KS3 · Physical education · Year 8
Performing balances of increasing difficulty
Gymnastics jigsaw: technical fluency and group performance analysis
Learn it. Recall it. Make it stick.
IllumED Slides
IllumED · 1/10
Your learning goal
I can perform increasingly complex balances with control.
1 of 10
Performing balances of increasing difficulty: slides adapted from the imported teaching text; recall questions created from its keywords, learning points and common mistakes. Self-check practice, with no automatic grading or XP. Answers stay on this page and are cleared when you leave.
What you’ll learn
I can perform increasingly complex balances with control.
Key learning points
- Move: performing complex balances requires keeping the core engaged for stability.
- Move: using slow and controlled movements to enter and exit balances increases control and stability.
- Think: when balancing, focusing on a fixed point can help maintain control and stillness.
- Feel: pushing yourself to attempt more challenging balances improves your skills, building confidence and precision.
- Connect: physically supporting others in challenging balances helps them kinesthetically feel the correct technique.
Words to know
- balance
- the ability to maintain a stable and controlled body position
- stability
- the ability to maintain control of the body while performing static or dynamic movements
- core
- the group of muscles in the abdomen, lower back, hips and pelvis that provide stability, strength and control for movements
Common mistakes
When pupils are teaching, they do not use the additional materials and therefore provide incorrect teaching points or unsuitable adaptations for their group.
Ensure pupils are using the additional materials to support their understanding of each skill and make sure they know how to provide adaptations so that everyone in the group can achieve success when performing the skill.
For parents, carers and teachers
- A cooperative teaching approach such as this is reliant on pupils having the communication skills and confidence necessary to lead small groups. Ensure you have leaders in each group and differentiate by this skill rather than physical ability. Have adaptations for each balance to help pupils.

