by Neetu | Jun 4, 2020 | Fitness Activity
Movement skills/concepts
Throwing overarm, space awareness (levels and direction), time and energy, and relationships (with others).
Set-up
- Small balls, cones/markers, targets (containers, hoops, bins, lines, skittles, gutter board).
- Targets and pairs of cones are set out in a defined area that includes a wall. Children, working individually and in pairs, are spread out with a ball each.
Activity
Individually (Can you throw the ball overarm…?)
- as far as possible
- as hard as possible
- up high
- at a ground target (hoop/circle/line/bin)
- at a wall/wall target
- over a rugby post
- between cones/markers
In pairs (Can you throw the ball overarm…?)
- and bounce to your partner
- so that your partner can catch it without moving
- over an ever-increasing distance
- at a wall and catch it on the rebound
- with right/left hand
- at a target (hoop/skittle/line/gutter board)
- from different levels – high/low/shoulder height
- as high as you can
Can you see …?
- ball in fingers
- eyes on target
- side on – weight on the rear foot
- stepping forward on opposite foot to throwing arm
- following through
by Santosh | Jun 4, 2020 | Fitness Activity
Movement skills/concepts
Cooperatively pushing and pulling, space awareness, cooperative balancing, counterbalance.
Set-up
Ropes, cardboard, and hoops.
Children in pairs work on the floor or in a grass area.
Activity
Tow truck: Place a piece of cardboard or a hoop on the floor. One partner stands on this and holds the end of a rope. The other takes the other end of the rope and tries to slowly pull their partner off the cardboard/hoop.
Sawing logs: Partners face each other, one foot forward, grasping both of the other’s hands, with their elbows high. As one arm is pulled back, the other is extended well forward. Following a number of movements (5–10), they change the foot that is forward.
Chainsaws: Partners follow the same procedure as for sawing logs but, instead of backward and forwards, they make circular hand movements.
Back-to-back get up: Evenly matched (for height) pairs stand back-to-back and link elbows. They push back against each other, then lower to a half squat and stand up again.
Seesaws: Partners face each other and hold hands. One child stands while the other crouches down. The standing child helps pull their partner up and, at the same time, crouches down. Both lean back slightly. Repeat several times, including a change in roles.
Pedal power: Partners sit facing each other, or sit leaning on their elbows for support. Each partner places the soles of their feet against their partner’s; knees remain partly bent throughout.
Can you …?
- push against your partner’s feet, alternating bent and straightening legs with your partner’s – try different ways of pushing
- push hard and fast for 20 counts, then slowly for 20 counts
- do double pushes in each position (i.e. two counts before changing leg position)
- try combinations (e.g. double push, double push, single, single, single)
Can you see …?
- stable foot and body position
- safe practices
- counterbalancing
- pairs matched in size
You could ask …
Which activities did you enjoy the most? Which activities required balance skills?
How can you perform these activities safely?
COOL DOWN/ CLOSURE
Review Skill/Activity, stretching, and questions.
by Santosh | Jun 4, 2020 | Fitness Activity
Movement skills/concepts
Communication, walking, dynamic balance, space and body awareness, moving through, on, over and under obstacles.
Set-up
Hoops, benches, mats, blindfolds.
Children in pairs work in a defined area: one partner is ‘snow-blind’ (with eyes closed or blindfolded) and the other can see.
Activity
Two children are trapped in a snowstorm and are trying to find their way home.
The objective is for the seeing partner to lead the ‘snow-blind’ partner through the blizzard (obstacle course) to safety. They go through a snow tunnel (hoop) and under an ice log (bench). Partners hold hands or link arms and try not to let go so neither one gets lost in the storm. Partners switch roles.
Can you see …?
• leader giving clear instructions
• snow-blind partner putting trust in leader
You could ask …
What type of instructions were the easiest to understand? How do you build up trust in this situation?
Variations
Vary form of communication: Instead of talking and holding hands, partners use a code such as finger clicks, claps or hums.
COOL DOWN/ CLOSURE
Review Skill/Activity, stretching, and questions.
by Neetu | Jun 4, 2020 | Fitness Activity
Movement skills/concepts
Exploring underarm throwing, space awareness (direction), and relationships (with others).
Set-up
- A variety of small balls or beanbags, net/rope, and hoops.
- Children in pairs, with one ball per pair, are spread out in a defined hard or grass area that includes a wall for throwing against.
Activity
Using an underarm throw, who can …?
- bounce the ball to your partner
- bounce the ball in a hoop/on a line
- bounce the ball to your partner and move to a new place
- throw the ball to your partner and move to a new place
- throw the ball to your partner on the full
- throw non-stop for 1 minute
Still using an underarm throw, can you …?
- use your other hand to do all the tasks you’ve just done
- throw high, medium and low
- throw against a wall
- throw over a net/rope
- throw through a hoop
Can you see …?
- holding the ball in fingers
- eyes on target
- swinging back with a straight arm
- stepping forward on opposite foot to throwing arm
- swinging arm forward and towards a target
- following through
by Santosh | Jun 4, 2020 | Fitness Activity
Movement skills/concepts
Pivoting, turning around a long axis, running or walking skills and relationships (with others).
Set-up
Defined grass or hard area.
Children in pairs stand side by side and join hands together in front.
Activity
Pairs move freely around the marked area. To avoid bumping into any other pair, the couples pivot turn and run in another direction when they meet.
Can you see …?
• quick pivot turn on the balls of the feet, quarter turn to half turn only
• head up to see other pairs
You could ask …
How will you and your partner work together to pivot and turn?
Variations
Change locomotor skills: Use walking, skipping, hopping or jumping.
COOL DOWN/ CLOSURE
Review Skill/Activity, stretching, and questions.
by Santosh | Jun 4, 2020 | Fitness Activity
Movement skills/concepts
Pulling, balancing on a moving object, space awareness and relationships (with others).
Set-up
Gym mats (magic carpets) on a hard, smooth surface. Groups of approximately 7, with one mat per group.
Activity
Children take turns in having a ‘magic carpet’ ride on the mat, pulled by the rest of the group steadily around the defined area. The rider can be lying, sitting or crouching and can control the speed (‘slower’, ‘faster’ or ‘just right’).
Can you see …?
• rider balancing on a wide base of support
• children pulling safely under control
• children working cooperatively together
• enjoyment
You could ask …
- What was the best way of riding the ‘magic carpet’?
- Did your arms get tired from pulling the mat? How can you prevent this?
COOL DOWN/ CLOSURE
Review Skill/Activity, stretching, and questions.
