Athletics - Lesson 2

In the second lesson of the Year 6 Athletics series, students focus on developing their ability to sustain pace over longer distances. The lesson begins with a warm-up that combines dynamic movements with a fun game involving running to areas labelled as different Olympic countries. This activity prepares their bodies for the endurance required in the main part of the lesson. The learning objectives set clear targets for the pupils: maintaining pace for 60 seconds, and completing 400m and 800m races. The key vocabulary for this lesson includes terms like 'running', 'long distance', 'endurance', and 'sustaining'. Essential equipment for the activities includes cones and stopwatches, which are used to facilitate the exercises and track performance.

The main activities involve pupils working in groups to design and navigate various routes marked by cones, aiming to maintain a steady pace for a full minute. This exercise is followed by a structured competition where pupils run 400m and 800m races, focusing on fluency, coordination, and endurance. The lesson plan encourages discussion and reflection on the different types of long-distance races in athletics and the concept of endurance. To conclude, the session ends with a cool-down consisting of dynamic stretches to help pupils understand the importance of post-exercise stretching and to reflect on the differences between long-distance running and sprinting. The lesson plan is designed to not only improve physical fitness but also to foster teamwork and strategic thinking among the students.