How much circus is allowed? – Challenges and hindrances when embracing risk in physical education

Figures & data

Table 1. The empirical material.

Participants
Total	Pupils	Research teacher	PE teacher
22 participants	20 (6 girls and 14 boys)	1 (female)	1 (female)
Methods
Participant observations	Video observations	Field diary
10 circus lessons (40–55 minutes)	8 hours	228 pages (1.5 line spacing)
Content and implementation of the study
Lesson and focus	Date
1: What is the circus? Making associations, talking, drawing, and writing	5 November 2019
2: Balance Using peacock feathers	8 November 2019
3: Throw and catch Juggling scarves, balls, and clubs	15 November 2019
4: Throw and catch, continuation Juggling scarves, balls, and clubs at different stations Imagination exercise: What can it be?	29 November 2019
5: Rope skipping Skipping with single rope and long rope Imagination exercise: What can it be?	6 December 2019
6: Gymnastic Twirling Ribbons Individual exploration Putting together a choreography in groups	24 January 2020
7: Horses and feelings Horse association: acting and moving like horse and rider and navigating an obstacle course Cooperation Charades of staged feelings	31 January 2020
8: Costumes and characters Exploration of movement in relation to different animals and characters Obstacle course	7 February 2020
9: Hula hoop Exploration Imagination exercise: What can it be?	14 February 2020
10: Circus Mix* Different circus activities to choose between Imagination exercise: What can it be?	20 March 2020

*Only 7 participating pupils due to high absenteeism during the COVID-19 pandemic.