Tennis - Lesson 4

The fourth lesson in a tennis unit for Year 4 pupils focuses on developing their movement and positioning on the court. The learning objectives are for pupils to know where to move and stand during a game, with success criteria that include being able to move to catch the ball and throw it accurately. Key vocabulary for this lesson includes "throw," "catch," and "move." Essential equipment comprises throw-down lines and tennis balls. The warm-up lasts 10 minutes and involves creating a large square on the court with lines marking each corner. Pupils perform different types of jumps from corner to corner, such as 'Jump the River', 'Moguls', 'Hops', and 'Kangaroo Jumps', with variations and extensions to increase the activity's complexity and dynamic nature.

The main part of the lesson, which lasts 30 minutes, builds on 'Catch Tennis' from Lesson 3. Pupils are divided into pairs and play within a defined court area, throwing the ball to each other to practise moving away from and recovering to their 'Home Base'. The lesson includes variations to adjust difficulty and extensions to challenge the pupils further, such as increasing the court size or using different catching and throwing techniques. A key teaching point emphasises readiness and balance, with a focus on foot positioning, knee bending, and eyeing the ball during recovery. A competitive element is introduced by having pairs count their throws and catches in a rally and collecting cones as rewards. The lesson concludes with a 10-minute cool-down involving an under-over ball relay and stretches to encourage large movements and improve flexibility.