Games 1 - Unit Overview

The 'Games 1' unit for Year 1 pupils, as part of the Striver Lesson Plans, is a comprehensive guide designed to develop essential games skills in young learners. It focuses on enhancing spatial awareness, balance, and ball handling through dynamic and enjoyable activities. The unit is structured to build upon children's fundamental movement skills, such as agility, balance, and coordination, as well as basic ball skills like rolling, bouncing, and catching. The lesson plans are tailored for one-hour sessions, which include time for changing and setting up equipment, but can be adapted for shorter lessons. Teachers are encouraged to adjust activities for varying skill levels and to set challenges for those pupils who quickly grasp the concepts.

Each lesson within the unit has specific learning objectives and success criteria. The first lesson aims to develop spatial awareness as pupils move in different directions, with the goal of moving fluidly while recognizing space. Subsequent lessons focus on maintaining balance while responding to commands, handling a ball while moving, and developing control and accuracy when rolling a ball. Pupils progress to underarm throwing with precision and conclude the unit by learning to send and receive a bouncing ball with correct body positioning. Throughout the unit, activities are designed to be simple and progressively challenging, with an emphasis on supporting each other in small teams and reacting quickly to instructions for a well-rounded approach to learning basic games skills.