Athletics - Unit Overview

The Year 2 Athletics Unit Overview outlines a comprehensive lesson plan aimed at developing pupils' athletic abilities across various disciplines. Throughout the unit, pupils will focus on enhancing their speed for short distances, gaining awareness of space, height, and distance, and refining their throwing and jumping techniques. The unit builds upon skills acquired in Year 1, such as sprinting, hurdling, long jump, and triple jump, as well as incorporating elements of challenge and competition through group activities. Each lesson has clear learning objectives and success criteria, ensuring that pupils understand how to control and fluently move their bodies, adjust their running speeds, navigate obstacles efficiently, and throw with precision.

Teachers are provided with practical tips to facilitate the lessons effectively, including advice on managing lesson timings, adapting activities to available equipment, and incorporating competitive elements. Live demonstrations are recommended to guide pupils, especially those who may need additional support. The unit is structured into six lessons, each with a specific focus ranging from running at controlled speeds to jumping for distance and throwing equipment accurately. Pupils are encouraged to understand their body's reactions to physical activity and to describe the different throwing actions they learn. By the end of the unit, pupils are expected to have improved their athletic skills significantly, with the ability to throw using various techniques and to complete jumps such as the standing triple jump.