Third Grade Fitness Lesson Plan
Page 1 of 7
Dear Educator,
As you know, physical activity is critical for optimal health.
Unfortunately, many Americans do not get enough physical
activity on a regular basis. In an effort to help improve
the physical fitness of children, Campbell Soup Company,
through the Labels For Education program, has created
these exciting teaching materials. The following resource
addresses children’s physical fitness, and meets the
National Education Standards.
Children enjoy learning about things that are of interest
to them. Of particular interest is the human body. This
resource capitalizes on this interest and focuses on
engaging children in hands-on-learning about physical
activity and its effects on the human body.
How to Use These Lessons
Each of the lessons is comprised of student-centered fitness activities that can be integrated into
classroom subjects such as physical education, math, science, and health education. These activities
can be used over a period of time as one unit of study or may be broken up and used as part of several
individual lessons.
The lessons are organized to guide children through activities that will develop their fitness related
knowledge, attitudes, skills, and behaviors. Lessons are broken down into the following parts:
Objectives:
Outcomes of participation in lesson’s activities.
National Education
Standards:
These are standards which are met by one or more of the
activities in the lesson.
Points to Emphasize:
Important themes and facts to stress during activities and
discussions.
You Will Need:
This section highlights the materials you will need to implement
the lesson’s activities. Most are generally readily available.
Main Activity:
For each grade level there is one main activity that includes
learning games, worksheets, and other experimental activities.
In some instances, extensions of this main activity are offered.
Activity Outcomes:
Questions are included to help students reflect upon the
content and their experience as a result of their
participation in the main activity.
© 2005 CSC Brands L.P. All rights reserved.
Let us know what you think about this lesson plan at http://www.labelsforeducation.com/lessonplans
Third Grade Fitness Lesson Plan
Page 2 of 7
How to Use These Lessons (continued from page one)
Extension Activity:
Additional activities are provided in order to further enhance
learning of the concepts addressed in the main activity.
Safety Note:
Recommendations for the teacher to take note of or be aware of
any safety concerns or issues.
Vocabulary:
Words that have been introduced or reviewed in the lesson
activities.
Worksheet:
Worksheet to be used to further enhance content addressed in
main activity.
Teacher Information:
Background information is provided for each lesson and can
be found immediately following the lesson activities. It is
recommended that you review this information before teaching
the lessons.
Special Considerations
 All lesson activities may be modified for different grades and/or student abilities.
 You may have students with physical disabilities. In these instances work with the parents
and the school nurse.
 Some activities can be safely accomplished in the classroom. If possible, move the desks to
the outside of the room before starting the activity.
© 2005 CSC Brands L.P. All rights reserved.
Let us know what you think about this lesson plan at http://www.labelsforeducation.com/lessonplans
Third Grade Fitness Lesson Plan
Page 3 of 7
THIRD GRADE LESSON PLAN
Name of Lesson: Aerobic and Anaerobic Activity
Objectives:
Points to Emphasize
 The children will discuss and
demonstrate the differences between
aerobic and non-aerobic, anaerobic
exercises.
 Aerobic activities are those that
make you breathe deeply for an
extended period of time.
 The children will identify aerobic
activities they enjoy.
 Anaerobic activities are those that
strengthen the body and cannot be
performed for long periods of time.
 The children will identify anaerobic
activities they enjoy.
 Discuss the importance of participating
in both aerobic and anaerobic activities.
You Will Need:
 Chart paper
 Whistle
 Art Supplies
 Beanbags (one for each child)
National Education Standards: Refer to “Campbell’s Fitness Lesson Plans Alignment
to National Standards” chart.
Procedure:
STEP
1
STEP
2
STEP
3
Begin a discussion with children about a track meet. Ask children if they are familiar
with these two running events: the 100-meter dash and the marathon. Discuss the
similarities and differences between the two races. Graph the information using a eVnn
diagram. To create the Venn diagram, draw two overlapping circles on a piece of chart
paper or on a board. Label the circles “100-meter dash” and “marathon.”
Ask children:
• Which race is faster?
• Which race takes longer?
• Which race requires more energy in a shorter period of time?
• Which race requires more energy over a longer period of time?
Record children’s responses in the appropriate circles. If an answer applies to both
races, record the information in the intersection of the circles.
© 2005 CSC Brands L.P. All rights reserved.
