Simple Exercises Including Jumping Jacks, Jogging, Squatting and High Knees for Pre-School Level 3

Class: Pre-School Level 3
Term: First Term
Week: 10
Age: 4 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Physical and Health Education
Curriculum Theme: Physical and Health Education
Previous Lesson: Simple body movements like stretching and bending.
Topic: Simple & Fun Exercise
Subject Matter: Simple exercises including jumping jacks, jogging, squatting and high knees.

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

Cognitive Domain

• Identify and name simple exercises like jumping jacks and jogging.
• Understand that exercise is good for their bodies.

Affective Domain

• Show enthusiasm for participating in physical activities.
• Listen attentively to teacher’s instructions for exercises.

Psychomotor Domain

• Perform simple exercises such as jumping jacks, jogging on the spot, squatting, and high knees.
• Demonstrate turning and walking on toes.

Social Domain

• Participate cooperatively in group exercise activities.
• Take turns and respect personal space during exercises.

Reference Materials

• NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 3
• Early Childhood Care and Education curriculum guides
• Relevant early-years physical development resources

Instructional Materials

• First Aid Box (for safety precaution)
• Video display (TV/projector/tablet)
• Open playground or clear indoor space
• Skipping rope (for demonstration, if suitable)
• Ball (for warm-up/cool-down activities)
• Music player with child-friendly exercise songs

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is crucial for 4-year-olds as it introduces them to the importance of physical activity for a healthy body. Engaging in simple exercises helps develop their gross motor skills, coordination, balance, and stamina. It also encourages a positive attitude towards physical fitness from an early age, promoting overall well-being and energy release.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have some prior experience with basic body movements such as walking, running, stretching, and bending. They can also follow simple instructions given by the teacher.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Simple & Fun Exercises

Simple exercises are ways we move our bodies to make them strong and healthy. They help us grow big and stay active!

Types of Simple Exercises

1. Jumping Jacks:
   • Stand with feet together and arms at your sides.
   • Jump, spreading your feet wide and raising your arms over your head.
   • Jump back to the starting position.
   • This makes your whole body move!
2. Jogging on the Spot:
   • Run lightly in the same place without moving forward.
   • Lift your knees a little and swing your arms gently.
   • This makes your heart beat faster and warms up your body.
3. Squatting:
   • Stand with feet apart, like you’re going to sit on an invisible chair.
   • Bend your knees and lower your bottom down, keeping your back straight.
   • Stand back up.
   • This makes your legs strong.
4. High Knees:
   • March or lightly run in place, lifting your knees very high towards your chest.
   • Swing your arms as you lift your knees.
   • This helps you lift your legs higher.
5. Turning:
   • Stand tall and gently spin your body around in a circle.
   • You can turn to the left, then to the right.
   • This helps with balance.
6. Walking on Toes:
   • Lift your heels off the ground and walk only on the balls of your feet and toes.
   • Walk quietly and carefully.
   • This helps strengthen your calf muscles and improves balance.

Movement Rhyme: “Let’s Move Our Bodies!”

Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”

Lyrics:

Jumping jacks, up and down,
Moving bodies all around.
Jogging fast, on the spot,
Making muscles strong and hot.
Squatting low, then stand tall,
Having fun with one and all.
High knees up, to the sky,
Healthy bodies, oh my, oh my!

Actions: Perform the actions for each exercise as it is mentioned in the rhyme.

Watch and Move Along

Key Words

• Exercise – moving your body to stay healthy and strong.
• Jumping Jacks – jumping with feet out and arms up, then back in.
• Jogging – running slowly in one place.
• Squatting – bending your knees like you’re sitting down.
• High Knees – lifting your knees up high when you move.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

• Play-based Learning
• Demonstration
• Guided Practice
• Imitation
• Songs and Rhymes
• Question and Answer
• Practical Activity

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Engagement/Motivation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils warmly and asks them how they feel today. The teacher then asks, “Who likes to play and move their body?” and introduces the topic of “Simple & Fun Exercises” by explaining that moving our bodies makes us strong and healthy.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to greetings, raise their hands to show they like to move, and listen attentively to the introduction.

