Shooting the Shot

Overview

Lesson Title: Shooting Practice
Unit Title: Bounce, Dribble, Move! (Lesson 10 of 19)
Year Level: Year 1
Learning Area: Health and Physical Education (F-10 Australian Curriculum)
Strand: Movement and Physical Activity
Sub-Strands Covered:

• Moving our body: Practise fundamental movement skills and movement sequences using different body parts (ACPMP008)
• Learning through movement: Propose a range of alternatives and test their effectiveness (ACPMP012)

Time Required: 60 minutes
Class Size: 21 students

---

Learning Intentions

By the end of this lesson, students will:

• Practise and improve their basketball shooting technique using a variety of distances and body positioning.
• Demonstrate correct form and follow-through in a shooting action.
• Show teamwork and encouragement during peer activities.
• Evaluate their own performance and participation.

---

Success Criteria

Students will:

• Use correct hand placement and follow-through when shooting a ball.
• Shoot from short, medium, and long distances with focus and control.
• Engage positively with peers in group practice activities.
• Reflect on what helped them shoot better.

---

Equipment Needed

• 6 mini-basketballs (suitable for small hands)
• 3 height-appropriate basketball hoops (or adjustable netball/basketball rings)
• 9 spot markers
• 6 cones (to mark shooting stations)
• Whiteboard and markers for student reflection
• ‘Shooting Star Score Card’ for student tracking (printed cardstock)
• Stickers (for positive reinforcement)

---

Safety Considerations

• Ensure all equipment is age-appropriate and well-maintained.
• Monitor shooting areas closely for student spacing and collisions.
• Reinforce safe handling and movement zones during activities.

---

Lesson Breakdown (60 minutes)

---

🧘‍♀️ Warm-Up (10 mins)

Activity: “Hoop Hops & Star Reaches”

Students begin spread out in a circle. Rotate through movements to activate bodies and centre focus:

1. Hoop Hops (5 mins):

   • Jump around a space as if jumping into imaginary hoops.
   • On teacher’s cue “shoot!”, freeze and perform a pretend shot using two hands and full follow-through.

2. Star Reaches (5 mins):

   • Reach high, low, side-to-side while standing still – mimicking rebound and ball control stretches.
   • Pose like a “Shooting Star” after each round (arms and fingers pointing toward the hoop).

Purpose: Improve flexibility, focus minds, and get bodies ready to participate in targeted movement.

---

🎯 Skill Development (15 mins)

Mini-Lesson: “Let’s shoot like stars!”

Teacher Demo (2 mins):

• Stand near hoop and show:
  • Eye on the target
  • “L” shape arm & hand position
  • Soft fingertips
  • Full follow-through (“tickle the stars” with fingers after release)

Student Practice (13 mins):
Set up three shooting stations based on distances:

• Shooting Stars 1 (short shots): 1m from hoop
• Shooting Stars 2 (medium shots): 2m
• Shooting Stars 3 (long shots): 3m (challenging but motivating)

Split class into 3 groups of 7, rotating every 4 minutes (1 min transition). Each group has:

• 2 balls
• Cones spaced to mark distances
• Peer encouragement expected: “Nice shot!” “Good try!”

Differentiation:

• Offer softer, lighter balls for struggling shooters.
• Use chalk targets on the backboard for clearer aiming.
• Encourage underarm shooting if necessary.

Teacher Role: Circulate, give skill-specific feedback (“Try finishing with your fingers high!”), and praise.

---

🤹 Station Challenge (20 mins)

Activity: “Shoot the Rainbow”

Setup:

• Each student is given a ‘Shooting Star Score Card’ with 3 coloured stars to tick:
  • Red = Short Shot
  • Yellow = Medium Shot
  • Blue = Long Shot

Instructions:

• Students revisit all 3 hoop stations and record a tick whenever they land a shot.
• All students encouraged to try all distances (no pressure to be perfect—focus is on technique!).
• Use peer coaches: students give advice kindly and cheer after shots.

Scaffolding for Success:

• Create “Power Words of the Day” on signs at each station (e.g., Balance, Aim, Follow-Through).
• Use visuals for clearer concepts – a shooting stance image next to each ring.

Teacher Tip: Arrange students into diverse pairs for encouragement and guidance.

---

🧠 Reflection & Cool Down (10 mins)

Circle Time – “Tell Me, Show Me”

• Students sit in a circle with whiteboard in centre.
• Ask guiding questions, encouraging participation:
  • “What made your shot better today?”
  • “How did you support your partner?”
  • “Was it easier to shoot close or far away? Why?”

Students then model their best “Shooting Star” pose and describe what helped them achieve it.

Cool Down Movement:

• Gentle stretching: reach high like a shot, sweep low like a rebound.
• Breathing to relax: inhale as arms rise, exhale as arms lower.

---

Assessment Opportunities

Formative Strategy	Description
Observation	Check for correct shooting form and safe movement
Score Cards	Gauge student participation and success from self-recorded shots
Peer Feedback	Listen for positive, task-focused peer coaching
Reflection Sharing	Assess self-awareness and vocabulary around movement

---

Curriculum Reflection

This lesson aligns directly with the Australian Curriculum's F–10 HPE strand Movement and Physical Activity for Year 1, embedding critical components of fundamental movement skills and cooperative learning. Through a playful, structured approach, students use autonomy, physical coordination, and shared reflection to nurture progression in both skill and self-confidence.

---

Extension Ideas 🔍

• Create a class “Shooting Star” wall where students pin their star cards weekly with their proudest coloured star.
• Integrate mathematics: count successful shots or compare distances using non-standard units (e.g., “How many foot lengths from the hoop?”).
• Include literacy: create a class “Shooting Song” with movement cues and rhyme.

---

Teacher Notes 📝

• Reinforce positive talk and a growth mindset around shooting – every “miss” is a chance for feedback.
• Rotate peer leaders each week for inclusive development.
• Plan ahead for indoor/outdoor venue alternatives depending on weather.

---

Let’s create a gym full of confident, curious, and star-powered shooters! 🌟