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Physical Education

Body Shapes

Overview

Children explore four fundamental body shapes used in gymnastics, holding each one still and with control.

Learning Objective
Children create and hold four gymnastics body shapes — tuck, star, pencil, and straddle.

Resources needed

  • Flat floor space or grass

Lesson stages

0 / 7 done
  1. 1 Teach the tuck: pull knees to chest, wrap arms around legs, make yourself small.
  2. 2 Hold for 5 seconds — stay still.
  3. 3 Teach the star: jump and land with arms and legs wide, like a star.
  4. 4 Teach the pencil: stand tall, feet together, arms by sides — as straight as possible.
  5. 5 Teach the straddle: sit on the floor, legs wide apart, back straight.
  6. 6 Call out shapes randomly — children make and hold each one.
  7. 7 Pairs: one makes a shape, the other copies exactly.

Tap a step to mark it as done.

Variations

  • Move between two shapes smoothly without stopping.
  • Hold each shape for 10 seconds.
  • Groups make the same shape simultaneously — look for differences.
More information

Teach: tuck, star, pencil, straddle, hold, still. Show a picture or draw the shape in the air before children attempt it.

The straddle can be done standing (legs wide apart) rather than seated for children with limited flexibility.

Are children holding shapes still for the full count? Is the pencil shape genuinely straight — no bent knees or slouching?

No equipment needed. Grass or a flat soil surface works well for seated shapes.

Children rush through shapes rather than holding them. Emphasise stillness — a shape is only complete when the body stops moving.

The four fundamental body shapes appear in every gymnastics curriculum worldwide. Mastering them creates the vocabulary for all future gymnastics work.

Activity details
Primary Easy 20 minutes no prep Whole Class, Solo Indoor & Outdoor
Topics
Gymnastics Body Shapes Balance