Types of Exercise

Curriculum Area and Level

• Curriculum Area: Physical Education (PE) and Health
• Level: Grade 12 (High School Senior, aligned with US National PE Standards)

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Lesson Overview

Topic: Understanding how different types of exercise improve health and physical ability, with an emphasis on Bloom’s Taxonomy levels — Understanding, Valuing, and Creating.

Duration: 60 minutes
Class Size: 52 students
Key Focus: Exploring, analyzing, and designing workout programs based on exercise types to address long-term health benefits and physical well-being.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. Understand: Identify and explain the four basic types of exercise (aerobic, strength, flexibility, and balance) and their benefits to physical and mental health.
2. Value: Reflect on the importance of fitness for personal health and well-being, connecting exercise types to their own needs and goals.
3. Create: Design a personalized 1-week balanced workout plan incorporating various types of exercise to support their health and fitness.

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Resources Needed

• Large whiteboard and markers
• Handouts with a comparison table of exercise types
• PE mats (optional for demo activities)
• Technology: Projector and access to a short 3-minute educational video about exercise types
• Colored sticky notes for group exercises
• Timer or stopwatch

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The 4A-Based Lesson Plan (Aligned with Bloom's Taxonomy)

1. Activity: Anticipation (10 minutes)

Purpose: Spark curiosity and set the stage for learning.
Bloom’s Taxonomy Level: Understanding

Step 1: Ask an engaging, thought-provoking question:
“Imagine you got to design the perfect physical fitness class for every student at this school. What types of exercise would you include, and why?”

Step 2: Facilitate a short brainstorming session.

• Divide students into small groups (4-5 students each) due to the large class size.
• Each group discusses their ideas and writes 2-3 suggestions on sticky notes.

Step 3: Collate ideas on the board. Organize responses into categories:
(aerobic, strength, flexibility, and balance). Use this as a transition to introduce the lesson topic.

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2. Activity: Building New Knowledge (20 minutes)

Purpose: Teach the fundamental concepts of exercise types.
Bloom’s Taxonomy Level: Understanding

Step 1: Deliver a mini-lecture (7-minute explanation) on the four main types of exercise:

1. Aerobic (Endurance): Improves cardiovascular health (e.g., running, swimming).
2. Strength: Builds muscle mass and bone density (e.g., resistance training, weightlifting).
3. Flexibility: Enhances range of motion (e.g., yoga, stretching).
4. Balance: Promotes stability and prevents injury (e.g., tai chi, standing on one leg).

Step 2: Show a short educational video (3 minutes).

• The video should demonstrate examples of each exercise type and their specific health benefits.

Step 3: Distribute a comparison table handout summarizing the key points.
Students will annotate it during the lecture.

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3. Activity: Valuing Through Reflection (15 minutes)

Purpose: Foster personal connection and evaluate understanding.
Bloom’s Taxonomy Level: Valuing

Step 1: Assign students to work in pairs. Provide prompt questions for reflection and discussion:

1. Which type of exercise do you think is most important for your personal needs? Why?
2. Which type of exercise do you currently do the most? Which do you avoid?
3. How does regular physical activity contribute to mental health and stress reduction, especially as students approach graduation?

Step 2: After 5-7 minutes of pair discussion, conduct a class debrief:
Each group shares 1 insight or conclusion they reached during their discussion.

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4. Activity: Designing a Workout Plan (15 minutes)

Purpose: Apply knowledge creatively to personal health management.
Bloom’s Taxonomy Level: Creating

Step 1: Set the task:
Each student will design a 1-week workout plan. They must include at least:

• 2 aerobic activities
• 2 strength-building exercises
• 2 flexibility exercises
• 1 balance activity

Step 2: Provide a template for the plan and outline guidelines:

• Example template: Days, Activities, Time Spent, and Expected Health Benefits.
• Encourage creativity based on individual fitness levels and goals.

Step 3: Collect and share:

• Students swap their plans with a peer for feedback (encouraging evaluation and constructive input).
• Volunteers may present highlights of their plan to the class.

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Assessment (Formative Evaluation)

Assessment is embedded within the activities:

• Monitor participation during discussions.
• Evaluate workout plans based on whether students included all four exercise types and demonstrated understanding of their benefits.
• Circulate the room during discussions to check for engagement and comprehension.

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Differentiation Strategies

• Advanced Learners: Can include nutritional planning alongside their workout plans.
• Struggling Learners: Peer pairing and use of visual aids (e.g., annotated handouts).
• Kinesthetic Learners: Optional live demonstration for simple flexibility or balance exercises.

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Wrap-Up and Exit Ticket (5 minutes)

1. Summarize key points:

   • Different types of exercise target different aspects of physical health.
   • Maintaining a mix promotes overall health and reduces risks of injury.

2. Exit Ticket Question:

   • “What type of exercise will you start doing more of, and why?”

Students write their responses on an index card before leaving. This provides insight into their understanding and personal valuation of the material.

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Teacher Reflection Post-Lesson

• Was the large class manageable with group-based activities?
• Were students able to connect the concept of exercise types with their personal goals?
• Did they value the process of creating a balanced workout plan?