Flow Lab Slides Movement Lab
FLOW LAB
Connecting Moves with Flow
Lesson 1: Transitions
The Big Question
How can we glue two moves together so they look like one long sentence?
Think about how a dancer or a gymnast moves from one trick to the next...
What is a Transition?
The Bridge
The movement that connects one skill to the next.
The Flow
Moving without stopping, wobbling, or fixing your clothes!
Seamless Movement
The Fidget Patrol
The Extra Step
Taking little steps to find your balance between moves.
The Tug
Fixing your shirt or hair after a roll.
The Adjustment
Touching the floor to steady yourself when you shouldn't.
GOAL: ZERO FIDGETS!
Flow Challenge #1
1
Skill
Movement Glue
No stopping!
2
Skill
Try: Forward Roll → Stork Balance
Smooth Transitions Teacher Guide Movement Lab: Transitions
Facilitator Guide
Lesson 1
Gymnastics Sequencing
Learning Objective
Students will demonstrate the ability to link two separate gymnastics skills together using a fluid transition, specifically focusing on eliminating "fidgets" (extra steps, clothing adjustments, or balance breaks).
Essential Skills
Motor Planning
Flow & Continuity
Spatial Awareness
Concentration
Materials
Flow Lab Slides
Gymnastics Mats
"Movement Glue" Worksheets
Pencils
Whistle or Drum
Lesson Procedure
1
The Hook: The Sentence Metaphor (5 mins)
Ask students: "If a roll is a word, and a balance is a word, what is the whole routine?" (A sentence!). Explain that we need "glue" (transitions) to make the sentence read smoothly. Show Slide 2.
2
Discovery: The Fidget Patrol (10 mins)
Demonstrate a forward roll, then stand up, fix your hair, take three little steps, and then do a stork balance. Ask students what was wrong. Introduce "Fidgets" using Slide 4.
Teacher Tip: Be dramatic with the fidgets! Kids love catching adults being "messy."
3
Guided Practice: The Glue Drill (15 mins)
Assign pairs. One student performs a 2-move combo (e.g., Jump → Balance). The partner acts as the "Fidget Patrol," looking for extra steps or pauses. Switch roles.
4
Independent Lab: Worksheet Application (15 mins)
Students use the "Movement Glue" worksheet to plan their own 2-skill connections. They must practice their planned pair until it has "Zero Fidgets."
Differentiation Strategies
Support
Allow students to use very simple skills (e.g., a "log roll" instead of a forward roll) so they can focus entirely on the moment they stand up and stop moving.
Extension
Challenge students to link 3 skills. Can they keep the flow going through two different transitions? Add a specific "arm path" requirement to the transition.
Movement Glue Activity Movement Glue
The Transition Lab
Name:
Date:
In the Flow Lab, we don't just do skills—we glue them together! A transition is the movement that happens between two skills. Your goal is to move from Skill A to Skill B without any fidgets.
1
The Mini-Sequence
Skill A
Draw or write your first skill here...
Movement Glue
Skill B
Draw or write your second skill here...
The Fidget Patrol Checklist
Practice your sequence 3 times. Check a box for every time you have ZERO fidgets!
Attempt 1
Attempt 2
Attempt 3
Flow Lab Reflection
What was the hardest part about connecting these two skills?
The Grand Salute Slides Movement Lab
THE GRAND SALUTE
Start Strong, Finish Still
Lesson 2: Presentation
Silent Communication
"Gymnasts talk to the judges with their posture."
How do we say "I am ready" without using any words?
The Start: The Salute
Stand tall like a tree
Arms high in a "V"
Chin up, Eyes on the judge
Smile (optional but awesome!)
"I am focused."
The Finish: Stillness
3
Seconds
Count them slowly in your head!
No Wobble
Picture Perfect
"Like a statue in a museum."
The Bookends Challenge
SALUTE
ONE SKILL
FINISH
"Can you hold your finish while the teacher counts to 3?"
Performance Etiquette Teacher Guide Movement Lab: Presentation
Performance Etiquette Guide
Lesson 2
Gymnastics Sequencing
The "Bookend" Concept
Just as a sentence starts with a capital letter and ends with a period, a gymnastics routine must have clear "bookends." The salute is the capital letter, and the stuck landing is the period. Without them, the movement feels incomplete.
Key Vocabulary
Salute
Stillness
Stuck Landing
Etiquette
Teaching Procedures
1
The Silent Signal (5 mins)
Gather students. Stand in a "messy" posture (slouching, looking away). Ask: "Am I ready to perform?" Then, snap into a sharp salute. Ask: "What did I just tell you without speaking?" Introduce the Salute .
2
The "Stuck" Landing (10 mins)
Demonstrate a simple jump, landing with a wobble. Ask students to help you fix it. Explain the 3-second rule : Once your feet hit the ground, you are a statue. No fixing hair, no stepping, no giggling.
