• lenny-learning-logoLenny Learning
  • Home
    Home
    • Lessons
    Lessons
  • Curriculum
    Curriculum
  • Surveys
    Surveys
  • Videos
    Videos
  • Support
    Support
  • Log In
lenny

What's Your Fitness Superpower?

user image

Cassie Lemon

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Fitness Foundations Lesson Plan

Students will be able to identify and describe the five main components of physical fitness and explain their importance for overall health and well-being.

Understanding the components of physical fitness empowers students to make informed choices about their physical activity and develop habits for a healthy, strong body and mind.

Audience

6th Grade

Time

50 minutes

Approach

Interactive lecture, hands-on activity, and reflective writing.

Materials

The Five Pillars of Fitness (slide-deck), The Five Pillars of Fitness, Fitness Fact or Fiction Quick Quiz, Component Challenge Stations, and My Fitness Blueprint

Prep

Lesson Preparation

20 minutes

  • Review the Fitness Foundations Lesson Plan and all linked materials.
    - Prepare the classroom for the slide deck presentation.
    - Print copies of the Fitness Fact or Fiction Quick Quiz for each student.
    - Set up 5 'Component Challenge Stations' around the classroom. Each station should have a brief description of one fitness component and a simple challenge related to it (e.g., 'Cardiovascular Endurance: Jog in place for 30 seconds', 'Muscular Strength: 5 wall push-ups', 'Muscular Endurance: Hold a plank for 15 seconds', 'Flexibility: Reach for your toes', 'Body Composition: Discuss healthy food choices').
    - Print copies of the My Fitness Blueprint for each student.

Step 1

Warm-Up: Fitness Fact or Fiction

10 minutes

  1. Distribute the Fitness Fact or Fiction Quick Quiz.
    2. Instruct students to answer the questions individually, identifying statements as 'Fact' or 'Fiction'.
    3. Discuss answers as a class, clarifying any misconceptions.

Step 2

Introduction to The Five Pillars of Fitness

15 minutes

  1. Present The Five Pillars of Fitness.
    2. Introduce the concept of physical fitness and its importance.
    3. Go through each of the five components: Cardiovascular Endurance, Muscular Strength, Muscular Endurance, Flexibility, and Body Composition, explaining what each means and why it's vital for overall health. Use examples relevant to students' lives.

Step 3

Activity: Component Challenge Stations

15 minutes

  1. Explain the 'Component Challenge Stations' activity.
    2. Divide students into small groups and assign each group a starting station.
    3. Instruct groups to rotate through the 5 stations, spending approximately 3 minutes at each to read the description and attempt the challenge.
    4. Encourage discussion within groups about how each challenge relates to the specific fitness component.

Step 4

Reflection: My Fitness Blueprint

10 minutes

  1. Distribute the My Fitness Blueprint.
    2. Instruct students to reflect on the challenges and information learned, then complete the worksheet.
    3. Encourage them to think about their own fitness strengths and areas for growth.
lenny

Slide Deck

What's Your Fitness Superpower?

Unlocking the secrets to a strong and healthy YOU!

Welcome students and introduce the exciting title of the lesson. Explain that today, we're going to uncover what makes our bodies strong and healthy, and how each of them is a 'superpower' we can develop.

What is Physical Fitness?

It's the ability to perform daily tasks and activities with energy and without excessive fatigue.

It's made up of 5 key 'superpowers'!

Explain that physical fitness isn't just about sports; it's about how well our bodies perform everyday tasks and stay healthy. It's like having different 'superpowers' that work together.

1. Cardiovascular Endurance

Your Heart & Lung Superpower!

  • What it is: The ability of your heart and lungs to supply oxygen to your muscles during sustained physical activity.
  • Why it matters: Helps you run, play, and work out longer without getting tired. Keeps your heart healthy!

Explain cardiovascular endurance as the health of our heart and lungs. Give examples like running, swimming, or playing soccer. Emphasize that a strong heart helps us play longer and feel less tired.

2. Muscular Strength & 3. Muscular Endurance

Your Muscle Superpowers!

  • Muscular Strength: The amount of force your muscles can produce (e.g., lifting heavy things).
    • Why it matters: Helps you lift, push, and pull with power!
  • Muscular Endurance: The ability of your muscles to perform repeated movements without tiring quickly (e.g., doing many sit-ups).
    • Why it matters: Helps you keep going during activities and everyday tasks.

Introduce muscular strength as how much force muscles can exert (heavy lifting) and muscular endurance as how long muscles can work (repeated movements). Use examples like lifting a backpack or doing push-ups.

