Athletics - Unit Overview

The Year 3 Athletics unit is an engaging and comprehensive plan designed to enhance the physical education of children aged around 7-8 years. The unit covers various core athletic skills including running for speed, jumping for distance, developing throwing techniques, an introduction to hurdling, and the fundamentals of running a relay with baton changes. It also focuses on fostering team participation and relay dynamics. Each lesson builds on the skills acquired in the previous years, particularly those learned at ages 6-7, ensuring a progressive learning experience for the students.

The lesson plans come with specific teaching tips to optimize the learning process within the typical one-hour timeframe, which accounts for the time children spend getting changed before and after the lesson. Instructors are advised to model the skills they're teaching, provide individual or small group attention to pupils who need extra help, and assess when students are ready to progress to game situations to apply their newly developed skills. The medium-term plan outlines clear learning objectives and success criteria for each lesson, ranging from running with speed and jumping from a standing start, to throwing with precision and participating in team challenges, all aimed at improving pupils' athletic abilities and competitive spirit.