Teacher Tip: Have the whole class count out loud: "One gymn-as-tic, Two gymn-as-tic, Three gymn-as-tic, DONE!"
3
The Statue Challenge (20 mins)
Distribute the Statue Challenge Checklist . Students find a partner.
Partner A performs: Salute → One Skill → Finish Pose .
Partner B acts as the "Statue Judge." They count the 3 seconds and check for wobbles.
What to Look For
Great Performance
Sharp, intentional arm movements.
Eyes staying on a fixed point.
Complete stillness for full 3 seconds.
Common Errors
"Fidgeting" immediately after landing.
Rushing the salute (it should be a clear hold).
Dropping arms too early on the finish.
Statue Challenge Checklist Statue Challenge
Performance Scorecard
Gymnast Name:
Judge Name:
Your Mission
Perform one skill with perfect bookends!
Salute Skill Finish
A
The Start Salute
Arms in a 'V', chin up, perfectly still.
Pass
B
The Skill
Name: ______________________
Safe
C
The Finish Pose
Held for 3 seconds without a wobble!
1
2
3
Judge's Feedback
What did the gymnast do really well? (Pick one: Strong salute, Cool skill, or Great stillness!)
Beat and Body Slides Movement Lab
BEAT AND BODY
Rhythm, Tempo, and Speed
Lesson 3: Rhythmic Awareness
The Speed Test
Slow Motion
Can you do a roll so slow it takes 10 seconds?
Fast Forward
Can you do a jump and land in the blink of an eye?
What is Tempo?
"Tempo is the speed of the music or the movement."
Slow
Medium
Fast
Moving to the Beat
Listen for the Steady Beat .
Match your moves to the sound.
BUM... BUM... BUM...
The Tempo Challenge
"Change the Speed, Change the Skill"
Perform the same sequence 3 times:
Slow
Normal
Fast
Which speed makes it harder to stay balanced?
Rhythm Master Teacher Guide Movement Lab: Rhythm
Rhythm Master Guide
Lesson 3
Gymnastics Sequencing
The Why
Rhythm is the heartbeat of a gymnastics routine. Changing tempo requires students to have greater body control. Slow-motion movement demands immense strength and balance, while fast movement requires quick motor planning and spatial awareness.
Drum Prompts
Slow: One deep beat every 4 seconds.
Fast: Rapid, sharp taps like a heartbeat.
Variable: Start slow and gradually accelerate.
Rhythmic Procedure
1
Echo Rhythms (5 mins)
Have students clap back different tempos you tap on a drum or with your hands. Transition this into "body claps" (clapping hands, then knees, then floor) to get the whole body involved in the beat.
2
The Snail & The Hare (10 mins)
On your signal, students perform a simple walk or crawl across the mat.
Snail signal: Move as slow as possible without stopping.
Hare signal: Move quickly and sharply while maintaining control.
3
The Beat-Matched Routine (20 mins)
Students choose 3 skills they know well. You provide a steady drum beat. They must time their movements so that each major 'moment' in the skill (the take-off, the height, the landing) hits a beat. Use the Tempo Tracker to record their findings.
Discussion Questions
"Which skill became much harder when we did it in slow motion? Why?"
"How does the 'story' of your routine change if you do it fast vs. slow?"
Tempo Tracker Worksheet Tempo Tracker
Rhythm Experiment Lab
Lab Partner Name:
Date:
The Speed Experiment
Pick one skill . Perform it at three different speeds. Circle the word that describes how it felt!
Slow
Easy Wobbly Strong
Normal
Smooth Boring Control
Fast
Scary Fun Messy
Lab Findings
"Performing a skill FAST is different from performing it SLOW because..."
Synchronized Shadows Slides Movement Lab
SHADOW SYNC
Moving as One
Lesson 4: Collaboration
The Human Shadow
"You are your partner's shadow—where they go, you must go exactly the same way."
How do we know what our partner is about to do?
What is Sync?
Use your peripheral vision
Feel the beat together
Match the height of every jump
Land at the EXACT same time
One Body, Two People
How to Play
MIRROR
Facing each other. When leader moves right, shadow moves left.
SHADOW
Standing behind. Leader moves, shadow follows identically.
The Sync Challenge
"Can you fool the audience?"
Practice a 3-move sequence with your partner until you move so perfectly together that we can't tell who is leading!
Watch
Time
Match
Shadow Play Facilitator Guide Movement Lab: Sync
Shadow Play Guide
Lesson 4
Gymnastics Sequencing
Observation & Empathy
Synchronization is a high-level coordination skill. It forces students to move their focus from "Me" (my body) to "We" (our movement). This develops deep observational skills and forces students to refine their own technique so it can be easily followed.
