Everyday English · Gym class at an Ontario elementary school: getting changed, warming up, using the equipment, playing games fairly and cooling down.
Gym Class at School: 16 Everyday English Words
Learn the words you hear in gym class, such as gym strip, change room, indoor shoes, pinnie, pylon and take turns, and follow a teacher's gym instructions.
What to do
In Ontario, gym class is part of a subject called Health and Physical Education. Many people just say gym or phys-ed. Most classes happen in the school gym, and some happen outside on the field when the weather is nice.
Before gym, you might change into your gym strip in a change room or in the classroom. Many schools ask everyone to wear clean indoor shoes, so snow and mud stay outside. Tie your laces well, and take off jewellery that could catch on something.
Class often starts with a warm-up, such as jogging or arm circles. Then the teacher brings out equipment: pylons to mark the path, pinnies to show the teams, gym mats for rolling, and beanbags, hula hoops or skipping ropes. You will often hear partner up and take turns.
If you get hurt or need a rest, you can sit out and tell the teacher. At the end there may be a cool-down and a chance to drink at the water fountain. These words are here so you understand them when you hear them, not to memorise in one day. Every school has its own routines, so follow your teacher's instructions.
Core everyday words
gym class
noun phrase · JIM KLASSa school class where students move, play games and learn sports, usually in the gym
Example: We have gym class on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
gym strip
noun phrase · JIM STRIPthe comfortable clothes some schools ask you to change into for gym, such as a T-shirt and shorts or track pants
Example: Don't forget to pack your gym strip tonight.
change room
noun phrase · CHAYNJ ROOMa room where you change your clothes before and after gym or swimming
Example: Leave your school clothes on the bench in the change room.
indoor shoes
noun phrase · IN-dor SHOOZclean running shoes that you wear only inside the school, so mud and snow stay outside
Example: Switch to your indoor shoes before you go into the gym.
tie your laces
verb phrase · TY yor LAY-sizto make a knot and a bow with your shoelaces so your shoes stay on
Example: Stop and tie your laces before you start running.
warm-up
noun · WORM-upeasy movement at the start of gym, such as jogging or arm circles, that gets your body ready
Example: Our warm-up is two slow laps around the gym.
pinnie
noun · PIN-eea light mesh vest you wear over your shirt to show which team you are on
Example: Everyone with a red pinnie is on the same team.
pylon
noun · PY-lona plastic cone used to mark a line, a corner or a path in a game
Example: Run to the pylon and back.
gym mat
noun phrase · JIM MATa thick, soft pad on the floor for rolling, stretching and landing safely
Example: Do your forward roll on the gym mat, not on the floor.
skipping rope
noun phrase · SKIP-ing ROHPa rope with handles that you swing over your head and jump over
Example: How many jumps can you do with the skipping rope?
beanbag
noun · BEEN-baga small cloth bag filled with dry beans or pellets, used for tossing and catching
Example: Toss the beanbag into the hoop.
hula hoop
noun phrase · HOO-luh HOOPa large, light plastic ring that you can spin around your waist
Example: She kept the hula hoop spinning for a whole minute.
partner up
verb phrase · PART-nur UPto make pairs, so each person works with one other person
Example: Partner up and pass the ball back and forth.
take turns
verb phrase · TAYK TURNZto go one after another, so that everyone gets a chance
Example: We take turns on the scooter boards.
sit out
verb phrase · SIT OWTto stop playing and wait at the side for a while, for example when you are hurt or need a rest
Example: If your ankle hurts, sit out and tell the teacher.
water fountain
noun phrase · WAH-tur FOWN-tuna tap that sends up a small stream of water so you can drink
Example: You may get a drink at the water fountain after the warm-up.
Recognise the word
Recognise the word
Choose the meaning or the word that fits.
1. What is a gym strip?
- a line painted on the gym floor
- the comfortable clothes you change into for gym
- a list of gym rules on the wall
- a short warm-up before a game
2. Why do many schools ask for indoor shoes?
- so students can run faster than in boots
- so everyone's shoes look the same
- so students can play outside at recess
- so snow, mud and salt stay outside and the floors stay clean and safe
3. What does a pinnie show?
- which team you are on
- how fast you are
- which grade you are in
- that you are the teacher's helper
4. Your teacher says, "Run to the pylon and back." What is the pylon?
- the wall at the end of the gym
- the teacher's whistle
- a plastic cone that marks a spot
- a bench at the side of the gym
5. What happens when the class takes turns?
- everyone goes at the same time
- the fastest person goes first every time
- only the winners get to play
- people go one after another so everyone gets a chance
6. Which thing would you jump over again and again?
- a gym mat
- a beanbag
- a hula hoop
- a skipping rope
Use the word in a situation
Use the word in a situation
Think about what teachers and students really say in the gym.
7. "Your shoelace is loose. Please ___ before the relay."
- sit out
- tie your laces
- partner up
- take turns
8. "Find a friend for this activity. Everybody, ___!"
- warm up
- sit out
- partner up
- freeze
9. "Before we play, let's do a ___ : two slow laps and some arm circles."
- warm-up
- pinnie
- change room
- gym strip
10. "Get changed in the ___ , then line up at the gym door."
- water fountain
- gym mat
- equipment room
- change room
11. "If your knee hurts, sit out for a few minutes." What should you do?
- keep playing but more slowly
- go home right away
- stop playing and rest at the side
- switch to a different team
12. You are thirsty after running. Where can you get a drink in the school?
- the water fountain
- the change room bench
- the equipment room
- the gym mat
Quick-check answers
- 1. the comfortable clothes you change into for gym
A gym strip is the set of clothes for gym class, such as a T-shirt and shorts. The word strip here has nothing to do with a painted line, a list of rules or a warm-up. - 2. so snow, mud and salt stay outside and the floors stay clean and safe
Indoor shoes stay inside the school, so dirt and slush are left on outdoor boots. Speed and matching looks are not the reason, and indoor shoes are not for going outside. - 3. which team you are on
A pinnie is a coloured vest you wear over your shirt to show your team. It does not show speed, grade or a helper job. - 4. a plastic cone that marks a spot
A pylon is a cone used to mark where to run, turn or stop. Walls, whistles and benches are other things in a gym, but they are not pylons. - 5. people go one after another so everyone gets a chance
Taking turns means going one at a time in order. If everyone went at once, or only the fastest or winners went, some people would not get their chance. - 6. a skipping rope
You swing a skipping rope over your head and jump over it each time it comes around. You roll on a gym mat, toss a beanbag and spin a hula hoop around your waist. - 7. tie your laces
A loose lace can trip you, so you tie it first. Sitting out, partnering up and taking turns do not fix a shoelace. - 8. partner up
Finding one friend to work with is partnering up. Warming up gets your body ready, sitting out means stopping to rest, and freeze means stand still. - 9. warm-up
Slow laps and arm circles at the start get your body ready, which is a warm-up. A pinnie and a gym strip are clothes, and a change room is a place. - 10. change room
You change your clothes in the change room. A water fountain is for drinking, a gym mat is for rolling or landing, and the equipment room stores balls and mats. - 11. stop playing and rest at the side
To sit out is to stop playing and wait at the side. It does not mean playing slowly, going home or changing teams. Tell your teacher if something hurts. - 12. the water fountain
A water fountain gives you a drink of water. A bench is for sitting, the equipment room stores gym things, and a gym mat is for exercise.