CONNECT
During childhood and adolescence, regular physical activity is crucial for physical and cognitive development, strengthening bones, muscles, and promoting essential motor skills, coordination, and concentration for learning and social interaction. In adulthood, regular physical activity is fundamental for preventing chronic diseases, controlling weight, increasing endurance, and improving sleep quality, promoting a balanced and healthy lifestyle. In old age, staying active is essential for preserving physical and mental health, preventing loss of muscle mass, osteoporosis, and cognitive decline, promoting independence, self-esteem, and quality of life.
Among the most popular and effective exercises for strengthening abdominal muscles are sit-ups. These exercises not only tone the abdominal muscles but also help improve posture, trunk stability, spine health, and the deep core muscles, which are essential for body balance and stability.
Watch the video “The Power of Physical Exercise”:
CONTEMPLATE
• Have you ever done sit-ups? Did you like it?
• Did you already know the number of benefits that regular exercise provides? Which benefit caught your interest?
ACTIVITY PROPOSAL
ATHLETE DOING SIT-UPS
Sit-ups are exercises aimed at strengthening the abdominal muscles, including the rectus abdominis, obliques, and transversus abdominis. These exercises are known for their both aesthetic and functional benefits.
Aesthetically, sit-ups help tone and define the abdominal muscles, contributing to a firmer and more defined abdomen. Additionally, strengthening the abdominal muscles can help improve posture and reduce the risk of lower back pain, especially in people who spend long periods sitting.
Functionally, sit-ups are essential for trunk stability and for performing everyday movements such as bending, lifting, and rotating the body. Having a strong core is also crucial for practicing other sports and physical activities, as it helps efficiently transfer force from the trunk to the limbs.
BUILD
Build an athlete doing sit-ups with the pieces of the LEGO® EDUCATION WeDo 2.0 Technological Kit.
Click the button to download the file.
Watch the video and see how the athlete doing sit-ups works:
ASSEMBLY PROGRAMMING
Make the athlete move as shown in the video.
1. Create the program as shown below:
2. Explain to the rest of the class how the athlete doing sit-ups worked.
CONTINUE
Answer the questions and share the answers with your classmates.
• How would you make the movement of the prototype?
• If you were to replace any part in the prototype, which one would you replace?
After the construction, store all materials used.