane

      Q6.
      A figure skater completing a full spin rotates around the longitudinal axis moving along the plane.

      Correct Answer: transverse
      Q3 image 1 Gwoeii/Shutterstock Q3 image 2 Abdul Razik Latif/Shutterstock Q3 image 3 Asier Gonazalez Barciela/Shutterstock Q4 Abdul Razik Latif/Shutterstock Q5 Gwoeii/Shutterstock

      To help you plan your 10 physical education lesson on: Planes and axes in action, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...