Physical Education Lesson Plan: Small Ball Skills

Year 3 - New Zealand Primary School

Duration: 30 minutes

Class Size: 25 students

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Objective:

Students will develop and enhance their fundamental movement skills focusing on small ball activities, aligning with the Health and Physical Education strand of the New Zealand Curriculum.

Learning Outcomes:

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

1. Demonstrate improved hand-eye coordination through targeted small ball games.
2. Exhibit basic techniques of throwing, catching, and rolling small balls.
3. Work cooperatively in small groups to accomplish fun, skill-based activities.

Curriculum Links:

• Curriculum Area: Health and Physical Education
• Strand: Movement Concepts and Motor Skills, specifically focusing on manipulating objects and hand-eye coordination.
• Level: Level 1 & 2 - developing skills in movement.
• New Zealand Curriculum - Physical Education

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Resources:

• Variety of small balls (e.g., tennis balls, soft foam balls)
• Cones to mark areas
• Whistle for teacher

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Lesson Breakdown:

Introduction (5 minutes)

• Welcome and Introduction:
  • Briefly explain the objectives of the lesson.
  • Discuss the importance of safety and the rules for today’s activities.

Warm-Up Activity (5 minutes)

• Name Ball Game:
  • Students stand in a circle.
  • Begin by throwing a small ball to a student while saying their name.
  • The receiver throws the ball to another student, also saying that student’s name.
  • Continue for 5 minutes to warm up and practise throwing and catching.

Main Activities (15 minutes)

Activity 1: Station Drills (7 minutes)

• Divide the class into 4 groups. Each group rotates through different stations:
  1. Throwing Accuracy: Students try to throw balls into a series of buckets at varying distances.
  2. Catch & Clap: Students throw the ball up, clap once, and then catch. Increase claps as they improve.
  3. Rolling Target: Students roll balls towards a target marked by cones, aiming to get as close as possible.
  4. Dribble Relay: Students dribble a small ball around cones and then pass to the next team member.

Activity 2: Clean Up the Yard (8 minutes)

• Setup: Scatter soft balls across one side of the play area.
  • Each team must collect balls one by one and place them into their team's bucket at the start line.
  • Only one student per team can go at a time.
  • First team to gather all their balls wins.

Cool Down (5 minutes)

• Circle Ball Pass:
  • Students form a circle.
  • Pass the ball around with only one hand, first in one direction, then the other.
  • Reflect on what they learned and enjoyed during the lesson.

Conclusion:

• Reiterate the key skills practiced today.
• Encourage students to practice these skills at home.
• Brief the students on what to expect in the next PE class.

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Safety Considerations:

• Ensure all equipment is in good condition.
• Supervise all activities to manage the space and prevent collisions.
• Encourage students to be mindful of their surroundings and fellow classmates.

Modifications:

• For students needing additional support, use larger or textured balls to make catching easier.
• Adjust the difficulty of the stations based on the students' skill levels.

This lesson plan is designed to be interactive and enjoyable while reinforcing fundamental physical skills appropriate for Year 3 students in New Zealand, adhering to the national curriculum standards for physical education.