The following are a couple of simple activities that may be the difference of students opting to buy in or not when teaching gymnastics in school to Junior Cycle students. These activities can be refined or extended to suit the abilities and skills of students

A simple 'RAMP' warm up method can be applied when teaching gymnastics.

The RAMP warm up can be incorporated into numerous active and enjoyable warm up methods such as

• 'Follow the Leader'

• 'Simon Says'

• 'Tag warm up'

The following are some themes that lessons can incorporate and be designed around:

1. Superheroes in Action

2. Olympics

3. Seasons and Holidays

4. Animals in Motion

Incorporating numerous different themes into gymnastics lessons would create motivation amongst students to align with the designated theme and participate to the best of their abilities. It also supports:

• Creativity

• Self Expression

• Team Work

• Differentiation

• Builds Confidence

1. https://open.spotify.com/album/5ydOIsETwWjylSYQBQ1s9W

2. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/19L0SVxPohvhiTnZP4VKzh

3. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2R4DHcibAGMZSv5XmJCAOP

4. https://open.spotify.com/album/42rWZD9IMaq8t96VzNl1LB

5. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2UqUGoRhHqI3Gth8bZOByO

6. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1gJIyTUIydiRgV5c9hjKzQ

Teaching Gymnastics with limited equipment:

• Sports Hall

• Benches

• Mats

• Hula Hoops

• Poly Dots

• Cones/Markers

YouTube can be a great resource if utilized correctly to impact the learning environment while teaching a unit of gymnastics. Students can be shown examples, explanations and demonstrations .

1. PE Scholar

   • Focuses on PE lesson plans, warm-ups, and activities, including gymnastics.

   • PE Scholar YouTube Channel

2. Gymnastics Academy

   • Provides tutorials on foundational gymnastics skills like rolls, balances, and jumps.

   • Gymnastics Academy YouTube Channel

3. Just PE

   • Tailored for PE teachers, with ideas for gymnastics warm-ups and class structures.

   • Just PE YouTube Channel

4. Shapeshifter Gymnastics

   • Offers tutorials for basic skills such as handstands, cartwheels, and flexibility exercises.

   • Shapeshifter Gymnastics YouTube Channel

5. Sportplan

   • Features videos for gymnastics skill progression and group activities.

   • Sportplan Gymnastics

Recommended Videos

1. Basic Gymnastics Warm-Up Routine

   • Video that covers simple, dynamic warm-up exercises for gymnastics classes.

   • Watch here

2. How to Teach Forward Rolls

   • Step-by-step guide to safely teach forward rolls to beginners.

   • https://youtu.be/_9HxqFzHAT4?si=9bX5x2DoPB8BCOLR

3. Gymnastics for Students: Fun Floor Drills

   • Simple drills for floor exercises like balancing, stretching, and tumbling.

   • Watch here

4. Partner Balances and Group Work for Beginners

   • Perfect for collaborative activities and developing teamwork.

   • Watch here

5. PE Gymnastics Challenges

   • Engaging challenges to teach control, strength, and flexibility.

   • Watch here

Partner Balance Cards

• https://www.twinkl.ie/resource/ks2-gymnastics-partner-balance-cards-t-pe-1697015148

Paired Shapes

• https://www.twinkl.ie/resource/t2-pe-077-paired-symmetrical-shapes-gymnastics-cards

Jumps, Leaps and turns.

• https://www.twinkl.ie/resource/t2-pe-075-jumps-leaps-and-turns-gymnastics-cards

Group Balance

• https://www.twinkl.ie/resource/ks2-gymnastics-group-balance-cards-t-pe-1680674529

Sequence Prompts

• https://www.twinkl.ie/resource/cfe2-pe-54-gymnastic-sequence-with-prompts-activity-sheet

Rolls

• https://www.twinkl.ie/resource/t-t-28166-gymnastic-rolls-display-posters

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

Activities in gymnastics allow students to develop a wide range of physical attributes such as strength, flexibility, coordination, balance and agility. Each activity targets specific skills, progressing from fundamental movements to more difficult movements and techniques.   

Dominant Movement Patterns  

Dominant movement patterns are fundamental movements that form the foundation of more complex skills/movements. These patterns are essential for building strength, flexibility and coordination in gymnastics. The main dominant movement patterns include:   

1. Statics - Balances, Weight-bearing, Body tensions.   

Any activity that has a stationary position falls into this category, sometimes referred to as balance or weight bearing activities. Students should master activity at floor level before progressing to using equipment or doing activity with a partner.  

Key Vocabulary for Statics: still, statue, firm, strong, frozen, balance, support.   

2. Travelling/Locomotion - Jumping, Running, Walking, Skipping.   

Locomotion is movement or the ability to move from one place to another. Locomotion/Travelling activities include dance patterns, animal walks, pattern walks and group travels. There are many ways to vary these travelling activities such as shape, direction and level.  

