Title What is Physical Fitness?Theme Understanding Physical FitnessOverviewStudents will develop their understanding of what constitutes basic physical fitness (heart and lung/cardiovascular endurance, strength and flexibility).Time Required40 minutesPreparationFind a picture of a sportsperson engaged in physical activity from the newspaper or from www.1Seven.com.au to begin a class discussion about the characteristics of someone with developed fitness capacities. Or have students bring in a picture or go through newspapers and magazines to find pictures of sports people.Background information and discussion pointsThe majority of students in your class will use the words 'fitness' or 'physical ability', yet how many of them will know what they really mean?What is fitness? Physical fitness is a general state of good health, resulting from regular physical activity and a healthy diet.The three main components to physical fitness are:
  • Heart and Lung (Cardiovascular) Endurance which is the sustained ability of the heart, lungs and blood vessels to carry oxygen to the working muscles of the body while carrying away waste products (carbon dioxide and lactic acid) during increased physical activity. Fast walking, running, swimming and riding a bike are the simplest ways to increase and improve cardiovascular endurance.
  • Strength is the ability of the body to lift (push or pull) heavy objects. Lifting heavy objects in weight training or performing gymnastic holds or movements enhances strength.
  • Flexibility is the ability to bend and stretch into different bodily positions. Yoga or stretching exercises improve flexibility.
Fitness componentExamples of how sportspeople exhibit these components
Heart and Lung (Cardiovascular) Endurance- Ruckman and rover in AFL following the football around the groundfor the duration of the game
- Netball players sprinting, jogging and dodging movements as part of theirplaying positions. Endurance is particularly important for the specialistpositions of Centre, Goal Attack and Goal Defence.
- Middle to long distance runner/swimmer/cyclist
- Basketball players continually running up/down court
Strength-Tackling an opponent in AFL when they have possession of the football
- Netballers contesting for the ball
- Sprinters in swimming/athletics/cycling/rowing/ice skating
- Gymnasts, field athletes such as throwers, weightlifters
- Judo players and wrestlers
Flexibility- Bending at the waist and knees to pick up a ball from the ground e.g.AFL and cricket
- Netballers lunging to receive a pass at full stretch
- Gymnasts
- Springboard and high tower divers
- Hurdlers
To complete learning task 3, the students will be required to define the three major fitness components and then provide examples of how each is used in a particular sport. During the class brainstorm students will most probably provide examples of the main fitness components but may not use the language - heart and lung endurance, strength and flexibility. These terms need to be emphasised in order to complete the activity.Support materials and referencesArticle:What is physical fitness?Components of Physical fitness Women’s Cricket in Australia – Fitness for CricketAFL Fitnesshttp://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=fitnessThinking Strategies

Bloom’s Taxonomy
RememberUnderstandApplyAnalyseCreateEvaluate
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Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences
Verbal/
Linguistic
Bodily/
Kinesthetic
MusicalLogical/
Mathematical
InterpersonalVisual/
Spatial
IntrapersonalNaturalist
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Edward De Bono’s Six Thinking Hats
White Hat
Information
Red Hat
Feelings
Black Hat
Judgement
Yellow Hat
Benefits
Blue Hat
Thinking
Green Hat
Creativity
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Student ActivitiesTitle What is Physical Fitness?Theme Understanding Physical FitnessIntroductionThe word fitness is used in newspapers and on television to describe people who participate in sport or who are physically active.What does fitness mean?Learning Tasks1. Collect pictures of sports people playing sport from newspapers, magazines or www.1Seven.com.au. Students may like to create a collage.2. Looking at the pictures of a sportsperson playing sport, discuss why you think they are fit.3. What do you think makes a person fit?Record all suggestions on a large sheet of paper or whiteboard.4. As a class or in small groups choose one sport of interest to investigate.Complete the following tableName of Sport ____________________________________
Fitness ComponentYour Definition Examples
Heart and Lung Endurance  
Strength  
Flexibility