Grade Level
Year/Grade 9 (Age of students: 13-14)
Duration
30 minutes
Subject Area
Physical Education
Topic
Fitness Components
Learning Objectives
- Define and identify the five components of fitness: cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular endurance, muscular strength, flexibility, and body composition.
- Understand the importance of each component of fitness in overall health and wellness.
- Participate in activities that enhance each of the five components of fitness.
Materials Needed
- Stopwatch or timer
- Cones for marking boundaries
- Exercise mats
- Resistance bands
- Dumbbells (optional)
Procedure
-
Warm-Up (5 minutes)
- Begin with light, dynamic stretches for all muscle groups
- Follow with 5 minutes of cardio exercises, such as jogging in place or jumping jacks
-
Introduction to Fitness Components (10 minutes)
- Define and explain the five components of fitness
- Cardiorespiratory endurance: the ability of the heart and lungs to work efficiently during physical activity
- Muscular endurance: the ability of a muscle or group of muscles to repeatedly contract against resistance
- Muscular strength: the maximum amount of force a muscle or group of muscles can produce
- Flexibility: the range of motion at a joint or group of joints
- Body composition: the amount of fat versus non-fat (muscle, bone, organs, etc.) composition of the body
- Discuss the importance of each component of fitness in overall health and wellness
-
Activity Stations (15 minutes)
- Divide students into groups and have each group rotate through stations designed to enhance each of the five components of fitness
- Cardiorespiratory endurance: set up a cone course for students to run through, tracking their time with a stopwatch. Students can challenge themselves to beat their time with each attempt.
- Muscular endurance: student pairs can use resistance bands to complete a series of exercises such as bicep curls or tricep extensions.
- Muscular strength: provide dumbbells and set up exercises such as bench press or squats, focusing on proper form and technique.
- Flexibility: lead students through a series of static stretches to improve flexibility in areas such as hamstrings, quadriceps, and calves.
- Body composition: have students track their body composition through a body mass index (BMI) calculation and discuss healthy weight management strategies.
-
Cool-Down (5 minutes)
- End the class with a brief cool-down, consisting of static stretches and slow exercises to lower heart rate and reduce risk of injury.
Assessment
- Observe student participation and effort during activity stations.
- Have students reflect on the importance of each fitness component and how they can incorporate each into their overall fitness routine.
- Monitor student improvement in various fitness components through timed cardio exercises or weightlifting progress.
Differentiation
- Provide lighter resistance bands or choose exercises that are less strenuous for students with physical limitations.
- Adjust timing or number of repetitions for slower students or those who need extra support.
- Allow students to choose exercises that align with their personal fitness interests and goals.