The learners took part in their first lesson on Athletics at Northgate Primary on the 9th of May 2011. The first lesson was focusing on the learning the key skills and qualities needed to ‘Run’.
The learners took part in a warm-up activity to raise their HEART RATE and to PREPARE themselves for the activities ahead.
The stretches performed were;
The learners took part in a warm-up activity to raise their HEART RATE and to PREPARE themselves for the activities ahead.
The stretches performed were;
Quadricep
Hamstring
Gastrocnemius
Tricep
Deltiod
To start off the group looked at running with a good posture. The learners moved into pairs and started to jog around inside the coned area (See Below).
On the command ‘run high’ learners assume a tall body position as they run;
Key Teaching Points:
- On the balls of the feet
- Picking feet up high
- Head held high
On the command ‘run low’ learners run in a crouched position;
Key Teaching Points:
- Flat feet
- Head low
The commands were then called out randomly by a Learner (Non participant) for the whole group.
After that task, the group were then asked;
Q. What are the differences when running tall and running low?
Q. Why is it important to run tall?
The group then in their pairs took it in turns to call out the commands for their partner. The additional commands were added in;
- Walk
- Jog
- Skip
The group then progressed onto the next task called ‘Gears’, to allow the learners to adjust running pace smoothly, accelerate and decelerate rapidly. The set up for the task can be seen below;
I explained that each cone represented a different gear;
- Red cone = Walking
- Green cone = Jogging
- White cone = Striding
- Yellow cone = Sprinting
Learners moved into groups of four and began moving at the correct pace depending on which gear is called out. When a gear is called out the first learner moves to the cone and when that learner reaches the cone, the next learner goes until the whole team has been.
The commands were then called out randomly by a Learner (Non participant) for the whole group.
Mid way through the task, the learners were asked;
Q. What do the gears represent?
Q. Why do we have different types of movement?
Q. What other body parts help us run?
Key Teaching Points:
- Change your arm speed and your leg speed
The group then moved back to their stations and now the learners called out their own gears within the group. For example, one learner is the starter and calls out the gears for the learner.
At the end of the lesson, the group were asked;
Q. What helps us run successfully?
Q. Why is it important to run tall?
Q. Why do we have different gears when we run?
Q. When using the gears was it hard moving through the gears? Why?
Running Week 2:
The learners took part in their second lesson on Athletics at Northgate Primary on the 16th of May 2011. The second lesson was focusing on the learning the key skills and qualities needed to ‘Run’ and developing the learning from the last lesson.
The learners took part in a warm-up activity to raise their HEART RATE and to PREPARE themselves for the activities ahead.
The stretches performed were;
The learners took part in a warm-up activity to raise their HEART RATE and to PREPARE themselves for the activities ahead.
The stretches performed were;
Quadricep
Hamstring
Gastrocnemius
Tricep
Deltiod
The first task was for the learners to experience running fast over short distances and showing awareness of others around them. The task was called ‘Shark Tag’ and the set up can be seen below;
Four learners were nominated to play the role of sharks that can move anywhere between the Islands (mats) but they are not allowed on them. All other learners were asked to start on any island they wanted to within the selected area. On the command of ‘Abandon the island!’ the learners run to one of the other islands, without being caught by the sharks.
Anyone that is caught then becomes a shark and the game is played until everyone has been caught.
The game was played 3 times with different sharks and the way the learners could travel changed in the second and third game to;
- Skipping
- Hopping
Key Teaching Points:
- Be aware of others around you
- Keep your weight on the balls of your feet so you can change direction quickly
After the first game, the learners were asked;
Q. Why do we stand on the balls of our feet?
Q. What helps us to get to an island quickly?
Moving on, the group went into pairs to take part in the ‘Shuttle Run’ circuit. The circuit had 10 stations and cones at each station were placed at different distances (See below).
The learners spent working for 10 seconds each and counted how many shuttles they could do in that time. The learners then compared with their partner who got the most at that station. When a station was completed the group then moved on to the next station.
Half way through the task, the learners were asked;
Q. What helps you complete a shuttle as quickly as possible?
Key Teaching Points:
- Drive your arms hard
- Forward and back when you accelerate
At the end of the lesson, the group were asked;
Q. What helps you complete a shuttle as quickly as possible?
Q. Why are the shuttle scores different between the group?
Q. What did you decide to do at a station with a big distance?
Q. What did you decide to do at a station with a short distance?
The pupils enjoyed learning and the activities that they took part in! Well done to everybody in the class for the effort and attitude towards the lesson!
The next activity for the next two weeks is Jumping!
Mr P Keirnan
Physical Education
fantastic stuff. A great way of looking at running is to consider ways of outwitting opponents as it really gets kids to think about the use of different gears.
ReplyDeleteRunning in small groups around a track (your choice of length) you nominate a pace setter. He or she is always the front runner and no one can run faster than them. Somewhere on the home straight you set up a 'sprint finish' line after which point the front runner can attack the finish line. However they don't go on the line but anywhere after the line so 40 metres out or 5 metres out...their choice. Then everyone else has to react and try and win.
A good long distance runner might set off fairly quickly to blow away the field while a good sprinter might run really slowly and the rely on pace at the end...so many different tactics...
They need lots of rest in between every set but they really work hard...could be mixed up with all sorts of co-operative/competitive team athletics situations...
Good luck.