Medium Term Plan - Athletics - Year 1

The Year 1 athletics medium-term plan spans six lessons, with the primary aim of introducing students to the basics of jumping, throwing, and running. This includes simplified activities that incorporate challenges and mimic running games, which enhance speed, agility, and the ability to navigate obstacles. The plan is rooted in the intent to not only develop physical skills but also to foster an understanding of the connection between exercise and health, and to cultivate essential social skills such as turn-taking and teamwork. Students will gain knowledge in various athletic disciplines, learning to adjust their running speeds, embrace the concept of practice for improvement, and understand the importance of sharing and working together.

Structured sequentially, the lessons build on playful running, jumping, and throwing games, gradually incorporating athletic equipment and tasks that involve retrieval and returning items, all while developing the ability to listen and follow instructions. The curriculum is designed to help pupils accurately replicate simple athletic skills, understand the demands of different events, and adapt their techniques accordingly. It emphasises the development of physical and mental capacity, including the importance of warm-ups and cool-downs. Pupils will also engage in decision-making and problem-solving as they refine their techniques for better performance. The plan includes cross-curricular links with literacy and numeracy and provides various opportunities for assessment through questions and answers, formative feedback, and discussions. The impact of the plan is to guide students from basic running, jumping, and throwing to more advanced techniques and understanding, ultimately leading to a mini athletics festival where they can independently demonstrate their skills and knowledge of fair play and teamwork.