Design the Intensity Curve of a Group Fitness Class

In groups, students plan a short aerobics, step, cardio boxing or Latin dance class by first drawing its intensity curve: warm-up, peaks, recoveries and cool-down. They then lead it for another group and use the Borg scale to check whether the real curve matches the plan.

How to play

1. Explain the structure of a group fitness class and show sample intensity curves (5 min).
2. Each group picks a style and songs and draws its 8-minute curve on the sheet, with the expected Borg rating for each section (8 min).
3. Group A leads its class for group B; each participant records their Borg rating every 2 minutes (8 min).
4. Switch roles: group B leads group A (8 min).
5. Each group overlays the real curve on the planned one and suggests two adjustments (6 min).

Rules

• The curve includes a gradual warm-up and a cool-down: never start or finish at the peak.
• No planned peak goes above 16 on the Borg scale.
• Whoever leads always offers a lower-intensity option.
• Each pair of groups works in its own area so music and people don't mix.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: helps plan and leads or follows an upper-body version.
• Difficulty with graphs: gets a template with the axes already drawn.
• Asthma or a controlled heart condition: their personal curve is capped at a Borg rating of 13, and they let their group know.

Learning goals

• Plan session intensity using progression criteria.
• Compare planned and actual intensity using data.
• Safely lead physical activity for other people.

Equipment for a class of 25

• speakers: 3
• planning sheets: 6
• stopwatches: 3

Teacher tip

This works great as a lead-in to a graded group fitness class project. Collect the sheets: they clearly show whether students understand training load.

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