Lesson Plan: Vaulting for Year 8 Gymnastics Class

Objective: - To introduce and develop basic vaulting skills in Year 8 students - To improve students’ strength, coordination, and body control - To promote teamwork and encourage students to support and motivate each other

Materials Needed: - Gymnastics vaulting table - Mats for safety - Cones or markers for setting up stations - Stopwatch or timer - Whiteboard or flipchart for explanations and demonstrations

Warm-up (10 minutes): 1. Jogging: Start with a light jog around the gym to increase heart rate and warm up the muscles. 2. Dynamic Stretches: Perform dynamic stretches such as arm circles, leg swings, and torso twists to prepare the body for the upcoming activities. 3. Core Activation: Engage the core muscles with exercises like planks, sit-ups, or Russian twists.

Introduction (5 minutes): - Gather the students and explain the importance of vaulting in gymnastics. - Discuss the key elements of a successful vault, including speed, power, technique, and body control. - Show a video or demonstrate a few examples of vaulting techniques to give students a visual understanding.

Main Activities (35 minutes):

1. Station Rotation (15 minutes): - Divide the class into small groups and set up stations around the gym. - Each station will focus on a different aspect of vaulting, such as approach run, hurdle, block, or landing. - Students will rotate through the stations, spending a few minutes at each one to practice and receive feedback from the teacher. - Encourage students to support and motivate each other during the rotations.

2. Vaulting Drills (15 minutes): - Gather the students back together and demonstrate a few basic vaulting drills. - Start with a simple hurdle drill, where students practice jumping off both feet and landing on a mat. - Progress to a block drill, where students practice using their arms to generate power and height. - Finally, introduce a full vault drill, where students combine the approach run, hurdle, block, and landing.

3. Mini-Vault Competition (5 minutes): - Divide the class into pairs or small groups. - Each group will take turns performing a mini-vault, focusing on technique and execution. - Use a stopwatch or timer to record the time it takes for each group to complete the vault. - Emphasize the importance of safety and proper technique over speed.

Cool-down (5 minutes): - Lead the students through a series of static stretches to cool down and prevent muscle soreness. - Encourage students to reflect on their progress and discuss any challenges they faced during the lesson.

Assessment: - Observe students’ performance and progress throughout the lesson. - Provide verbal feedback and corrections during the station rotations and drills. - Assess students’ understanding and execution of vaulting techniques during the mini-vault competition.

Extension Activities: - Assign students to research and present on famous gymnasts known for their vaulting skills. - Organize a class demonstration or mini-competition where students can showcase their improved vaulting abilities to their peers or other classes.

Note: Safety should be the top priority during all activities. Ensure that students are properly supervised and that mats are used for landing and practicing vaulting skills.