4. Flexibility & 5. Body Composition

Your Movement & Body Balance Superpowers!

  • Flexibility: The ability of your joints and muscles to move through a full range of motion.
    • Why it matters: Helps you bend, stretch, and prevents injuries. Think about touching your toes!
  • Body Composition: The ratio of lean body mass (muscle, bone) to body fat.
    • Why it matters: Having a healthy balance is important for your overall health and energy levels.

Define flexibility as the range of motion in our joints and body composition as the mix of fat, bone, and muscle. Explain flexibility helps prevent injuries, and good body composition is about being healthy overall, not just weight.

Your Fitness Superpowers!

All five components work together to make you a healthier, stronger, and more energetic person!

Which superpower do you want to develop today?

Summarize that these five components are interconnected. Encourage students to think about how they can develop each of their fitness superpowers in their daily lives.

lenny

Warm Up

Fitness Fact or Fiction Quick Quiz

Read each statement below and decide if it is a FACT (true) or FICTION (false). Circle your answer.

  1. Fact or Fiction: Doing sit-ups every day is the best way to get a healthy heart.


  2. Fact or Fiction: Stretching before and after exercise helps your body move better and prevents injuries.


  3. Fact or Fiction: Eating a lot of sugary snacks gives you long-lasting energy for physical activity.


  4. Fact or Fiction: Muscular strength means you can lift something heavy just once, while muscular endurance means you can lift something lighter many times.


lenny
lenny

Activity

Component Challenge Stations

Welcome to the Component Challenge! You will rotate through 5 stations, each focusing on one of the five physical fitness components. At each station, read the description and try the challenge. Discuss with your group how the challenge connects to the fitness component.

Station 1: Cardiovascular Endurance

  • What it is: The ability of your heart and lungs to supply oxygen to your muscles during sustained physical activity.
  • Challenge: Jog in place for 30 seconds. Feel your heart rate increase? That's your cardiovascular system at work!

Station 2: Muscular Strength

  • What it is: The amount of force your muscles can produce in a single effort.
  • Challenge: Perform 5 wall push-ups. Push away from the wall with all your might!

Station 3: Muscular Endurance

  • What it is: The ability of your muscles to perform repeated movements or hold a position for an extended period without tiring quickly.
  • Challenge: Hold a plank position for 15 seconds (or as long as you can with good form). How long can your muscles keep working?

Station 4: Flexibility

  • What it is: The ability of your joints and muscles to move through a full range of motion.
  • Challenge: Perform a seated forward bend. Reach for your toes while keeping your legs straight. How far can you reach comfortably?

Station 5: Body Composition

  • What it is: The ratio of lean body mass (muscle, bone, water) to body fat.
  • Challenge: Discuss with your group: How do healthy eating habits and regular physical activity help achieve a healthy body composition? What are some healthy snacks you can choose?

Instructions:

  1. Work with your assigned group.
  2. Start at your designated station.
  3. Read the description and complete the challenge at each station.
  4. Discuss how the challenge relates to the fitness component.
  5. Rotate to the next station when instructed by your teacher.
lenny
lenny

Worksheet

My Fitness Blueprint

Name: ____________________________ Date: _______________

Now that you know about the five components of physical fitness, it's time to create your own personal fitness blueprint! Think about what you learned and how these components apply to your life.

1. Cardiovascular Endurance: Your Heart & Lung Superpower

  • What activities do you enjoy that make your heart beat faster (like running, playing sports, dancing)?



  • How often do you do these activities? How could you do them a little more?



2. Muscular Strength: Your Power Superpower

  • What are some ways you use your muscle strength every day (e.g., carrying your backpack, opening a heavy door)?



  • What's one new activity you could try to build more muscular strength?



3. Muscular Endurance: Your Stamina Superpower

  • Think about an activity where your muscles have to keep working for a while (e.g., walking up stairs, holding a position).



  • How can you challenge your muscles to last longer during activities you enjoy?



4. Flexibility: Your Movement Superpower

  • Why is being flexible important for your daily life and for preventing injuries?



  • What's one simple stretch you could do every day to improve your flexibility?



5. Body Composition: Your Balance Superpower

  • How do healthy eating habits contribute to a healthy body composition?



  • What's one healthy eating choice you can make this week?



My Overall Fitness Goal:

  • Based on what you've learned, what's one fitness goal you have for yourself? (e.g., "I want to improve my cardiovascular endurance by..." or "I want to be more flexible by...")






lenny
lenny