Fitness Through Tech

Grade Level: 5th Grade, Year 12

Curriculum Area: Physical Education
Achievement Standard: SHAPE America PE Standard 3

• Participates regularly in physical activity.
• Recognizes the value of technology in supporting physical fitness and activity.

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Lesson Objective

By the end of the 40-minute session, students will:

1. Learn how technology can support and track physical fitness.
2. Use fitness technology (e.g., pedometers or fitness apps) to monitor their movement, heart rate, or activity levels.
3. Engage in fun, active exercises to explore how technology enhances physical activity experiences.

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Materials Required

• 10 tablet devices with pre-loaded fitness apps (1 for every 2 students).
• 10 basic pedometers (one per pair).
• A Bluetooth speaker for playing music.
• Stopwatch/clock with a large visible screen.
• Cones, jump ropes, and exercise mats.

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Lesson Structure

Introduction (5 minutes)

1. Welcome and Warm-Up (2 minutes):

   • Greet students and briefly outline the objectives for the session.
   • Dynamic warm-up: Perform light jogging in place, arm circles, and toe touches.

2. Quick Discussion (3 minutes):

   • Teacher prompt: “Who here uses a phone, watch, or app that tracks steps or exercise? Why do you think tracking fitness is important?”
   • Introduce the concept of fitness technology as a tool to help us stay active and healthy.

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Activity 1: Step Challenge Scavenger Hunt (15 minutes)

Focus: Increase activity levels while using pedometers to track progress.

1. Pair students into groups of two, assigning one pedometer per group.
2. Give clear instructions:
   • Students will move around a mini course in the gym or outdoor space. The course will include stations marked with cones.
   • At each station, they will perform an activity (e.g., 5 jumping jacks, 10 high knees) before moving to the next station.
3. The twist: Every 3 minutes, a music piece or sound effect will play via the Bluetooth speaker, and the pairs must pause and record their pedometer step count on a set of pre-made dry-erase charts.
4. End the activity with a quick comparison: "Who completed the most steps? What strategies worked for staying active?"

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Activity 2: Digital Heart Rate Zone (15 minutes)

Focus: Technology-assisted heart rate monitoring and understanding effort levels.

1. Setup and Explanation (3 minutes):
   • On the tablets, show students a fitness app that uses heart rate zones or simulated effort levels (If no real fitness trackers are available, use apps that simulate movement or breathing control).
   • Discuss the heart rate zones briefly:
     • Low Zone: For warm-ups.
     • Moderate Zone: Good for exercises like running or cycling.
     • High Zone: For sprints or high-energy activities.
2. Activity (10 minutes):
   • Create 3 stations around the gym:
     • Low Zone Station: Simple yoga poses or breathing control exercises.
     • Moderate Zone Station: Jump rope or skipping challenge.
     • High Zone Station: Relay race sprints or agility drills.
   • Students rotate between stations every 3 minutes. Using the tablet at each station, they log their heart rate or simulated exertion level into the app.

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Cool-Down and Reflection (5 minutes)

1. Guided Cool-Down (2 minutes): Lead students through slow breathing and stretching exercises. Focus on areas worked during the lesson (legs, arms, and back).
2. Reflection Discussion (3 minutes):
   • Teacher prompt: "How did the technology help you understand your activity level today?"
   • Collect feedback on their favorite part of the activity and how they can use tech outside of school for fitness.

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Assessment and Wrap-Up

• Formative assessment through observation during activities.
• Informal questioning during reflection to gauge understanding of concepts (e.g., heart rate, step tracking, and active zones).
• Bonus Activity: Students can set personal goals for steps or activity outside of school, using insights from this lesson to monitor their progress throughout the week.

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Differentiation

• For Students Needing Extra Support: Provide simplified tasks at the stations (e.g., reduce the number of reps). Pair them with a more confident peer.
• For Advanced Learners: Challenge them with an additional circuit that tracks their time or intensity level.

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Teacher Notes

• Emphasize safety within all activities. Ensure students remain hydrated and take breaks if needed.
• Ensure that the technology (tablets/pedometers) is fully charged and pre-configured before class starts.
• Feel free to adapt the heart rate technology aspect if equipment is unavailable; foster a discussion about perceived exertion instead.