Olympic Health & Fitness
Understanding the connection between exercise, nutrition, and athletic performance builds lifelong health habits.
- Framework: EYFS
- Unit: EYFS Olympics
- Learning area: Understanding the World
- Level: EYFS 3-4, Reception
Objectives
- Learn that being active and exercising helps the body stay healthy and strong
- Identify healthy food choices versus unhealthy choices
- Follow simple directions for exercise activities
Materials
- Open space
- Photographs of athletes in action
- Pictures of healthy and unhealthy foods
- Healthy food song chart
Instructions
Create a 'Training Like a Champion' learning environment by displaying photos of Olympic athletes eating healthy foods, drinking water, and training. Prepare a food sorting activity with clear images of both nutritious options and less healthy choices.
Gather children for a discussion about what makes Olympic champions: 'What do you think Olympic athletes do to become so strong and fast?' Listen to children's ideas, validating correct responses and gently expanding misconceptions. Introduce key health concepts: our bodies need movement to stay strong, our hearts and lungs get stronger when we exercise, and the food we eat gives us energy to move and think.
Explore the food connection through an interactive sorting game. Display food images and invite children to sort them: 'Would this food help an Olympic athlete have energy for their sport? Would this make their body strong?' Create two groups—'Champion Foods' that fuel strong bodies and 'Sometimes Foods' that are okay occasionally but don't give lasting energy.
Guide children to identify patterns in the Champion Foods category: fruits, vegetables, proteins, whole grains, water. Ask probing questions: 'What do you notice about the foods that help athletes? What colours do you see? Where do these foods come from?'
Transition to the movement portion by explaining: 'Olympic athletes don't just eat well—they train every day! Let's practise training like champions!' Lead children through a variety of exercises while naming Olympic connections: 'Swimmers move their arms like this! Runners pump their legs like this! Gymnasts stretch like this!'
Introduce and practise a healthy eating song that reinforces food choices through music. Sing together, incorporating movements, and plan to use this song regularly during mealtimes or snack preparation.
Close by having children share one healthy food they'd like to eat like a champion and one way they'll move their body to train like an athlete.
Educator tip
Show pictures of Olympic athletes eating healthy foods and training. Ask 'What do you think they eat to be so strong?' Connect nutrition directly to athletic performance for meaningful context.
Assessment
Observe and note: ability to follow two-step instructions, use of new vocabulary in context, early problem-solving strategies, and sustained shared thinking episodes. Assess against Development Matters age-band expectations. Observe student's ability to discuss and identify healthy food choices and sing along with the class.