Throwing Skills Basics

Unit

Fun with Movement Skills (Lesson 2 of 5)

Duration

30 minutes

Class Size

10 Foundation Year students

Curriculum Alignment

• NSW PDHPE Foundation Stage Outcomes:
  • Movement skills and concepts (FMS-4): Perform fundamental movement skills in a variety of movement sequences and situations.
  • Movement skill development – throwing (FMS-6): Demonstrate basic throwing skills, including grip, stance, and arm action.
  • Movement concepts (FMS-5): Understand and apply safe and effective movement concepts and strategies when performing fundamental movement skills.
• Learning focus: Developing basic throwing techniques using soft balls, emphasising grip, stance, and arm movement with safety and enjoyment【6:health-and-physical-education-achievement-standard-foundation-year.md†foundation PE standard】.

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Learning Objectives

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

1. Identify and demonstrate the correct way to hold a soft ball (grip).
2. Adopt a safe and balanced stance when preparing to throw.
3. Coordinate arm movement for throwing in a simple and controlled motion.
4. Understand why safety and space are important when practising throwing skills.

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Equipment Needed

• Soft foam balls (one per student)
• Cones to mark safe practice space
• Visual aids showing correct grip, stance and throwing arm action (simple illustrations)
• Whistle for attention

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Lesson Outline

Time (min)	Activity	Description	Purpose & Notes
0-5	Welcome & Warm-Up	Gather students in a circle. Lead a light warm-up: walking, stretching arms, shoulder rolls. Use simple language to get ready to move safely.	Prepares bodies for activity and focuses attention.
5-8	Introduction to Grip	Show the ball. Demonstrate how to hold with fingers spread comfortably around the ball (not too tight). Let students try holding their ball, walking around showing their grip.	Builds foundational control over the ball, tactile experience.
8-13	Stance and Posture Practice	Explain "balance" and "ready position": feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, eyes looking forward. Demonstrate and have students mimic this stance without balls first. Use cones to mark stance spots.	Teaches stability and prepares body for throwing motion.
13-20	Arm Movement and Throwing Practice	Demonstrate a simple throwing action: bring ball back with throwing arm, step forward, and release ball towards a target (a teacher or cone). Model slow and safe throws using underarm technique. Divide students into pairs for guided practice, step-by-step feedback.	Focuses on arm action, coordinates body movement to develop throwing skill safely.
20-27	Guided Throwing Game	Short "throw to partner" activity. Partners stand a short distance apart and try to gently throw and catch soft balls. Encourage encouragement and remind about safe throwing space. Rotate pairs once.	Consolidates skill in a game-like setting, encourages cooperation.
27-30	Cool Down and Reflection	Circle time: breathing exercises (deep breaths), simple stretching of arms and legs. Ask students what they enjoyed or learned about throwing today. Provide positive feedback.	Supports physical recovery and reinforces learning verbally.

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Teaching Tips for Foundation Students

• Use simple, clear language with lots of demonstration.
• Give frequent positive feedback, celebrate effort.
• Keep instructions short and direct.
• Use visual demonstrations including teacher modelling and peer observation.
• Allow time for individual support during throwing practice.
• Emphasise safety repeatedly—no throwing when not asked, keep distance.

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Assessment Strategies

• Observation: Teacher observes each student performing grip, stance, and arm movement during throwing practice.
• Checklist: Use a simple rubric:
  • Correct grip (fingers around ball, relaxed)
  • Balanced stance (feet position, body posture)
  • Arm movement (backswing and follow-through)
• Oral feedback: Ask students to demonstrate and describe grip and stance in their own words.
• Peer encouragement: Monitor positive interaction during paired throwing.

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Reflection and Next Steps

• Review any difficulties and plan for differentiated support in next lessons.
• Prepare to introduce further throwing techniques including aiming and catching in upcoming lessons of the unit.
• Reinforce the importance of personal and spatial awareness in movement for safety and skill.

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This lesson plan is crafted to deliver engaging, age-appropriate fundamental throwing skill development tightly aligned with the NSW Foundation PDHPE syllabus focused on movement skills. It balances teacher-led explanation, modelling, guided practice, and playful application with strong safety focus suited for young learners. This stepwise, scaffolded approach helps ensure all students gain the confidence and enjoyment critical for ongoing participation in physical activity.