Let us know what you think about this lesson plan at http://www.labelsforeducation.com/lessonplans
Third Grade Fitness Lesson Plan
STEP
4
STEP
5
STEP
6
STEP
7
Guide children in reading the graphic organizer by explaining that in the 100-meter
dash, a runner uses lots of energy to run as fast as he or she can over a short period of
time. The athlete may get tired faster. That is, they will feel their heart beating faster.
Their breath will be deeper and faster, usually after the race, to make up the oxygen
debt for the energy used during the sprint. Tell children this is called “anaerobic”
activity. It literally means “without oxygen.”
Now, turn the discussion toward the marathon runner. Explain that this athlete needs
energy to burn over a longer period of time. Since the runner is going much slower
, the
energy is utilized on a “pay as you go” basis over a long period of time. The duration of
this run far exceeds that of the sprinter. Tell children this is called “aerobic” activity,
which means “with oxygen.”
To help children fully understand the difference between aerobic and anaerobic
activities, perform the following game. Have children stand on a line in your room or
outside.
Ask children to sprint as fast as they can to the finish line. Once they reach the finish
line, give them a few minutes to “catch their breath.” Ask children to describe how it
felt to perform this activity. Was their heart beating fast? Were they out of breath?
STEP
Next, ask them to jog (not run!) a few easy laps on a pre-designed jogging track or
around the playing area.
STEP
When they complete the second run, ask them to walk one lap then to sit down. Ask
children how it felt to perform this activity. How do their hearts feel? Are they out of
breath? Ask children which activity is easier to sprint and which would be harder to
sprint. Why might this be so?
8
9
STEP
10
Back in the classroom, invite children to create a chart that lists the different aerobic
and anaerobic activities (both in and outside of school) that they enjoy
. Post in the
classroom.
STEP
Using the list, have children keep a log for one week in which they keep track of all of
the aerobic and anaerobic activities that they do and how performing them makes them
feel.
STEP
When the week is up, ask them to set a personal goal to increase their aerobic and
anaerobic fitness.
11
12
Page 4 of 7
Extend Activity:
Invite children to take turns acting out different activities, while the rest of the class guesses what
activity they are performing and classifying it as an aerobic or anaerobic activity
.
Activity Outcomes:






What is an aerobic activity?
What is an anaerobic activity?
Name activities that have a long duration.
Name activities that have a short duration.
What activities make you feel tired fast?
What activities do not make you feel tired fast?
© 2005 CSC Brands L.P. All rights reserved.
Let us know what you think about this lesson plan at http://www.labelsforeducation.com/lessonplans
Third Grade Fitness Lesson Plan
Page 5 of 7
Extension Activity: Midnight (anaerobic game) and Bean Bag Toss (aerobic)
Perform the following fitness activities with children.
Midnight:
This game is more of a sprinting game--an anaerobic activity. It needs high energy in short
bursts. To play:
a) Designate a child as ‘it’ who will chase the other children.
b) ‘It’ stands on one end line, while all the other children stand on the other end line. All the
children will yell out to ‘it’, “What time is it?” ‘It’ may say 5 o’clock. Since ‘it’ said 5 o’clock,
all the children take 5 steps towards ‘it’. Next, the children will say again, “What time is
it?” If it says 8 o’clock, the children will take 8 more steps towards ‘it.’ Continue with this
pattern. When the children say, “What time is it?”, and ‘it’ says midnight, ‘it’ must chase all
the children back to the starting end line. Any child tagged now becomes a helper to ‘it’, and
will stand on ‘its’ end line to help chase the other children on the midnight command.
Beanbag Toss:
This game is more of an aerobic activity.
a) Set up a jogging track in the room (this activity can be done outside as well). In the middle of
the jogging track, place a box or milk crate.
b) Give each child a bean bag.
c) Tell children they must jog 10 laps (or whatever realistic number you choose) around the
track. Each time they complete a lap, they must throw their beanbag, using an underhand
throw, at the box in the middle of the track.
d) After they throw, children must go into the middle to ‘fetch’ their beanbag, pick it up, and
return back to the track all without stopping their run. Once back on the track, children
should begin running another lap from the place where they threw their beanbag. Children
should continue in this pattern until they complete all ten laps.
e) You can decide to tell the children each time they make it in the box, they can take away one
lap from the ten required. Another option is to give points out each time they make it in, but
still require them to do 10 laps. A fun, less competitive alternative is to let the kids keep their
scores private.
