Strength Clinic for 7th Graders: Design and Rehearse

In groups, students design a 10-minute mini-lesson to teach a basic strength pattern to 7th graders and rehearse it with classmates acting as beginners. Applying technique to teaching forces students to really understand it.

How to play

1. Form six groups and assign one pattern to each; hand out the lesson template: objective, demo, three key points, game or challenge and regression (3 min).
2. Design the mini-lesson with simple equipment and language suited to 12-year-olds (10 min).
3. Rehearsal: each group leads its mini-lesson for 3 minutes with another group acting as 7th graders, including typical mistakes (12 min).
4. The receiving group fills in a feedback card: clarity, safety, fun and error correction (5 min).
5. Each group improves its design using the feedback and hands it in to the teacher for a future real session (5 min).

Rules

• Every plan must include a safety rule and a regression for anyone who cannot do it.
• Groups acting as students imitate typical mistakes, but never in an exaggerated or unsafe way.
• Use only light equipment suitable for 12-year-olds: sticks, bands and cones.
• Feedback starts with something positive.

Variations

Adaptations

• Difficulty speaking in public: takes the demonstrator or equipment manager role.
• Hearing impairment: the group adds visual support with cards to its mini-lesson.
• Injury: helps design and evaluates other groups.

Learning goals

• Understand the key points of a strength pattern well enough to teach it.
• Plan a safe activity adapted to a younger age group.
• Show leadership and give constructive feedback.

Equipment for a class of 25

• cards: 12
• sticks: 15
• cones: 30
• resistance bands: 15

Teacher tip

Coordinating with the 7th-grade PE teachers to run the real sessions gives the task real meaning and motivates students.

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