Teamwork and Participation

Lesson Overview

Year Level: Year 7
Subject: Physical Education
Lesson Duration: 60 minutes
Lesson 1 of 2 in the "Teamwork in Action" Unit
Curriculum Area: Health and Physical Education – Level 4
Key Focus: Participating and Contributing, Interpersonal Skills, Teamwork

This lesson introduces students to the importance of teamwork in physical activities. Through interactive discussions and icebreaker games, students will explore core teamwork skills such as communication, trust, and collaboration. By the end of the lesson, students will be able to define teamwork in their own words and demonstrate basic teamwork skills in a PE setting.

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Learning Outcomes

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

1. Define teamwork and explain why it is important in physical activity.
2. Demonstrate active listening, clear communication, and trust-building in team-based activities.
3. Reflect on how teamwork affects their participation and enjoyment in physical education.

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Equipment and Resources

• Cones or markers
• Softballs or beanbags
• Printed or digital copies of whakataukī: “Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini.” (My strength is not as an individual, but as a collective.)
• Whiteboard and markers (if available)
• Stopwatches

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Lesson Structure

1. Warm-Up: Whakataukī Discussion and Icebreaker (10 minutes)

• Gather students in a circle and introduce the whakataukī.
• Ask: “What do you think this means in terms of teamwork?” Encourage ākonga to share their thoughts in pairs before sharing with the class.
• Icebreaker: "Human Knot" Game
  • Students stand in a circle and randomly join hands with two different people across from them.
  • The challenge: without letting go, work together to untangle the knot.
  • Debrief: “What teamwork skills did we use?” (e.g., communication, trust, patience)

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2. Core Activity: Collaborative Challenges (30 minutes)

Activity 1: Blindfold Challenge (10 minutes)

• Half the students wear blindfolds.
• Their team members must guide them (verbally) through an obstacle course using clear, specific directions.
• Key Reflection:
  • How did you build trust with your teammate?
  • Was it easy or difficult to communicate? Why?

Activity 2: Pass the Energy (8 minutes)

• Students stand in a circle. A ball (representing energy) starts with one student.
• The goal: pass the energy (ball) around the circle using only non-verbal communication.
• Variation: Can they speed up without dropping the ball?
• Key Reflection:
  • What made this easy or difficult?
  • How does this relate to working as a team?

Activity 3: Team Relay Challenge (12 minutes)

• Set up a short relay course with agility tasks (e.g., weaving through cones, balancing an object).
• Each team must develop a strategy to complete the task as fast as possible.
• Introduce a twist: After the first round, teams must swap strategies with another group and attempt to improve their time.
• Reflection Prompts:
  • What worked best in your strategy?
  • How did communication impact your teamwork?

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3. Cool Down and Reflection (10 minutes)

• Partner Discussion: Pair students and ask them to reflect on what teamwork looked like in today’s lesson.
• Class Share:
  • What was one teamwork skill you used today?
  • How can we apply these skills in other areas of school/life?
• Teacher Wrap-Up: Reinforce learning by connecting teamwork to both sports and daily life.

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Assessment and Reflection

• Informal Observation: Teacher notes students' participation and communication during activities.
• Exit Ticket Question: Ask students to write or verbally share one way they will apply teamwork in future PE lessons.

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Differentiation Strategies

• For students needing extra support: Pair them with confident communicators in team activities.
• For students needing greater challenge: Have them lead a mini-discussion on a teamwork scenario.

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Teacher Reflection

• Were students engaged throughout all activities?
• Which activity generated the most discussion or teamwork challenges?
• How can I adjust this lesson to better support diverse learners?

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This lesson aligns with The New Zealand Curriculum’s focus on participating and contributing while fostering interpersonal skills in Physical Education. By focusing on teamwork early in the unit, students build essential communication and collaboration skills that will benefit them beyond the classroom.