Catching Skills Fun

Unit Context

This is Lesson 3 of 5 in the unit titled "Fun with Movement Skills," designed for Foundation Year students in NSW. The focus is on introducing and practising catching techniques aligned with the NSW K-6 PDHPE syllabus.

---

Curriculum Links

NSW Health and Physical Education Syllabus Outcomes (Foundation Year)

• Movement Skills:
  "Students develop fundamental movement skills and apply concepts of effort, space, and time to movement" (Fundamental Movement Skills strand).
  Reference: PDHPE Foundation Syllabus, Movement Skills strand, developing hand-eye coordination through catching.

• Content Descriptions:

  • Move their bodies in a variety of ways and environments (Movement Skills)
  • Participate in games and activities that develop body coordination, control and spatial awareness
  • Focus on hand-eye coordination and body positioning for catching.

---

Learning Objectives

By the end of the 30-minute lesson, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate basic catching techniques with a soft ball, using hands and eyes together.
2. Respond to softly thrown balls from different distances with appropriate body positioning (feet shoulder-width apart, eyes on the ball, hands ready).
3. Show increased confidence and control in catching through playful, interactive activities.

---

Resources Needed

• Soft, lightweight balls suitable for Foundation students (e.g., foam balls or soft tennis balls)
• Cones or markers to designate throwing distances (1m, 2m)
• Open play area or gym space
• Visual aids with simple pictures illustrating catching position (optional)

---

Lesson Structure (30 minutes)

1. Welcome and Warm-Up (5 minutes)

• Brief circle time with the class to gather attention.
• Light warm-up involving stretching arms out wide, shaking hands loose, and gentle jumping or dancing to music.
• Teacher models "ready position" for catching: feet apart, knees slightly bent, hands ready in front of the body.
• Quick, gentle game of “Catch the Animal” – tossing the ball lightly and calling out an animal name, students catch and make the animal sound to engage interest.

---

2. Introduction to Catching Techniques (5 minutes)

• Teacher demonstrates catching stance using a soft ball:
  • Eyes tracking the ball
  • Hands held out in a “ready cup” shape
  • Feet steady and balanced
• Students practise the stance with no ball to feel the position.
• Highlight importance of watching the ball and having soft hands to “give” with the catch.

---

3. Partner Throw and Catch Practice (10 minutes)

• Students pair up, standing about 1 metre apart initially.
• Using soft balls, students take turns throwing gently underarm to their partner, focusing on aiming for hands.
• Teacher circulates to give positive feedback and gentle prompts on body positioning and focus.
• Increase distance to about 2 metres if skill level permits.
• Introduce the idea of "ready feet" – slight step towards the ball to catch it.
• Encourage using both hands to catch at face or chest height.

---

4. Catching Game: “Hot Potato Catch” (7 minutes)

• Group game with students standing in a circle.
• Roll or toss the ball around gently; each student must catch and pass quickly but carefully.
• Encourage eye contact with the ball and using the ready position.
• Variation: Use 2 balls to increase challenge for more confident catchers.
• Praise efforts and reinforce technique cues.

---

5. Cool-Down and Reflection (3 minutes)

• Gentle stretching focusing on arms and shoulders.
• Students sit in a circle to briefly share what they enjoyed or found tricky.
• Teacher summarises key points: keeping eyes on the ball, soft hands, good body posture.
• Preview next lesson focus: catching techniques part 2 with different sized balls or movement involved.

---

Assessment and Feedback

• Formative Assessment: Observation during partner throwing activities and the group game, noting students' ability to adopt the catching stance, track the ball with their eyes, and successfully catch.
• Feedback: Use specific, encouraging language — e.g., “Great job watching the ball come all the way to your hands,” or “Let’s try bending our knees a bit more to be ready.”
• Encourage peer praise to build a supportive learning environment.

---

Differentiation

• For students needing more support:
  Use larger, softer balls, throw from shorter distances, or catch against body/chest first.
• For more confident students:
  Introduce a moving catch (e.g., stepping sideways while catching) or catching with one hand in later lessons.

---

Teacher’s Notes

• Reinforce safety by ensuring soft throwing, spaced activity areas, and monitoring for fair turns.
• Keep instructions short, clear, and modelled visually since Foundation students benefit from demonstration.
• Use music and playful elements to maintain engagement and joy in learning movement skills.

---

This lesson plan directly aligns with the NSW Foundation PDHPE syllabus focus on fundamental movement skills and lays a solid foundation in catching through hand-eye coordination and body positioning using developmentally appropriate activities and scaffolded challenges. It combines embodied learning with play to foster enthusiasm and skill acquisition in young learners.