LEAD UP TUMBLING ACTIVITIES

Before starting the gymnastic unit start at the easiest level and progress in a sequential manner and then stop to adapt the skills to each grade level and ability. Add other domains such as track and field , rhythm gymanstics , skateboarding and an obstacle course/ circuit .

GAMES/ACTIVITIES

FREEZE FRAME

Set up the class in a circuit of five activities that are arranged side by side. Theywill be the following activities:

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Jump over folded mats in a hurdling position

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Hop scotch through 9 hula hoops

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Jump on and off a vault horse

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Crawl through a series of obstacles

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Jump to each side of a balance beam

While the students are performing the skills play some upbeat music and then turn it off trying to freeze them at their last position . Repeat often and the protocol is for each student to go to the next line to their left until all have had a turn at each place .

MAT ATTACK :

Distribute 4-6 mats around the gym area with one student kneeling on the mat and his/her teammates pulling around the gym. The object is for one of e kneeling mat students to tag/touch another mat . At that point that team must wait until a different group can set them free by just bumping against that mat. The object is to set the most teams free or not to be tagged at all . Change new students on the mat often. As a variation the mats may be times in a race to the other end of the gym and then repeat to improve on a previous score.

MAT PUSH :

Arrange the mats in an upright folded position while the students are paired in groups of four leaning their backs and sitting on the floor . Each group will try to push another group to a contact line . Switch groups often for more variety . NOTE : The mats aren't upright standing but folded just enough to assure that the students backs touch the top .

NEWSPAPER CHALLENGES : give each student a newspaper(24) and have them place it on the floor in a safe area. This will be a good time to review locomotor and non-locomotor skills along with an integration of language arts(reading). By using the written word along with the skills the students will perform the activities such as:

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S- slide , skip

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R- run around the paper

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H- hop

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G- gallop

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L- leap

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W- walk

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A- around

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O - over

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B- between

Also , have them balance the paper on body parts(arm , head , knee , etc.) and have them run with the paper keeping ot pressed againsy their body. The students may perform the skills but trade places with another paper.

ANIMAL TAG :

Practice mimetics before the main activity such as:

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Frog , log , dog

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Snake , crab , bear

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Crane , kangaroo , mule kick

Place a picture or the word of the animal on cones that are scattered around the area. Each time the students get to a cone they must perform that skill and then go on to the next one. Chose a few "ITS" to try to tag them as they move to the next cone. If tagged they must exchange places . Establish a time limit or wait until all get to a cone before starting again.

SNAKES :

Chose 2-3 students who will crawl like snakes inside the half court area of the gym. make all endlines and sidelines out of bounds. All other students must do a locomotor skill that was practiced to escape from the snakes. If tagged they become a snake and help the other snakes . Play until there is only one snake remaining . Repeat the process and change locomotor skills each time .