Athletics - Lesson 1

The first lesson in the Reception athletics series aims to teach young pupils how to sprint effectively over a short distance. The lesson starts with a dynamic ten-minute warm-up inspired by Mr. Men characters, where pupils engage in various actions like fast feet, running, and high knees while incorporating fun stretches. This warm-up is designed to prepare their bodies for the session ahead and includes pupil-led creativity, where they can invent their own Mr. Men actions. The key teaching point during the warm-up is to remain relaxed, follow commands attentively, and move into open spaces efficiently while driving the elbows back during sprinting activities.

Following the warm-up, the main thirty-minute activity segment begins. Pupils are divided into teams to participate in exercises that focus on varying speeds, including walking, jogging, and sprinting. They practice these by running to and fro, tagging the next team member with a 'high-5'. This is followed by the Beanbag Drop activity, where each child sprints on the teacher's whistle and drops a beanbag as a distance marker, encouraging them to improve their sprinting distance with each turn. The lesson culminates in a 30m sprint race, with pupils competing against each other to reinforce the sprinting techniques learned. Key teaching points emphasize proper arm and leg mechanics, and the importance of maintaining focus forward. To conclude the session, a ten-minute cool-down revisits the Mr. Men theme, allowing pupils to relax and stretch while reflecting on the importance of cooling down and recognising good sprinting techniques observed during the lesson.