Badminton Skills Start

Year Level

Year 6

Duration

60 minutes

Class Size

25 students

Unit

Badminton Fun & Skills
Lesson 1 of 3: Introduction to Badminton: Rules and Basic Skills

Australian Curriculum Links (Health and Physical Education – v9)

Movement and Physical Activity
- AC9HP6M01: Adapt and modify movement skills across a variety of situations (e.g., adapting striking skills to new activities).
- AC9HP6M02: Transfer familiar movement strategies to different movement situations (e.g., applying footwork and stroke techniques from drills to gameplay).
- AC9HP6M04: Participate in physical activities to investigate the body’s reaction to different levels of intensity (warm-up and games of varying intensity).
- AC9HP6M08: Devise and test alternative rules and game modifications to support fair play and inclusive participation (introduce basic badminton rules).
- AC9HP6M09: Participate positively in groups and teams by contributing to group activities, encouraging others, and negotiating roles and responsibilities (partner work & group discussion)

Lesson Overview

Students will be introduced to badminton, including its origins and basic rules. They will learn fundamental skills: grip, stance, and footwork, through engaging warm-up activities and simple drills. In partner pairs, they will practise forehand and backhand strokes, setting foundations for future lessons focused on gameplay and strategy.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will:

Understand the basic history and objective of badminton.
Explain and apply fundamental rules and scoring systems of badminton for safe and fair play.
Demonstrate the correct badminton grip, ready stance, and basic footwork.
Practise forehand and backhand strokes with a partner confidently.
Collaborate positively by encouraging teammates and respecting safety rules.

Equipment

Badminton racquets (one per student)
Shuttlecocks (multiple, preferably feather or plastic)
Cones to mark boundaries and stations
Whistle (for transitions and safety)
Whiteboard or poster with summary of rules and scoring

Lesson Plan

Time	Activity	Details	Curriculum Links
0–10 min	Introduction and Engagement

Brief interactive presentation (5 min) on badminton’s history and key facts to spark interest.
Discuss the game's objective, court layout, and basic rules including scoring (e.g., 21 points to win, rally scoring). Visual aids help memory retention.
Establish safety expectations and fair play emphasis.
| AC9HP6M08, AC9HP6M09 (Rules, positive participation) |
| 10–20 min | Warm-Up: Dynamic Movement & Grip Practice |
Dynamic warm-up focused on mobility: jogging around court, side shuffles, dynamic stretches to prepare muscles.
Demonstrate and have students practise the “Basic Grip” (forehand grip) using their racquets without shuttlecocks. Teacher coaches each student individually to correct grip.
Progress to ready stance: knees slightly bent, feet shoulder-width apart, racquet held up and ready.
| AC9HP6M01, AC9HP6M04 (Adapting skills, body response) |
| 20–35 min | Footwork Drills |
Set up stations with cones for simple footwork patterns:
1. Forward and backward movements
2. Side to side shuffles
3. Split step (small jump to prepare for stroke)
Students practise moving quickly and balanced, emphasising staying low and controlled.
Integrate racquets while moving through cones.
Teacher provides feedback to promote spatial awareness and efficient movement.
| AC9HP6M01, AC9HP6M02 (Movement skills adaptation, transfer) |
| 35–55 min | Partner Stroke Practice |
Pair students up.
Demonstrate forehand stroke technique with shuttlecock toss from partner.
Practice forehand strokes gently at first, focusing on stroke path, wrist use and posture.
Progress to practicing backhand stroke with teacher demonstrating differences.
Encourage communication and positive feedback between pairs.
Rotate partners mid-activity to encourage social interaction and adaptability.
| AC9HP6M01, AC9HP6M09 (Skill development & positive collaboration) |
| 55–60 min | Closure: Cool Down & Reflection |
Gentle stretching focusing on arms, shoulders, legs.
Circle discussion: What did you learn today about badminton?
Questions on rules, skills, and how to improve next lesson.
Teacher highlights key takeaways and sets expectations for next lesson (gameplay focus).
| AC9HP6M09 (Reflection and positive participation) |

Differentiation and Inclusion

Provide lighter or smaller racquets for students needing adapted equipment.
Visual demonstrations combined with verbal instructions for varied learning preferences.
Assign peer buddies to support students requiring extra assistance.
Modify footwork drills—simplify or intensify movements for different ability levels.
Use game modifications to ensure inclusive participation, respecting skill diversity

Assessment & Feedback

Formative: Teacher observation of students’ grip, stance, footwork, and stroke technique during drills and partner practice.
Peer feedback: Encourage students to provide constructive comments on partner’s effort and skill use.
Self reflection: End-of-lesson discussion on personal learning and group participation.
Safety & behaviour: Monitor safe play and cooperation according to rules.

Teacher Tips to Impress

Use quick personalised check-ins to adjust grips or stances helping students ‘feel’ the right technique early.
Incorporate fun challenge elements: e.g., “Who can keep a shuttlecock in the air the longest with gentle taps?”
Link badminton's origins from Asia to celebrate cultural awareness.
Engage with enthusiasm and demonstrate skills theatrically to captivate attention.
Prepare simple visual aids like diagrams of court boundaries and scoring to reinforce learning visually.

This lesson plan aligns strongly with the Australian Curriculum (v9) for Health and Physical Education for Year 6 classes, ensuring purposeful skill development, understanding of rules, and positive social behaviours as the foundation for badminton play, delivered in an engaging 60-minute timeframe for 25 students.