Gym is one of the most loved classes at our homeschool co-op. Gym class should be a great experience for everyone involved. So forget everything you remember from your school gym class days because it probably isn’t what you want for your children.
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Why do I have this lesson plan?
My girls look forward to this co-op class each week. They love the opportunity to play group games and learn new skills. It doesn’t feel like exercise or work to them because they are having so much fun!
This fall I will be teaching a homeschool co-op gym class for ages 6-10. While classes were being planned, my girls were disappointed that no one was offering a gym class.
Since our family has a history of diabetes and obesity, we are diligently working to increase our physical activity. So now you know how I’ve gotten myself into this new and exciting opportunity. I’ll just keep reminding myself how much fun we are going to have (maybe next time I’ll volunteer to do a Monarch Project). I can’t wait to use my whistle!
Here’s the plan and free printable lesson plan. Feel free to use it or share with your homeschool co-op.
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Planning a co-op gym class
Time Available 55 minutes
- Attendance
- Warm-Up Stations
- Mileage Club
- Character Lesson —We Choose Virtues
- Group Activity
- Clean Up, Rewards & Dismiss
Get a Free Printable of This Lesson Plan.
Attendance
- Welcome students
- First Class–set expectations and clearly explain any safety rules.
- Whistle Commands–demonstrate and practice. This is essential for me, as I tend to be soft-spoken. Free whistle commands poster here.
- Take attendance. Just read the list of names and mark the attendance sheet. Our co-op kids love to say, “Here”. Change it up once in a while, by having them answer with their favorite color or ice cream flavor.
Warm-Up Stations
- Explain the purpose of warming up. Try the Laffy Taffy example from Susan at Meals Fit for a Family.
- Warm-Up Stations. *Set these up before the first class, but then have students set them up at future classes. We are using Fitness Circuit Station Cards. Play music and blow whistle to switch stations.
Mileage Club
- Week 1 –Introduce Mileage Club. We are using foot patterns and toe tokens from the Mileage Club Teachers packet at Fitness Finders.
- Have distance measured and marked with cones before class (inside or out depending on the weather).
- Each week record number of laps and give rewards at the end of class.
Character Lesson
This is a transition time. We’ve just finished walking or running for about 20 minutes. The kids will be out of breath, so a few minutes to rest during a short lesson will be just what we need.
Any character lesson or good sportsman topic will fit well here. We Choose Virtues is my favorite. Easy for little ones to remember and applicable even for adults. I love that it is colorful and ready to go–no prep for me!
Group Activity
This will be different each week. I’m saving some great ideas on my Pinterest board. Here are a few to get you started:
- Jump Rope: free printable jump rope songs from Kimberly.
- Hula Hoops: our co-op has purchased these locally from Revival Cafe & Market. Amazing custom hula hoops that actually work. Don’t say never! You can actually hula hoop–I’m the least coordinated person I know and these work for me.
- Catching & Throwing Skills: How to teach by Mr. Majewski.
- Relay Races
Clean Up, Rewards & Dismiss
- Put away equipment.
- Pass out toe token rewards for Mileage Club.
- Dismiss students to next co-op class.
Relax! You’ve successfully taught a homeschool co-op gym class.
Congratulations! You are a supermom or superdad! Your children and others in the co-op will be amazed at your teaching skills and probably ask you to teach again. Go for it! Or share this post with them, so they can teach it.
Let me know if you try these ideas out and leave me some more ideas in the comments. I’ll let you know how my class goes this fall.
Teaching a homeschool co-op gym class is a little outside my comfort zone, so I’d love to hear what works for you (or doesn’t!).
Cindy (the somewhat reluctant gym teacher)
Time for an update!
Mileage Club was so much fun!
I’ve taught this class three times now. It’s definitely a hit with the kids.
For the most recent class, I used QR codes from the app QR Laps (apple app store). This made tracking laps much easier.
See the comments below, where Allison asked for more details.
For prizes at the end of the class, I’ve used:
- water bottles
- slap bracelets
- glow in the dark shoelaces
- stickers
Choose something simple, memorable, and age-appropriate. Keep your budget in mind.
Making your own lesson plan for a co-op or homeschool group? Try these 8 brutally simple steps!
