Grade Level: Middle School (6th-8th grade)
Duration: 60 minutes
Objectives:
- Students will understand the five components of health-related fitness: cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and body composition.
- Students will recognize how animals in the wild exhibit these components of fitness.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to apply the concepts of health-related fitness to real-life examples.
Materials:
- Whiteboard and markers
- Projector and screen
- Computer or tablet with internet access
- Speakers for audio
- Video recording equipment
- Safari-themed decorations (optional)
- Worksheets for each student
Lesson Structure:
Introduction (10 minutes)
- Begin by discussing the importance of fitness and its impact on overall health.
- Explain that there are five components of health-related fitness: cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and body composition.
- Mention that today’s lesson will be an exciting adventure as we explore how animals in the wild demonstrate these fitness components.
Video Presentation (9 minutes)
- Show the 9-minute video of the host going on a safari to learn about the components of fitness in the animal kingdom. The video should include examples of animals demonstrating each component (e.g., cheetahs for speed and endurance, gorillas for strength, snakes for flexibility).
- Pause the video briefly after each animal segment to discuss what component of fitness the animal represents and why. Have students fill out notes.
Discussion (15 minutes)
- Facilitate a discussion about the video.
- Ask students to share what they observed in each animal segment.
- Encourage them to explain which component of fitness the animal demonstrated and why.
- Clarify any misconceptions and provide additional information as needed.
Activity: Animal Fitness Profiles (15 minutes)
- Divide the class into small groups.
- Assign each group an animal from the video and ask them to create an “Animal Fitness Profile” poster.
- Include the animal’s name, picture, and a brief description of how it demonstrates one of the five components of fitness.
- Encourage creativity by allowing students to use art supplies for their posters.
- Have each group present their Animal Fitness Profile to the class.
Application (10 minutes)
- Discuss how humans can apply the lessons learned from these animals to improve their own fitness.
- Brainstorm practical ways to develop each of the five components of health-related fitness in their daily lives.
Conclusion (1 minute)
- Summarize the key points of the lesson.
- Assign a brief homework assignment where students write a short paragraph about how they will work on improving one of the five components of health-related fitness in their own lives.
Assessment:
- Evaluate the students’ understanding through their participation in the discussion and the quality of their Animal Fitness Profile posters.
- Review the homework assignments to gauge their ability to apply the concepts learned in the lesson.
Extension Activity (Optional):
- Organize a fitness field trip or invite a fitness expert to talk
