Future Leaders of Tomorrow Christian Academy school logoFLOTA PE HubSchool Year 2026–2027
← Dashboard
Grades 1–3 · Unit 1: Muscles and Body Awareness

Lesson 3: Body Awareness: Where Am I?

Thursday, October 15, 2026

Objective: Students will move safely through general space using different body parts and levels (high, medium, low).
1Stretching & Mobility5 min›

Torso Rotations

10 each side
  1. Feet shoulder-width, knees soft.
  2. Hands on hips or arms bent at chest.
  3. Turn shoulders gently to the right, then left.
  4. Keep hips facing forward.

Muscles/joints: Obliques, spine

Coaching cue: "Look behind you like you're checking for a friend."

Modification: Smaller range of motion; seated rotation.

Knee Lifts (Marching)

30 seconds
  1. March in place.
  2. Lift each knee to hip height.
  3. Swing opposite arm with each knee.
  4. Keep your chest up.

Muscles/joints: Hip flexors, quadriceps, core

Coaching cue: "Knee to the table top!"

Modification: Lower knee height; hold a chair or wall.

Arm Circles

10 forward, 10 backward
  1. Stand tall, feet hip-width apart.
  2. Lift arms straight out to the sides at shoulder height.
  3. Make small circles, slowly growing them bigger.
  4. Reverse direction after 10.

Muscles/joints: Deltoids (shoulders), shoulder joint

Coaching cue: "Arms like airplane wings — long and strong!"

Modification: Do one arm at a time, or seated.

2WARM-UP RUN / JOG — 2–3 MINUTESRequired›
2:00

Mark a safe route

  • Mark a loop with 4–6 cones around the field or blacktop (about 100–150 yards).
  • Keep the route away from fences, poles, parked cars, and uneven ground.
  • Stand where you can see the entire loop.

Starting & stopping

  • Gather students at the start cone. Say: 'When I blow the whistle, jog at a talking pace.'
  • One whistle = start; two whistles = slow to a walk and come back to the start cone.
  • Use the countdown timer below so everyone finishes together.

Pacing

Students should jog at a 'talking pace' — they could still chat with a friend. This is not a race and never a punishment.

Safety

  • Pass on the outside, call 'On your left.'
  • Shoes tied before starting.
  • Walk if you feel dizzy, have chest pain, or can't catch your breath — tell the teacher.

Alternatives

Students may brisk-walk, power-march, or do seated arm-pumping. Wheelchair users can roll the loop or do arm circuits.

Hydration

Water break immediately after the run. Remind students to drink before and after PE.

3Review & Mini-Lesson10 min›

Review questions

  • Name a muscle on your leg.
  • What does your abs muscle do?

Vocabulary

Personal space
The bubble of space around your body that is yours.
General space
All the open space everyone shares.
Levels
How high or low your body is: high (tall), medium, low (near the ground).

What the Teacher Should Say

Pretend you are inside a big bubble. Reach your arms all around — that's your PERSONAL SPACE. Today we'll move around the whole field, which we call GENERAL SPACE, without popping anyone else's bubble. We'll also move at different LEVELS: high like a giraffe, medium like a dog, and low like a snake. Knowing where your body is helps you stay safe and play better in every sport.

Step-by-step demonstration

  1. Spin slowly with arms out to show a personal-space bubble.
  2. Walk through cones at a high level (tiptoes, arms up), medium (normal), and low (bent knees).

Real-world examples

  • In soccer you need to know where your body is so you don't bump teammates.
  • Lining up for lunch uses personal space.

Questions to ask students

  • What is personal space?
  • Show me a low level!
  • Why is it important not to pop someone's bubble?

Visual resource

Illustration placeholder — to be uploaded by an administrator

Extension

Combine a level with a movement: 'low level crab walk', 'high level skip'.

4Group Activity: Bubble Tag15–20 min›

Purpose: Practice moving in general space with control and awareness.

Equipment

  • 4 cones for a large square
  • 2–3 pool noodles (soft taggers)

Players

Whole class

Space & setup

Coned square about 20x20 yards. Choose 2–3 taggers holding noodles.

Rules

  • Taggers gently touch below the shoulders with the noodle.
  • If tagged, freeze in a 'statue' at the level the teacher calls.
  • A friend frees you by doing 3 jumping jacks next to you.
  • Never pop someone's bubble by crashing.

Step-by-step

  1. Practice walking in general space with personal bubbles first.
  2. Add skipping, then jogging.
  3. Start tag; call a level each round (high/medium/low freeze).
  4. Rotate taggers every 2 minutes.

Teacher demonstration

Show a gentle noodle tag on the arm and a correct freeze shape.

Safety

  • Noodles only — no hands.
  • Tags below the shoulders.
  • Heads up, eyes open.

Modifications

Walk-only rounds; a 'safe zone' hoop for students who need a break.

Advanced challenge

Taggers must move at the called level too.

Assessment

Observe whether students keep spacing and avoid collisions.

5Supervised Free Play & Cooldown20–30 min›

Activity choices

Football: soft-ball passing or non-contact flag games — no tacklingBasketball: dribbling, partner passing, or low-hoop shootingSoccer: passing, dribbling, or small-sided play — no heading or slide tacklesKickball: soft-ball kick and run — no throwing at runnersHula hoopsJump ropesFour-squareSoft-ball catchHopscotchWalking follow-the-leaderTag in a coned area

Expectations

  • Stay inside the coned boundary.
  • Take turns and share equipment.
  • Include anyone who wants to join.
  • Teacher circulates and keeps eyes on all groups.
  • Water available throughout.

Cooldown

  • Standing quad stretch (hold wall) — 15 sec each leg
  • Seated reach for toes — 15 sec, breathe slowly
  • Big belly breaths — 3 slow breaths
Reflection question: How did you keep your bubble safe today?