Athletics - Lesson 1

The first lesson in the Year 3 Athletics series is dedicated to teaching children how to run for speed. The learning objectives are straightforward: pupils should be able to demonstrate their ability to run quickly and cover a distance efficiently. The success criteria for the lesson are that pupils can run for speed and manage to run over a set distance. Key vocabulary introduced includes sprint, distance, standing start, and drive. To facilitate the lesson, a few essential pieces of equipment are required, such as mats or a grassy area for safety, marker cones to outline running paths, a stopwatch for timing, and additional mats for exercises.

The lesson is structured into a warm-up, main activity, and cool-down. The warm-up lasts for 10 minutes and includes mobilization exercises like arm, upper body, hip circles, and leg swings, followed by a high knee raise running drill. For the main 30-minute activity, the teacher sets up a 200-meter course that includes a bend, emphasizing a relaxed running technique and encouraging pupils to 'run tall' with a focus on proper posture and arm movement. A recap of the standing start technique is also included, where pupils practice starting their sprint with the correct leg and arm positioning. The session continues with a 200-meter run where pupils aim to improve their previous scores, and it concludes with a fun bean bag relay to foster teamwork. The lesson offers variations for different skill levels and encourages pupil talk to discuss the mechanics of sprinting. Finally, a 10-minute cool-down includes gentle jogging and stretching exercises to help pupils recover and prevent injury.