Athletics - Lesson 1

The first lesson in the Year 5 Athletics Striver Lesson Plans is designed to enhance pupils' ability to run for speed. The learning objectives are clear: students are expected to be able to sprint from a sprint start and cover a greater distance within a given time frame. Key vocabulary for this lesson includes terms such as 'sprint', 'distance', 'drive', and 'speed', laying the groundwork for a focused and informed session. Necessary equipment for the activities includes cones, a stopwatch, and a whistle, ensuring that the lesson is interactive and well-timed.

Warm-up exercises begin with a game called 'Blobs', where pupils jog around a playground dotted with cones, grouping themselves according to numbers called out by the teacher, with a playful forfeit for incorrect group sizes. Stretching, led by pupils where possible, follows this activity. The main part of the lesson involves exploring different starting positions for running, like standing, kneeling, or lying down, and discussing which is the most effective for sprinting. Pupils then practice sprinting from a kneeling start, aiming to cover as much distance as possible in 10 seconds, with points awarded for reaching certain distances. The session ends with a cool-down jog led by one of the pupils, incorporating jumps and stretches. Back in the classroom, the pupils watch a demonstration or video of an Olympic sprinter's starting position, discussing the equipment used and why it is advantageous for sprinting.