Movement and Play

Year Level

Prep (Foundation Year, typically ages 5-6)

Duration

30 minutes

Class Size

10 students

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Curriculum Alignment

Australian Curriculum (Version 9) - Health and Physical Education

• Content Descriptor: VC2HPFP01

  • Explore fundamental movement skills in a variety of physical activities and environments.

• Achievement Standard for Prep HPE:

  • Students demonstrate fundamental movement skills in a variety of activities and environments. They start to show confidence and control when moving their body.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will:

1. Demonstrate basic fundamental movement skills including running, jumping, and balancing.
2. Explore and apply these movement skills safely in structured play activities.
3. Show cooperation and turn-taking skills during group physical activities.

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Equipment Needed

• Soft balls (foam or lightweight)
• Cones for marking boundaries
• Colourful scarves or ribbons for movement cues
• Music player for movement transitions
• Mats or soft ground area for balancing activities

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Lesson Outline

1. Warm-Up Circle (5 minutes)

• Purpose: Prepare the children's bodies and minds for movement; introduce the key movements of the session.
• Activity:
  • Gather students in a circle.
  • Lead simple stretching movements incorporating reaching high, bending low.
  • Include mimicking animal movements (e.g., hopping like a frog, stretching like a cat).
• Key Concepts: Body awareness and warming up muscles.

2. Movement Stations (20 minutes)

• Instructions: Set up three stations around the space. Each station focuses on a fundamental movement skill aligned with VC2HPFP01.

1. Running and Direction Change Station:

   • Use cones as markers.
   • Have students run to a cone and then change direction on a teacher's signal (e.g., whistle or music stop).
   • Include fun cues: “Run like the wind!”, “Stop like a statue!”

2. Jumping Challenges:

   • Use coloured scarves on the ground as jumping targets.
   • Children jump from one scarf to another, focusing on balance when landing.
   • Progression includes jumping over a soft ball placed on the ground.

3. Balance and Coordination:

   • Students walk along a straight line marked with tape or laid mats.
   • Encourage balancing on one foot for a few seconds.
   • Add throwing and catching scarves with a partner to encourage hand-eye coordination.

• Organisation:
  • Groups of 3-4 to rotate every 6-7 minutes.
  • Teacher models each activity prior and provides positive feedback.

3. Cool-Down and Reflection (5 minutes)

• Lead students in slow walking and deep breathing.
• Gather in the circle again.
• Ask simple reflection questions:
  • "What was your favourite movement today?"
  • "How did your body feel when you jumped?"
• Reinforce concepts of moving safely and being kind to friends during activities.

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Assessment

• Observation: Teacher notes on each student’s ability to perform fundamental movement skills with control and confidence.
• Participation: Engagement in all activities; cooperation with peers.
• Reflection Responses: Ability to articulate simple feelings about their body movement.

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Differentiation and Inclusion

• Provide varied challenges for each activity to cater for different skill levels (e.g., longer distances or additional jumps).
• Allow for physical assistance or adaptation as needed.
• Use visual and verbal cues for instructions to support diverse learners.

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Teacher Notes and Tips

• Use enthusiastic language and positive reinforcement to motivate prep learners.
• Maintain safety by checking equipment and surfaces before use.
• Rotate activities steadily to keep students engaged but avoid rushing.
• Integrate simple German directional or movement words as accents for fun cultural learning (optional cross-curricular link).

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This lesson directly addresses the Australian Curriculum content descriptor VC2HPFP01 by enabling students to explore fundamental movement skills through play and structured activities while encouraging safe and cooperative behaviours . It is tailored to Prep-aged students' developmental stage, keeping activities brief, varied, and interactive to maintain attention and maximise learning within 30 minutes.