Year 7 PE & Health Lesson Plan: Understanding the Aerobic Energy System through Netball

Overview

This lesson plan is designed for a class of 9 students in Year 7, focusing on how the aerobic energy system is utilized in the sport of netball. The lesson aligns with New Zealand's Health and Physical Education Curriculum, particularly at Level 4, where students learn to understand and apply knowledge and skills in movement contexts.

Learning Objectives

• Understand the basic functions of the aerobic energy system.
• Identify how the aerobic system is engaged during netball.
• Apply this understanding to enhance performance in netball.

Resources Needed

• Netball (1 per student)
• Netball court or similar marked area
• Cones
• Stopwatch
• Heart rate monitors (optional)
• Whiteboard and markers
• Printouts on the aerobic system (provided)

Curriculum Links

This lesson covers aspects of the New Zealand Health and Physical Education Curriculum at Level 4. Specifically, it assesses the "Movement Concepts and Motor Skills", focusing on demonstrating movement skills in applied settings and understanding the role of the body's physical systems during exercise. More information can be found at Health and PE in The New Zealand Curriculum.

Lesson Details

Warm-Up (5 minutes)

• Activity: Light jogging around the court and dynamic stretching focusing on legs and arms.
• Objective: Prepare the body for physical activity and prevent injury.

Introduction to Aerobic Energy System (10 minutes)

• Activity: Interactive discussion using whiteboard
  • Define aerobic energy system: a system that uses oxygen to break down glucose for energy.
  • Discuss its importance in continuous sports.
• Objective: Provide students with a foundational understanding of how their bodies produce energy during netball.

Practical Application in Netball (20 minutes)

• Activity: Netball drills emphasizing endurance
  • Drill 1: Passing while on the move around the netball court.
  • Drill 2: Position-specific movements (e.g., Wing Attack constantly moving into space).
• Objective: Engage the aerobic energy system and observe its effects (e.g., fatigue setting in).
• Interruptions for Discussion:
  • Discuss signs of aerobic energy usage (heavy breathing, steady sweat).
  • Briefly explain the build-up of lactic acid when the body begins to shift energy systems.

Monitoring and Understanding Impact (5 minutes)

• Activity: Use heart rate monitors to measure heart rates post-activity.
• Objective: Link physiological changes to aerobic exercise.

Cool Down and Reflection (5 minutes)

• Activity:
  • Light walking around the court followed by static stretching.
  • Encourage students to reflect on how their bodies felt during the exercises.
• Discussion:
  • What did you notice about your breathing?
  • How could improving your aerobic capacity improve your netball play?

Homework/Extended Learning

• Task: Students are to keep a simple diary of physical activities they engage in over the week and note any observations about their endurance and breathing.
• Objective: Encourage ongoing engagement with the aerobic system outside class settings.

Assessments

• Practical Assessment: Observe and provide feedback during drills.
• Oral Questioning: During discussions to assess understanding of the aerobic system.

Additional Notes

• Ensure all students are active and engaged, rotating positions frequently during drills.
• Adjust the intensity of the activities depending on the fitness levels of students, aiming to challenge but not overexert.

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This lesson plan is designed to be interactive and practical, utilising the sport of netball to make the learning relevant and engaging for Year 7 students. It bridges theoretical knowledge with practical application, encouraging a deep understanding of the aerobic energy system tailored to the New Zealand educational context.