Printable Lesson Plan
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Thank you for posting this! I am starting a homeschool gym class on Monday, and I’m pretty much going to do exactly what you’re doing! It looks great. I think everything will run more smoothly with a predictable schedule of activities, and it will make it a lot easier to plan, too.
Hi Lisa!
I hope your homeschool gym class went well on Monday. Sometimes getting started is the hardest part of teaching a homeschool class. Once you’re feeling comfortable, start adapting the class to fit your students.
I’ve tried to teach kickball a couple of times in our homeschool class and quickly discovered our group needs to practice the basics before trying the game. We are working on kicking, catching, and throwing. Hoping to get to the game part soon!
I’d love to hear how your class is going and what’s working for you.
Cindy
Love this! Wondering if you have any ideas on how to get equipment for a co-op? I would love to offer a class but our co-op doesn’t have equipment and that can be super expensive. I did the mileage club years ago when I taught PE in public school. Love the QR code to keep track!
Hi Kelley!
Our homeschool co-op didn’t have much gym equipment to start with either, so we’ve been slowly been adding to our supply cart.
Here’s what has worked for us:
1. Donations–families have given us four square balls, cones, and jump ropes. Let families know what you have and what you could use.
2. Fundraisers–the funds are used for co-op needs. We were able to add hula hoops and parachutes this way.
3. Class fees–a small amount from 10-15 students quickly adds up (wiffle balls, bases, beach balls).
I’ve also used pinterest to find ways to make affordable gym items (sock-balls, pool noodles, bean bags).
Keep your class simple to start. I recently taught a jump rope class with a small class fee (used to purchase the jump ropes). At the end of the class, students could take their jump ropes home OR donate them to the co-op.
We loved the QR codes for mileage club too! Printed on paper and put in name tag holders–simple and quick. Kids thought I was a tech genius!
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Hi Cindy! This is exactly what I was looking for! So perfect! And I’m already familiar with the virtue cards. I love the mileage program.. Can you please explain how the daily and weekly running will be calculated/charted.. Do the kids do it? Really not sure.. I could use some clarification on this please. I have about 8 kids.. K to 3rd grade.. (in a co-op) with a helper..
Allison, I’m so glad you found the gym class ideas helpful!
For our first mileage club, I ordered paper trackers (looked like a foot with numbers around it). The kids ran/walked with their tracker so my helper and I used a marker and marked off a number each time a lap was completed. Once the card is filled, just start a new one. So at the end of our 9 week class, most kids had several feet completed (we put them on binder rings). We awarded a toe token for every four laps completed.
We just finished another mileage club and tried a new way of tracking. Used the app QR Laps from apple app store. I printed QR codes for each student (the app has a link to do this) and put them in a nametag holder. At class time, just clip on and scan with your phone as each child passes by. At the end of each class, I took a screenshot of the totals for the day. Later, we made a chart of all the kids and their weekly laps. The kids love to see their total laps so far!
I think the app was about $3. It was simple to use and definitely easier than marking the little cards.
You could have the kids chart their own laps, but we had adults do that part because of time limits.
Enjoy teaching your class!
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Thank you! Are you teaching a homeschool group or co-op class? I’d love to hear how it’s going.
Everything is very open with a really clear clarification of the challenges. It was really informative. Your site is extremely helpful. Many thanks for sharing!
I’m so glad the homeschooling information was helpful to you. Are you teaching a homeschool group or co-op class?
Thank you for this post! I am starting a gym co-op next week. I really have no idea what I am getting myself into. I am motivated to creat a space where my kids and others can exercise and build a community.
Our ages will be ranging from 3 to 7 year olds a couple of older kids. I’m nervous about the younger kids being there but I praying it will work out.
Do you have any suggestions about working with preschoolers? I am a mom of 4 younger kids.
I am thinking warming up and skill practice for 15 mins, devotion 15 mins and then play game for 20 mins – hoping to allow extra time for potty and water breaks and other things that might come up.
Thank you again for your post, the information is helpful for me!
Blessings,
Hannah
Hi Hannah,
Starting is the hardest part–You’ll do great!
Your schedule looks good, just keep it flexible. If preschoolers are struggling to stay focused for a 15 minute devotional, break it up a bit. Consider adding music with motions, props to look at, or an adorable puppet to help keep them engaged.
Suggestions for Preschoolers: