Catch with Confidence

Lesson 3 of 10 in Unit: Mastering Ball Skills

Year Level: Years 4–6
Lesson Duration: 40 minutes
Class Size: 21 students

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📘 Curriculum Area

Learning Area: Health and Physical Education
Curriculum Level: Level 2
Strand: Movement Concepts and Motor Skills

Achievement Objectives Addressed:

• Participate in a variety of physical activities and develop movement skills in a range of contexts (Level 2).
• Demonstrate movement skills with increasing confidence and accuracy.
• Apply movement concepts to support coordination, control, and movement patterns.

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🎯 WALT (We Are Learning To)

• Catch a ball using correct technique—both two-handed and one-handed.
• Work co-operatively with a partner to develop catching skills.
• Use feedback to improve our catching accuracy and confidence.

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✅ Success Criteria

By the end of the lesson, students will:

• Use correct hand positioning and eye tracking to catch a ball.
• Demonstrate two types of catches confidently with a partner.
• Reflect on their performance and identify one area of improvement.

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🔄 Warm-Up Activity (5 minutes)

Activity Name: Popcorn Pairs
Purpose: To activate hand-eye coordination and prepare for catching skills.

Instructions:

• Students pair up and stand 2 metres apart.
• One partner tosses a soft ball (e.g. foam or tennis-sized) into the air like a “popcorn pop” (gentle underhand lob).
• The other player must catch it with two hands.
• Start with a balloon or soft foam ball for easier tracking.

Differentiation:

• Use balloons for students who find balls challenging.
• Advanced students catch while clapping once before the catch.

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🤲 Skill Introduction & Modelling (7 minutes)

Teacher-led demonstration of:

1. Two-Handed Catch

   • Eyes on the ball.
   • Hands form a 'W' shape (thumbs together) when catching high.
   • Cup shape when catching low.
   • Absorb impact by pulling the ball toward the body.

2. One-Handed Catch

   • Hand extended to side or above.
   • Track the ball with eyes and reach rather than swing.
   • Pull it into the body after contact.

Student Involvement:
A student volunteer assists with modelling common mistakes vs correct technique.

Dyslexia Support:
Use visual cue cards with diagrams showing hand shapes and body positions. Font: Arial or OpenDyslexic on posters.

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🔄 Skill Development Drills (15 minutes)

🔸 Activity 1: Catch & Clap (7 mins)

Goal: Enhance reaction time and catching mechanics.

• Students stand in pairs 3m apart with one soft ball.
• Partner A throws an underarm toss; Partner B performs a two-handed catch.
• Challenge: Partner B claps once before catching.
• Switch roles after 5 catches.

Progression for extension:

• Clap twice before catching.
• Catch with one hand.

Support for diverse learners:

• Use larger/lightweight balls.
• Reduce distance between partners.

🔸 Activity 2: One-Hand Hero (8 mins)

Goal: Practise one-handed catching.

• Students face each other and use opposite hands to catch (right-hand throw, left-hand catch).
• Encourage controlled tosses.
• Rotate dominant/non-dominant hands every 5 attempts.

Extension:

• Catch while standing on one foot.
• Add a small jump before the catch.

Support:

• Provide visual start and end positions for hands using cones.

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🏃‍♀️ Game-Based Activity (10 minutes)

🎯 Game: "Catch-o-Meter Challenge"

Objective: Apply catching skills under friendly team pressure.

Setup:

• Split class into 3 teams of 7.
• Form 3 relay stations across the court.

How to play:

• One player at a time runs to a ‘thrower’ at the 5m line, catches a ball, and runs back.
• Two points for a one-handed catch, one point for a two-handed.
• Rotate after every attempt.
• Track points on mini whiteboards or verbally.

Differentiation:

• For students with coordination difficulties: allow stationary catching.
• Use visuals to represent scores (stars or tokens).

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🧘‍♀️ Cool Down & Reflection (3 minutes)

🌀 Circle of Calm

• Whole class sits in a circle, pass a ball while sharing one thing they improved or enjoyed.
• Guide slow, deep breathing.

Reflection Prompt (spoken aloud):

“Where did you feel most confident today—two hands or one hand?”

Students with dyslexia may benefit from visual flashcards with emojis (👐 ✅, 🤚🤔).

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🧠 Extension Activity (Optional)

Home Challenge:
Catching Journal – Students record types of catches they practised at home and who they practised with (e.g. sibling, parent).

Advanced Learners: Research and demonstrate how professional athletes catch under pressure. Share findings or demonstrate techniques during the next lesson.

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🌱 Looking Ahead

Next Lesson: Lesson 4 – Throwing with Accuracy. Students will combine catching and throwing skills in small game scenarios.

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👩‍🏫 Teacher Tips

• Use stations to reduce wait time and increase participation.
• Reinforce the whakataukī from the HPE curriculum:
  "He oranga ngākau, he pikinga waiora"
  Positive feelings in your heart will raise your sense of self-worth.

Encourage students to celebrate small wins—confidence is key in mastery.

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🎓 Assessment & Feedback

Formative Assessment:

• Observe correct hand positioning.
• Ask recall questions during transitions (e.g. "What shape should your hands make?").

Peer Feedback Prompts:

• "I noticed your hands were..."
• "Next time, try to..."

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Nurturing movement with purpose—building confidence, skill, and joy in every catch.