Learning to do a headstand: Exercise cards for physical education classes

Learning to do a handstand is a series of exercise cards that help children and young people learn the handstand in physical education step by step. The exercises get slightly harder from card to card. First, learners can take small steps up the wall. Later, they generate momentum with their swinging leg, bring their legs into a vertical position, and finally try to stand freely. The hands and head always form a triangle as a stable base.

What is included in the material

• Exercise cards with a sequence of images, setup, and required equipment, from exercises at the wall to assisted exercises and exercises on soft floor mats
• Technique cards showing the handstand from the side and from the front, with the characteristics of the starting position, swinging up, and holding position
• Tip card on the spotter grip, with which a helping person stabilizes the active person during the movement
• Instructions for implementation with various options for using the exercise cards in class
• Safety instructions on risks, warming up, breathing, and the correct behavior in case of pain

Tips for using the material

• Technique cards beforehand: Before the exercises, it is advisable to use the technique cards to give an idea of the handstand. Alternatively, the teacher or a person who already masters the handstand can demonstrate it.
• Open station work: The exercises can be set up next to each other. The learners can choose what to start with and move on to the next one after successfully completing an exercise. Those who already know the handstand can help the others with the exercises as a coach.
• Partner work: The cards can be laid out in order or hung on the wall. In pairs or threes, the learners complete the exercises one after another, give each other tips and assistance.
• Frontal instruction in small learning groups: The learners can look at the exercise on the card and then imitate it under the teacher's guidance until as many as possible master the handstand in an initial, rough form.

These competencies are promoted

• Balance by balancing the body in the holding position
• Body experience upside down through the progressive exercises
• Gymnastics technique by swinging up with the swinging and standing leg and bringing the legs together vertically
• Helping and spotting through assistance with the spotter grip

Organizational notes

For the exercises, gymnastics mats, marking discs, chalk or adhesive tape, as well as a wall or soft floor mats are required. Before the handstand, it is recommended to warm up the neck, shoulder, and back muscles well.

You can find more exercise series for floor gymnastics for the handstand, the cartwheel, and the forward roll; pyramids with handstands are available in the acrobatics cards.