Athletics - Lesson 6

In the sixth lesson of a Year 1 athletics programme, young pupils are taught the fundamental skills of throwing and skipping. The lesson's objectives are to practice throwing, develop spatial awareness, and improve timing accuracy. To achieve success, pupils will engage in activities that allow them to practice throwing techniques and refine their ability to skip with rhythm and balance. Key vocabulary terms such as 'throw', 'distance', and 'relay' are introduced to enhance the children's understanding of the activities they will be undertaking. The required equipment includes markers, cones, safety lines, hoops, and foam javelins, ensuring that the activities are conducted in a safe and controlled environment.

The lesson is structured into a warm-up, main activity, and cool-down. During the warm-up, pupils play 'Rats and Rabbits' to energise and prepare for the session. The main part of the lesson involves throwing for distance, where the children learn to coordinate their body movements for maximum throw length, and skipping, where they focus on quick feet and balance. A competitive element is introduced with a fun throw relay, encouraging teamwork and application of the throwing skills learned. The session concludes with a cool-down involving gentle jogging and stretching exercises to aid muscle recovery. Pupils reflect on their progress and discuss techniques for maintaining lightness in skipping and balance during throwing, reinforcing the learning outcomes of the session.