Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v5 - Grade 3

Lesson Video

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Performance objectives

• Understand what 'fitness' means.
• Practice movements like walking, running, and hopping.
• Learn why being active is good for our bodies and minds.
• Perform simple warm-up stretches.

Lesson summary

Physical education is an important part of Life Skills because it helps us to stay healthy and strong. In Grade 3, we will learn about different fitness activities and skills. Being fit isn’t just about being able to run fast; it's about having the energy to play, learn, and participate in all the fun things we do every day in South Africa, like playing soccer with friends in the park, helping our families with chores, and concentrating in class. This week, we will focus on understanding what fitness means and practicing some basic movements. We will learn how to move our bodies in different ways and have fun while doing it!

Lesson notes

What is Fitness? Fitness means being able to do everyday activities without getting too tired. It also means having a healthy body and mind. A fit person has strength, endurance (being able to do something for a long time), flexibility (being able to bend and stretch easily), and good balance. Think about running around with your friends during break time at school. If you get tired quickly, you might need to improve your fitness! Fitness is not just about being an athlete; it’s about being able to live an active and healthy life.

Locomotor Movements: Locomotor movements are movements that allow us to move from one place to another. They are the basic ways we move around.

Some examples include: Walking: This is the most basic form of movement. When walking, make sure to keep your head up, your shoulders relaxed, and your arms swinging naturally.

Running: Running is faster than walking. When running, your arms should swing more vigorously, and your knees should lift higher.

Hopping: Hopping involves jumping on one foot and landing on the same foot. Practice hopping on both your right and left foot.

Skipping: Skipping is a combination of a hop and a step. It involves alternating between hopping and stepping on each foot.

Jumping: Jumping involves pushing off the ground with both feet and landing on both feet. Why is Physical Activity Important? Physical activity has many benefits for our bodies and minds: Stronger Muscles and Bones: Exercise helps us build stronger muscles and bones, which makes it easier to do things like carrying groceries or playing sports.

Healthy Heart: Physical activity makes our heart stronger, so it can pump blood more efficiently. This helps us stay healthy and avoid getting sick.

More Energy: Even though it might seem like exercise would make us tired, it actually gives us more energy in the long run. This is because exercise improves our sleep and reduces stress.

Better Mood: Exercise releases chemicals in our brain that make us feel happy and positive.

Improved Concentration: When we exercise, more blood flows to our brain, which helps us concentrate better in school.

Warming Up and Stretching: Before doing any physical activity, it's important to warm up our muscles. Warming up prepares our bodies for exercise and helps prevent injuries. Simple stretching exercises, like arm circles, leg swings, and torso twists, can help improve our flexibility and warm up our muscles. Pretend you are stretching like a Springbok – long and strong!

Examples: Walking: Imagine you are walking to the spaza shop to buy some sweets. Focus on keeping a steady pace and swinging your arms.

Running: Imagine you are racing your friends across the school field. Focus on lifting your knees high and swinging your arms quickly.

Hopping: Imagine you are hopping like a frog across a puddle after a rain shower.

Stretching: Imagine you are reaching up to pick a mango from a tall tree. Stretch your arms as high as you can! Guided Practice (With Solutions)

Question 1: Nandi says she doesn't have time to play outside because she has to watch TV. Explain to Nandi two reasons why playing outside and being physically active is good for her.

Solution: Playing outside is good for Nandi because: It will make her muscles and bones stronger, so she can play with her friends without getting tired easily. It will make her feel happier and more energetic, so she can enjoy her day more.

Question 2: Demonstrate the following locomotor movements: a) Walking forward 5 steps. b) Running in place for 10 seconds. c) Hopping on your right foot 3 times, then on your left foot 3 times.

Solution: This question requires practical demonstration. The teacher should observe the student performing each movement and provide feedback on their technique.

The important things to look for are: a)

Walking: Upright posture, swinging arms, heel-to-toe foot movement. b)

Running: Lifting knees, swinging arms quickly, maintaining balance. c)

Hopping: Maintaining balance, lifting the non-hopping leg, landing softly.

Question 3: Name one stretching exercise you can do before playing soccer. Explain why it's important to stretch before playing.

Solution: One stretching exercise you can do before playing soccer is arm circles. It's important to stretch before playing soccer because it warms up your muscles and helps prevent injuries like sprains or strains. Independent Practice (Questions Only) Define "fitness" in your own words. What activities make you feel fit and healthy? Describe two different locomotor movements and explain how to perform them correctly. List three benefits of physical activity for your body and mind. Why is it important to warm up before exercising? Imagine you are teaching a younger sibling about fitness. What activities would you suggest they do to become more fit and healthy? Design a short exercise routine that includes at least three different locomotor movements and one stretching exercise.