Note: If you do not have access to a large room or gymnasium, you can try a modified activity in
the classroom. To demonstrate the differences between the two activities, have all the children
stand in place by their desks. When you say go, tell them to jog in place at a very ‘slow’ pace for
15 seconds. Let them rest for a minute. Next, have them run in place at their ‘fastest’ pace for 15
seconds. Let them rest for a minute. Discussion should now turn to how different they felt after
each 15 second run.
Extend Activity:
Invite children to create their own aerobic or anaerobic games that include at least two
motor skills, rules and strategies. Have children work in small groups or pairs. Invite them
to teach the class their new games.
© 2005 CSC Brands L.P. All rights reserved.
Let us know what you think about this lesson plan at http://www.labelsforeducation.com/lessonplans
Third Grade Fitness Lesson Plan
Page 6 of 7
Safety Note:
Adult supervision is necessary for all exercise and activities. Students’ family doctors must
give permission for all participants to perform various exercises.
Vocabulary:
Aerobic
Exercise
With oxygen. A sub-maximal activity over time where oxygen is
used on a pay as you go basis. It uses skeletal muscles of the body
such as arms, legs, and back in a continuous rhythmic manner.
Details: http://www.acsm.org/pdf/Guidelines.pdf
Anaerobic
Exercise
Without oxygen. A high intensity, short duration activity such as a
100-meter sprint where muscles use stored chemicals as energy.
© 2005 CSC Brands L.P. All rights reserved.
Let us know what you think about this lesson plan at http://www.labelsforeducation.com/lessonplans
Third Grade Fitness Lesson Plan
Page 7 of 7
Teacher Information
Physical fitness is comprised of five principal components: cardiovascular (heart and lung)
endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, body composition, and flexibility
.A
physically fit person is able to exercise the entire body for long periods of time.
Cardiovascular (aerobic) endurance is the efficient delivery of oxygen to the working muscles
via the heart, lungs, and circulatory system and is the best indicator for total fitness. Muscular
strength is the ability of a muscle to (maximally) contract and produce force (work). Muscular
endurance is the ability of the muscle to contract submaximally repeatedly over time. Body
composition looks at the way the body distributes weight by looking at the percentage of
muscle, fat, bone and organs that are in the body. Flexibility is the ability of a body part to go
through the full range of motion. Good flexibility can help prevent injury
.
Aerobic activities are those that make you breathe deeply for an extended period of time.
Examples include:
 Jogging
 Aerobic Dance
 Swimming
 Basketball
 Soccer
 Bicycling
 Walking briskly for long
distances
These exercises help to strengthen the heart and lungs and tone the muscles of the entire body
.
Children should be physically active for at least 60 minutes a day
, or most days.
Benefits of Physical Fitness
Children need to be involved in an activity program that meets their physical needs and
develops positive attitudes and behaviors that encourage them to be physically active for life.
They also need to be encouraged to accept responsibility for their own performance, safety
, and
health.
Regular physical activity can have the following benefits:
 Improved performance in physical health
 Reduced stress and tension
 Reduced pulse rate
 Weight control
 Improved blood circulation
 Improved self-esteem
 Improved cardiovascular endurance
 Improved posture and appearance
 Improved muscular strength, muscular
 Reduced blood pressure and blood
endurance, and flexibility
cholesterol levels
 Greater resistance to disease and illness
 Improved sleep
 Controlled blood sugar levels
© 2005 CSC Brands L.P. All rights reserved.
Let us know what you think about this lesson plan at http://www.labelsforeducation.com/lessonplans
Name:
Date:
Unscramble a word from the first column, and draw a line to the same
word in the second column. Some of the scrambled words are exercises.
Try them out at home with a parent.
smpgnijuakcj
push-ups
cbioera
aerobic
upspuhs
hopping
canieabor
energy
ppohgin
run in place
schcuoteot
toe touches
niepcalunr
jumping jacks
erygne
anaerobic
Can you:
Do 5 push-ups?
Hop in place for 30 seconds?
Run in place for 30 seconds?
Touch your toes standing up with straight legs for 5 seconds?
Do 10 jumping jacks?