Safety First
Ensure pairs have adequate space on the mats. When "Shadowing" (one behind the other), remind the leader not to move too fast to avoid collisions.
Sync Procedures
1
The Mirror Game (10 mins)
Students face each other. Leader performs slow upper-body movements (arms, head, torso). Shadow matches identically. Key Rule: No talking! Use only visual cues.
2
The Shadow Follow (10 mins)
Leader stands in front, Shadow behind. Leader performs a slow walk or crawl. Shadow must match the footwork and rhythm exactly. If the leader stops in a balance, the shadow must hit it at the same time.
3
Synchronized Challenge (20 mins)
Hand out Shadow Duo Task Cards . Each pair picks a card and practices the 2-skill sequence until they are perfectly in sync. They should focus on:
Matching the height of jumps.
Matching the speed of rolls.
Ending in the exact same pose at the same time.
Teacher Observation Checklist
Are they looking at each other (Mirror) or the leader's back (Shadow)?
Is one student rushing ahead?
Are they using the 3-second hold on the finish?
Is the transition between skills fluid for BOTH?
Shadow Duo Task Cards Card 01
Flying Pencils
Sequence:
Tuck Jump → Stork Balance
The Challenge:
Match the height of your jump perfectly. You must both take off and land at the exact same moment. Hold the balance for 5 seconds!
Movement Lab
Card 02
Rolling Shadows
Sequence:
Forward Roll → Wide Finish Pose
The Challenge:
Shadow formation (one behind the other). The shadow must roll at the same speed as the leader. Pop up into your finish pose together.
Movement Lab
Card 03
Stork Twins
Sequence:
Balance → Star Jump → Salute
The Challenge:
Mirror formation (facing each other). When the leader jumps, the shadow jumps. Land as softly as a feather at the exact same time.
Movement Lab
Card 04
The Master Mix
Sequence:
Salute → 3 Different Jumps → Finish
The Challenge:
Side-by-side formation. Choose 3 different jumps (Straight, Tuck, Star). Move through them like a machine. Stay perfectly together.
Movement Lab
Choreography Corner Slides Movement Lab
THE SHOWDOWN
Your Skills, Your Story, Your Routine
Grand Finale
It's Showtime!
"You get to be the choreographer and the star of your own routine."
Which moves will you choose to tell your movement story?
The Routine Recipe
1. Salute
2. Three Skills
Roll, Balance, Jump
3. Finish
"Don't forget your Movement Glue (transitions)!"
Performance Pro-Tips
Memorize
Know exactly what move comes next. No guessing!
Flow
Eliminate all fidgets. Make it look like water.
Confidence
If you wobble, hold it! The judges love stillness.
The Final Performance
Rules for the Crowd
1. Silence while they perform.
2. Watch for the 3-second finish.
3. Respectful applause at the end!
Good Luck, Gymnast!
Mini Routine Showdown Guide Movement Lab: Performance
Showdown Facilitator Guide
Lesson 5
Gymnastics Sequencing
The Culminating Project
This lesson represents the culmination of the "Sequencing Movements" unit. Students must independently design, refine, and perform a 3-skill routine. The focus is not on the difficulty of the skills, but on the fluency of the sequencing and the professionalism of the performance.
1 Roll
1 Balance
1 Jump
Performance Rubric
Criteria Excellent (3) Developing (2) Needs Work (1) Bookends Sharp salute; 3-second held finish with zero wobble. Salute and finish present, but wobbly or short. Missing salute or finish pose. Movement Glue Seamless transitions; no fidgets or extra steps between moves. Skills are linked, but with minor fidgets (e.g. fixing hair). Long pauses or many extra steps between skills. Memory & Flow Moves through the routine with total confidence and memory. Occasional hesitation or look to the teacher for cues. Requires constant prompting to remember next move.
The Showdown Procedure
1
Planning (10 mins): Students complete the Routine Designer Planner . Encourage them to pick skills they are 100% confident in.
2
Refinement (15 mins): "Mat Time." Students practice their sequence. Focus on the 3-second finish. "If you wobble, you're not done!"
3
The Showdown (20 mins): Group students into pods of 4-5. Each pod takes turns performing. The audience should be silent and provide "Spirit Fingers" or respectful applause after the finish pose.
Routine Designer Planner Routine Designer
Choreography Lab: Finale
Gymnast Name:
Routine Title:
Ex: The Flying Star
My Routine Map
1. The Salute
Describe or draw your starting pose here.
2. A Roll
Which roll will you choose?
3. A Balance
Hold for 3 seconds!
4. A Jump
Land softly!
5. The Finish Pose
Hold for 3 seconds like a statue!
The Final Check
Zero Fidgets?
3-Second Hold?
Memory Clear?