Athletics - Lesson 6

In the sixth lesson of the Reception Athletics programme, young pupils are encouraged to develop their throwing skills with a focus on accuracy. The lesson is structured with a warm-up, main activities, and a cool-down, each designed to engage the children in active learning. During the warm-up, the pupils participate in a game involving coloured hoops and beanbags, where they must quickly identify and move to the hoop that matches the colour of the beanbag drawn by the teacher. This activity not only warms them up physically but also sharpens their decision-making and observational skills. The key teaching point here is to move into space and find available hoops, with variations and extensions provided to keep the challenge appropriate for all abilities.

The main part of the lesson consists of two activities. The first is 'Beanbag Aiming', where pupils are split into groups and tasked with throwing a beanbag into a hoop at varying distances. The aim is to get the beanbag into the hoop in as few throws as possible, honing their overarm and underarm throwing techniques. The second activity, 'Beat The Team', involves the children aiming to throw a beanbag into a series of hoops in sequence, which encourages teamwork and strategic thinking. Each activity is accompanied by key teaching points, such as deciding between overarm and underarm throws and following through with the arm. To conclude the lesson, a cool-down session involves reflective questions, prompting the pupils to consider what they have learned throughout the unit, their strengths, and areas for improvement. This introspective moment allows the children to consolidate their learning and recognise their personal development in athletics.