Free Gymnastics Lesson Plans

Gymnastics lessons help children develop physical coordination and motor skills. They teach children how to properly use their balance and develop a good sense of precision and timing. Gymnastic lessons can teach your child listening skills, how to follow directions, how to take turns, respect for others, and how to participate in a group.

Lesson 1: Floor Work

Have the children warm up by walking around the gym using different parts of their feet: heels, toes, soles and sides of their feet. Next, have them jog or run around the gym using the same parts of their feet. Have the children move around the floor space using different parts of their bodies. Remind them to stay close to the floor. Next, have the children try moving their bodies as far away from the floor as they can. Then have the children practice making shapes in the air: a curled shape and a stretched shape. Finally, have the children practice making shapes while running and jumping.

Lesson 1: Small Equipment (Apparatus) Work

Give each child a hoop and have her sit inside it. Explain to her that this is her own space. Have her move around inside her hoop using different parts of her body. Have the children practice different ways of jumping in and out of their hoop. Instruct the children to go from two feet to one foot, one foot to two feet, two feet to two feet, one foot to the same foot, and one foot to the other foot. Encourage them to use their hands and feet to jump in and out of their hoops. Have the children cool down by holding their hoop above their head and jump through it while lowering it to the ground in front of them. Next, have them raise the hoop above their heads and stretch as high as they can. Repeat the stretch to each side and then in front of them.

Lesson 2: Floor Work

Have children warm up by moving around the room quickly using their hands and feet. Have them practice jumping and making shapes with their bodies in the air. Explain to the children that they are going to practice balancing. Give them a few minutes to practice balancing in different positions. Have the children balance on their back, bottom, shoulders, sides and stomach.

Lesson 2: Equipment (Apparatus) Work

Divide the children into five groups. Have each group set up a different piece of equipment. Ask each group to sit next to a piece of equipment. Have them practice moving under, over, along, and around the equipment. Remind them to use their balance at least once during their movements. Next, have the groups rotate to a different piece of equipment. Have them practice slow and quick movements while keeping their balance. Finally, have the groups rotate to another piece of equipment. Have them practice changing from small, curled shapes to large, stretched shapes. Ask them to try two different balances that follow on from one another. When the groups have finished, have them find and space and lay on the floor. To cool down, have the children stand up and balance on two feet while making a stretched shape and then slowly curling up into a small shape.