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Cardio vs Strength

Eighth graders learn how cardio and strength training differ, what each one does for the body, and sort common exercises into the two types so they can build a balanced routine.

Grade 8Cardio vs Strength Exercises45 minutes1 class periodSHAPEExplicit teaching4 StandardsSHAPE
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Define cardio.
  • ✓Define strength.
  • ✓Know each benefit.
  • ✓Sort each exercise.
Essential Question

Not all exercise does the same job. How do cardio and strength training differ, what does each build, and why does a routine need both?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Sort It · Interactive

Sort the Exercises

Project this and sort each exercise into cardio or strength — tap an exercise, then tap where it belongs.

🏋️ Sort each exercise: cardio or strength?Try it
🏃 Cardio
💪 Strength
Tap an exercise, then tap whether it mainly builds endurance or builds muscle.
The Lesson · Health & PE Flow (Warm-Up · Learn · Practice · Apply · Cool-Down)

45 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Hook — Two Kinds of Work

5 min

Running and push-ups both count as exercise, but they train the body in different ways. How are they different?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show two exercises.
  • Ask what each builds.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Think.
  • Share.
  • Get ready.
2

Use — Sort the Exercises

12 min

Students sort cardio and strength exercises.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Sort the Exercises.
  • Drop each exercise.
  • Explain each choice.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Sort.
  • Say.
  • Explain.
3

Modify — Name the Benefit

13 min

Students match exercises to benefits.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Pick an exercise.
  • Name what it builds.
  • Say why it helps.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Pick.
  • Name.
  • Say.
4

Create — Balanced Week

15 min

Students plan a balanced week.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Plan a week of activity.
  • Mix cardio and strength.
  • Add a rest day.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Plan.
  • Mix.
  • Add.
5

Reflect — Train It All

5 min

Students reflect on balance.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Why do both cardio and strength?
  • Which do you do more of?
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Say it.
  • Say it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the SHAPE America National Standards for Health Education and Physical Education.

SHAPE
PE.3

Distinguish cardio from strength exercise.

SHAPE
PE.3

Explain the benefits of each type of exercise.

SHAPE
PE.4

Plan a balanced fitness routine.

SHAPE
PE.5

Value a mix of activity for lifelong fitness.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Exercise picture cards.
  • Sentence frame: “___ is cardio / strength.”
  • Sort two exercises at a time.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with running vs push-ups.
  • Demonstrate one of each.
  • Sort cardio fully before the rest.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Add exercises that do both.
  • Match each to a fitness component.
  • Design a weekly split routine.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 🖼️Exercise cards
  • 💻Sort the Exercises
  • 🧍Open space to move
  • ✏️Pencils
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

cardioexercise that raises the heart rate and builds endurancestrength exerciseexercise that builds muscle against resistanceendurancethe ability to stay active for a long timeresistancea force muscles work against, like weightaerobicactivity fueled by oxygen over timemuscular strengthhow much force a muscle can producebalanced routinea plan that mixes different types of exerciserest daya day off to let the body recover
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What is the difference between cardio and strength exercise?
Cardio raises the heart rate and builds endurance; strength exercise builds muscle by working against resistance.
QUESTION 2
Name one cardio exercise and one strength exercise.
For example, jogging (cardio) and push-ups (strength).
QUESTION 3
Why include both cardio and strength in a routine?
They build different things (endurance and muscle), so a mix keeps the whole body fit and balanced.

Create: a balanced week.

Have students plan a week of activity that mixes cardio and strength and includes a rest day, so their routine trains the whole body. A printable cardio-and-strength worksheet is in the PE & Health library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Cardio vs Strength ExercisesFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Cardio vs Strength ExercisesQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Cardio vs Strength ExercisesPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: aerobic, balanced routine, cardio, endurance, muscular strength, resistance, rest day, strength exercise
  1. a force muscles work against, like weight
  2. activity fueled by oxygen over time
  3. a plan that mixes different types of exercise
  4. a day off to let the body recover
  5. the ability to stay active for a long time
  6. how much force a muscle can produce
  7. exercise that raises the heart rate and builds endurance
  8. exercise that builds muscle against resistance

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What is the difference between cardio and strength exercise?
  2. Name one cardio exercise and one strength exercise.
  3. Why include both cardio and strength in a routine?
Answer key — Part A: 1) resistance · 2) aerobic · 3) balanced routine · 4) rest day · 5) endurance · 6) muscular strength · 7) cardio · 8) strength exercise
Part B: 1) Cardio raises the heart rate and builds endurance; strength exercise builds muscle by working against resistance. 2) For example, jogging (cardio) and push-ups (strength). 3) They build different things (endurance and muscle), so a mix keeps the whole body fit and balanced.