Ball Skills - Lesson 5

In Lesson 5 of the Reception Ball Skills series, the young pupils are introduced to the fundamentals of underarm throwing. The learning objectives are structured to help children develop their underarm throwing technique, aiming to throw and land a beanbag on a target, and accurately positioning themselves in relation to the target. Key terms such as 'throwing', 'underarm', 'catching', 'aiming', 'target', 'step forward', and 'swing arm' are emphasised to enhance their understanding and vocabulary. The equipment needed for the lesson includes cones, beanbags, buckets, and hoops. The warm-up activity, named 'Breakfast Cereal', encourages children to move around the space and respond to different cereal names, which correspond to specific sides of the area, aiding in their spatial awareness and listening skills.

The main part of the lesson spans 30 minutes and involves two primary activities. The first, 'Simply Underarm', pairs pupils up to practice gentle underarm throws with beanbags, focusing on technique and coordination. Key teaching points include holding the beanbag correctly, facing the partner, stepping forward, and swinging the arm before release. The second activity, 'Free Reign Throwing', sets up various targets such as buckets, hoops, and cones, allowing children to aim and throw beanbags at these objects. This activity is designed to be non-competitive, with the emphasis on skill development rather than speed. The lesson concludes with a cool-down exercise called 'Beanbag Clap', where pupils throw their beanbag in the air, clap, and then catch it, combining coordination with a recap of the day's learning about underarm throwing techniques.