Active Adventure Challenge

Year 4 Physical Education – Australian Curriculum-Aligned Lesson Plan

Duration: 40 Minutes
Class Size: 25 students
Equipment: Very limited – chalk, cones (or markers), and soft tennis balls (or bean bags – optional)

---

Curriculum Links

Learning Area: Health and Physical Education
Strand: Movement and Physical Activity
Sub-strand: Moving our body, Understanding movement, Learning through movement
Level: Year 4 – Levels 3 & 4

Australian Curriculum Codes Addressed:

• ACPMP065: Practise and apply movement concepts and strategies with and without equipment
• ACPMP069: Apply innovative and creative thinking in solving movement challenges
• ACPMP073: Propose and apply movement strategies to achieve positive outcomes
• ACPMP071: Demonstrate ethical behaviour and fair play

---

WALT (We Are Learning To)

• WALT: Apply basic movement strategies to complete physical challenges that involve teamwork, agility, and creative thinking

---

Learning Intentions

By the end of this lesson, students will:

✔ Understand how to use agility, balance, and spatial awareness in team settings
✔ Develop communication and cooperation skills through active play
✔ Safely participate in a movement challenge using minimal equipment
✔ Reflect on tactics used to solve physical challenges as a group

---

Success Criteria

Students will be successful when they can:

• ✓ Work with their group to complete a set challenge
• ✓ Use safe movement techniques (e.g., controlled running, stopping, and changing direction)
• ✓ Communicate effectively with team members
• ✓ Reflect and suggest improvements in tactics and strategies

---

Dyslexia-Friendly Strategies

• Use verbal instructions alongside visual demonstration
• Keep instructions short, direct, and bullet-pointed
• Apply colour-coded group markers for visibility
• Offer repeat demonstrations and step-by-step options
• Use consistent fonts on visual aids (e.g., Arial or Comic Sans) if using any printed instructions

---

Warm-Up (5 Minutes)

Activity: ‘River and Rocks’ Tag Game
Purpose: To develop agility, reaction time, and sensory awareness

How to Play:

• Mark two lines (start and end) across the oval or basketball court with chalk
• Choose 3-4 “taggers” (call them “Rivers”)
• The rest are “Rocks” who try to cross from one side to the other
• If a Rock gets tagged, they become a River
• Last Rock remaining is the winner

Variation: Add animal movements (hop like a kangaroo, slither like a snake) to increase challenge

---

Main Activity (30 Minutes)

Title: Active Adventure Challenge Rotation
Purpose: To apply movement strategies and teamwork across various creative, low-equipment-based stations

Station Rotation Format

Split class into 5 groups of 5 students. Each station has a different movement-based challenge. Rotate every 5 minutes with 1-minute transitions.

🟡 Station 1 – Mission Obstacle

• Use cones/chalk to create a zigzag track
• Students jump, dodge, and crawl through in relay style
• Key Skill: Agility + following movement cues
  Extension: Time the group. Challenge them to beat their own record after rotation.

🔴 Station 2 – Silent Island Crossing

• Use chalk marks or hoops as “islands”
• Cross from one side to the other, but only 2 students can be on a mark at a time
• Key Skill: Strategy and cooperation
  Extension: One student is blindfolded, guided by teammates.

🔵 Station 3 – Bomber Ball

• 1 soft ball per team
• Set a line they must defend using only footwork (no hands)
• Another team tries to roll the ball to hit inside the zone
• Key Skill: Defending space & teamwork
  Extension: Move the defence zone closer or limit player movement more.

🟢 Station 4 – Shape Shifters

• Instructor calls out a shape or letter
• Group must form the shape using their bodies (no talking!)
• Key Skill: Cooperation without verbal communication
  Extension: Use numbers or abstract shapes

🟣 Station 5 – Frozen Code Relay

• Each student carries a “code word” (e.g., a colour or movement written on cards or said aloud)
• When tagged, they freeze. Teammates must perform the movement or guess the keyword to unfreeze them
• Key Skill: Memory, teamwork, and creative responses

---

Group Reflection (5 Minutes)

Guided Questions:

• Which station did your team find easiest? Why?
• What strategies helped you work as a successful team?
• How did your body feel during those challenges (heart rate, breathing, muscles)?
• One thing you'd do differently next time?

Format: Circle time or standing in lines. Use thumbs up/down/middle to answer reflectively.

Allow 1 volunteer per group to share briefly.

---

Extension Activities for Advanced Learners

• Design Your Own Station: Allow students to create a movement challenge using 3 or fewer items
• Tactical Coach Role: Assign 1 student in each group to coach or motivate group members during the next round
• Strategic Puzzle Hunt: Combine clues from each station to form a final challenge at the end (whole-class final round)

---

Differentiation and Inclusion

• Dyslexia-affected students: Provide oral instructions first, then reinforce with demonstration
• EAL/D Learners: Pair with a buddy, demonstrate physically, add visuals to each station
• Students with physical challenges: Modify actions (e.g., walking instead of running), allow role responsibilities (coach, timer, signal caller)

---

Equipment Summary

• Chalk
• 10 cones (or any markers available)
• 5-10 soft tennis balls or bean bags (for Stations 3 and 5)

---

Assessment Opportunities

✔ Observations using checklist: movement control, engagement, cooperation
✔ Peer feedback during the reflection segment
✔ Informal verbal questions to assess understanding of movement strategies

---

Teacher Tips

• Rotate with a timer to keep pace and energy up
• Use a whistle or clap rhythms as station transition signals
• Keep enthusiasm high – model movement during some challenges for added engagement

---

Final Note

This session builds foundational physical literacy with minimal resources, while strengthening communication, problem-solving, and self-regulation. It’s both curriculum-aligned and flexible, perfect for busy teachers in dynamic environments. 🌟