3. Rotation - Turns, Rolls, Cartwheels.   

Rotation is the action of rotating about an axis or centre. Students should develop rotation activities around three axes, Longitudinal Axis (long), Lateral Axis (short) and Anterior Posterior Axis (side). During these activities, students will develop body management, core stability and spatial awareness.  

Key Vocabulary for Rotation: Spinning, Rolling, Revolving, Twisting, Turning. 

4. Spring and Landing - Leaps, Jumps, Safe Landing.   

In Spring and Landing, it is important that students are taught how to land safely before progressing to spring activities. Safe landing is crucial to avoid injuries and students should land in the ‘motor bike’ position to minimise injury risk. Spring and Landing should start basic e.g straight jump before progressing to more complex activities. Options for spring and landing activities include feet to feet activities, feet to hands activities and hands to feet activities. Students should master the activity at floor level before using apparatus.  

• Forward Roll  

Progression – Once students have mastered the basic forward roll they can progress to using apparatus. Students can start by rolling down a foam wedge, then they can roll from a bench, next over a bench and finally along a bench.  

Refinement – Encourage students to keep the body tight and compact in a tuck position for a smoother roll. Emphasise controlled landings by guiding students to land softly on their feet with their knees slightly bent.  

• Cartwheel  

Progression – When students have mastered the cartwheel, they can progress to doing cartwheels with their hands on targets/poly dots, then they can try to do cartwheels over a bench and along a line on the ground. If students master these progressions, they may progress to doing cartwheels along a bench and try a single-handed cartwheel.  

Refinement – Focus on keeping the legs straight during the cartwheel and ensuring the hands land in a straight line. Encourage a smooth, controlled takeoff and landing, ensuring the body rotates efficiently.  

• Handstand  

Progression – When students first attempt a handstand many may struggle. Therefore, when learning a handstand for the first time students should start by doing some slow and controlled bunny jumps. Next, they should move on to having their feet on a platform and their hands on the floor and try to raise one leg of the platform up into the air. When they feel confident, they should then attempt to climb the wall by starting with their feet against the wall and their hands on the floor. They should then climb their feet up the wall whilst simultaneously moving their hand closer to the wall. Students should then try to hold this position at the highest point in which they are comfortable. After this, students should try hand standing against a wall and finally when confident, students should attempt a handstand with no support.  

Refinement – Stress the importance of straightening the body (legs together, arms extended), with the core engaged to prevent arching in the back. Work on holding the position longer by encouraging small, controlled movements to maintain balance. 

• Benches

• Mats

• Vaulting Box

• Barrells

• Spring Boards

• Mini Trampolines

• Climbing Frame

It is important that a wide variety of equipment is used if possible to enhance skill development, creativity and safety.

Initially, we want to raise the following amongst students:

• Heartrate

• Blood flow

• Body Temperature

• Joint Mobility

We can do this by incorporating the following

• Jogging

• Skipping

• Arm swings

• High knees/Heel flicks

• Shuffling

• Hopping

• Bounding

Activate

It is vital that the working muscles are activated prior to the demanding work undertaken in gymnastics. This is done by:

• Dynamic Stretching

• Balance drills

• Upper and Lower activation

• Holding movements e.g. plank to activate core muscles.

As already stated, gymnastics can result in some nasty injuries, so it is highly important that students mobilise joints before engaging in any challenging activities. The areas to focus on when completing this aspect of the warm up would be:

• Dynamic Shoulder and Arm Mobility

• Dynamic Ankle Mobility

• Hip Mobility

• Spinal Mobility

• Hamstring, quad and calf mobility

The potentiate aspect involves students carrying out gymnastic specific moves to ensure they are fully warmed up and ready to engage in gymnastic tasks. This may include:

• Tuck jumps

• Broad jumps

• Bounding for height/distance

• Dynamic turns and change of direction

• Rolls

• Tumbles

• Handstands

• Cartwheels

This phase ensures the students transitions seamlessly from warming up to performing at peak intensity while reducing injury risk.

• Setup: Divide the students into small groups. Set up a short relay course with obstacles like cones, mats, or benches.

• Objective: Each team member takes turns balancing a beanbag on their head or holding a specific pose while navigating the course.

• Variation: Add challenges like hopping, crawling, or skipping to make it more dynamic.

• Setup: Pair up students. One is the "leader," and the other mirrors their movements.

• Objective: Start with basic movements like arm raises or lunges, then progress to simple gymnastic poses like balances or rolls. Switch roles halfway.

• Setup: Arrange a simple obstacle course with mats, cones, and small challenges (e.g., forward rolls, balances, crawling under, or jumping over).

• Objective: Students take turns navigating the course, focusing on balance and coordination.

• Setup: Play "Simon Says" with a gymnastics twist, using poses and movements like "Simon says do a tuck jump" or "Simon says hold a balance."

• Objective: Engage students in a playful way while reinforcing gymnastics skills.