Ball Skills - Unit Overview

The 'Ball Skills' unit for Reception classes, as part of the Striver Lesson Plans, is meticulously designed to enhance young pupils' confidence and coordination while handling objects. This unit focuses on developing various ball skills, such as bouncing, and includes throwing actions like underarm and overarm throws. These activities build upon foundational skills such as holding objects, rolling, underarm throwing, bouncing, and striking, including hitting and kicking. The unit aims to ensure that pupils can perform these essential ball skills with ease and enjoyment.

Each lesson within the unit has a clear learning objective and success criteria, starting with moving confidently while holding an object and progressing to more complex skills like striking a ball with different body parts. The medium-term plan outlines specific targets, such as rolling balls with control, accurately bouncing and catching, and perfecting underarm throwing techniques. Teaching tips advise on lesson timing, the importance of repetition for skill mastery at this early stage, and strategies for challenging more advanced pupils. The plan also suggests keeping activities simple at first, with the potential to increase difficulty as pupils' skills develop.