Rounders - Lesson 2

In the second lesson of a Year 6 rounders unit, pupils aim to enhance their skills in striking a bowled ball with consistency. The lesson commences with a warm-up where students are divided into three groups, each forming a large circle. They pass a ball around the circle in a specified direction and, upon hearing a whistle, quickly reverse the direction. This activity not only warms up the students but also incorporates a cognitive element by requiring them to listen for and react to the whistle. The session progresses with variations such as increasing the number of balls, changing the distance between pupils, and incorporating movement commands to keep the activity dynamic and engaging.

The main part of the lesson focuses on batting techniques. Students are organised into small groups, each with a batter, bowler, fielder, and backstop, practicing hitting bowled balls towards the fielder. The key teaching point emphasises striking from a side-on position and maintaining balance for a powerful and controlled hit. The lesson further develops with 'Target Rounders', where batters aim to hit the ball through 'gates' made of cones, scoring points for their team. This activity encourages strategic thinking as batters must decide where to place their shots to maximise their score. The lesson concludes with a 'Quick Fire Batting' cool-down, where pupils work in groups to hit balls past a line of cones, fostering a competitive spirit and reinforcing the batting skills practiced during the main activity.