Learning Point: Pupils are motivated and understand the topic of the day.

Step 2: Presentation – Jumping Jacks and Jogging

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Guided Practice

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher demonstrates “Jumping Jacks” slowly, explaining the movement (feet out, arms up; feet in, arms down). The teacher then demonstrates “Jogging on the Spot,” showing light running in place. The teacher guides pupils to imitate these two exercises.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils watch the teacher’s demonstration carefully, then attempt to perform jumping jacks and jog on the spot, following the teacher’s lead.

Learning Point: Pupils learn to perform jumping jacks and jogging on the spot.

Step 3: Guided Practice – Squatting and High Knees

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Correction

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher demonstrates “Squatting,” showing how to bend knees like sitting on an invisible chair, keeping the back straight. The teacher then demonstrates “High Knees,” lifting knees high while marching. The teacher provides gentle correction and encouragement as pupils practice.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils watch the demonstrations, then practice squatting and performing high knees, trying to imitate the teacher’s movements.

Learning Point: Pupils learn to perform squatting and high knees.

Step 4: Reinforcement – Turning and Walking on Toes

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Practical Application

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher demonstrates “Turning” gently in a circle and “Walking on Toes” quietly and carefully. The teacher asks pupils to try these movements around the classroom or designated area, ensuring they maintain safe distances.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils practice turning their bodies and walking on their toes, moving around the space as instructed.

Learning Point: Pupils practice turning and walking on toes, improving balance and coordination.

Step 5: Rhyme/Song Activity

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Song Integration/Movement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads the pupils in singing the “Let’s Move Our Bodies!” rhyme, encouraging them to perform the actions for each exercise mentioned in the song. The teacher repeats the rhyme a few times to reinforce learning.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing along with the teacher and perform the corresponding exercise actions as they sing the rhyme.

Learning Point: Pupils reinforce their understanding of exercises through song and movement.

Step 6: Watch and Move Along (Video)

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Visual Aid/Active Participation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the video, explaining that they will watch and try to do the exercises shown. The teacher plays the video (“Kids Workout! | Exercise for Kids | Kids Fitness | Fun Workout for Kids” by The Learning Station) and encourages pupils to actively participate by imitating the movements on screen.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils watch the video and try to perform the exercises demonstrated by the characters in the video.

Learning Point: Pupils engage with a visual aid to practice various simple exercises.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 4–5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher checks pupils’ understanding through short questions and practical tasks.

1. “Can you show me how to do a jumping jack?”
2. “What is it called when we run in one place?” (Jogging on the spot)
3. “Show me how you squat.”
4. “Lift your knees high like you’re doing high knees!”
5. “Why is it good to exercise?” (To be strong, healthy, active)

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond orally and demonstrate the required skill where appropriate.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes

Teaching Skill: Recap/Cool-down

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads a short cool-down activity (e.g., gentle stretches, deep breaths). The teacher recaps that moving our bodies with simple exercises like jumping jacks, jogging, squatting, and high knees is fun and keeps us healthy. The teacher encourages pupils to keep exercising at home and school.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils participate in the cool-down, listen to the recap, and express their enjoyment of the exercises.

Learning Point: Pupils understand the importance of regular exercise and conclude the lesson with a cool-down.

Lesson Keywords

• Exercise – moving your body to stay healthy and strong.
• Jumping Jacks – jumping with feet out and arms up, then back in.
• Jogging – running slowly in one place.
• Squatting – bending your knees like you’re sitting down.
• High Knees – lifting your knees up high when you move.
• Turning – spinning your body around.
• Toes – the front part of your feet.

Differentiation

• Support: For pupils who find complex movements challenging, simplify the exercises (e.g., step out for jumping jacks instead of jumping, or just lift knees for high knees). Provide hand-over-hand guidance or partner them with a more capable peer. Use more repetition and visual cues.
• Extension: For pupils who quickly master the movements, encourage them to perform the exercises for a slightly longer duration or with more energy. Challenge them to count how many jumping jacks they can do or to lead a simple exercise for the class.