Speed Running: 50-100m - Lesson Plan

The initial lesson in the Year 6 Athletics unit is dedicated to Speed Running, focusing on the 50-100m sprint. The objectives are clear: to master the basic sprinting technique, replicate the correct arm and leg movements fluently, and comprehend the significance of reaction time in a race. To achieve these goals, various resources are employed, including cones, hoops, a speed bounce or similar obstacle, and resource cards highlighting key concepts such as speed, reaction time, coordination, and the sprint start. The success criteria for the lesson are for students to demonstrate fast arm movements from hip to lip, maintain a still head and upright body trunk while running, react promptly, and refine their performance for improved results.

The lesson begins with a 7-minute warm-up involving a speed bounce where students work in pairs to jump across an obstacle, scoring points for each successful cross. The main sprinting practice lasts for 15 minutes and has students running back and forth between cones, focusing on maintaining a still head, pumping arms quickly, running on the balls of their feet, and keeping their trunk upright. This activity encapsulates the FAST technique, which stands for Face forward, Arms pump fast, Speedy feet, and Trunk to be upright. Following this, a 10-minute activity on reaction time races encourages students to start from various positions and respond rapidly to a whistle or command, with an emphasis on an explosive start. The lesson concludes with a 5-minute cool down where students work in pairs to form letters of the alphabet as instructed, either standing or lying down, allowing for a creative and engaging end to the session.