Move Your Body! Why We Need Exercise

About This Resource

A complete Grade 1 science pack on why our bodies need exercise: how moving makes our muscles, heart and lungs strong, what happens to our bodies when we exercise (faster heartbeat, faster breathing, feeling warm), why we need rest and water, and fun ways to be active every day. Children test their own heartbeat before and after jumping. Includes a lesson plan, worksheet, quiz, homework, A5 flashcards, a rubric, slides with speaker notes, Word files and answer keys.

Overview

Children discover that exercise is any activity that makes our bodies move, from running and dancing to swimming and riding a bike. They find out that exercise makes our muscles, heart and lungs stronger, and they notice the changes in their own bodies when they move: the heart beats faster, we breathe faster, we feel warm and sometimes we sweat. In a simple class investigation they feel their heartbeat before and after jumping. They also learn that our bodies need rest, sleep and water, and they plan their own active day.

Resource Details

Subject: Science
Topic: Why We Need Exercise
Category: Human Body
File Type: PDF
File Size: 345.2 KB
Published: 08 Nov 2026
Downloads: 0

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Grade 1 (ages 6–7) 40 minutes Life science observing comparing explaining healthy habits

Learning Objectives

Explain that exercise helps our muscles, heart and lungs stay strong and healthy.
Describe how our bodies change when we exercise.
Name ways to be active every day and explain why we also need rest and water.

How to Use This Resource

Start with slide 1: ask children to jump on the spot for 30 seconds, then put a hand on their chest. Ask: "What do you feel?"
Teach the main ideas with the slides and flashcards, then do the heartbeat investigation and worksheet activities 1 and 2 together.
Children complete activities 3 to 5, then use the quiz and send the homework page home.

Classroom Activity Ideas

Heartbeat test: children put a hand on their chest while sitting still, then after one minute of jumping, and compare.
Exercise dice: roll a large dice with pictures (hop, stretch, dance, jog) and do each exercise for ten seconds.
Active day chart: children color a box each time they play actively during the week.

Differentiation

Support: use the flashcards and point to body parts while you say each word. Challenge: children count their heartbeats for 15 seconds before and after exercise and say which number is bigger.

Assessment

Use the worksheet and quiz to check understanding of how exercise helps the body. Use the rubric during the heartbeat investigation and the homework activity plan.

Teacher Tips

Some children have health conditions that limit exercise. Offer gentle choices, such as marching in place or arm circles, so every child can take part in the investigation.

What's Included

10-page printable PDF lesson pack: teacher lesson plan with timings, materials and differentiation
Key vocabulary list (7 words with meanings and examples)
Student worksheet (5 activities)
Quiz / assessment (3 parts)
Homework practice page
Printable flashcards: 7 A5 picture cards (separate PDF)
Assessment rubric (4 levels)
Lesson slides (editable PowerPoint)
Editable Word version of all student pages
Complete answer key (also as a separate PDF)

Additional Files

Lesson Slides (PPTX)
Editable Student Pages and Lesson Plan (DOCX)
A5 Flashcards (PDF)
Answer Key (PDF)

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