Rotating Leaders

Unit and Lesson Context

• Unit: Move and Groove: PE Fun (Lesson 4 of 6)
• Year group: Year 1 (ages 5-6)
• Duration: 45 minutes
• Class size: 60 students (will need station rotation and grouping management)

Lesson Overview

This lesson builds upon previous games and activities by integrating peer leadership during warm-ups. Students take turns leading warm-ups at stations focusing on foundational movement skills: rolling, jumping, and cross-body coordination. The activities enhance physical competencies while fostering communication and leadership — key competencies outlined in the New Zealand Curriculum (NZC) refresh.

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Curriculum Alignment

Achievement Objectives (The New Zealand Curriculum Refresh)

• Movement Concepts and Motor Skills (Level 1 Physical Education)
• Develop fundamental movement skills (rolling, jumping, crossing midline) with control and coordination.
• Participate actively and safely in physical activities.
• Personal and Social Responsibility and Leadership:
• Begin to demonstrate leadership and cooperative skills by leading and supporting peers.

Key Competencies

• Managing self: Students show confidence in taking turns leading warm-ups.
• Relating to others: Students practice cooperation and communication through peer teaching.
• Participating and contributing: Students actively engage and support each other’s learning.

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Learning Objectives

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

1. Perform simple warm-up movements focusing on rolling, jumping, and cross-body coordination.
2. Lead a short warm-up session for their peers with guidance.
3. Demonstrate cooperation and take turns respectfully during station rotations.
4. Show safe use of space and body awareness during activities.

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Equipment and Setup

• 6 stations, each catering for 10 students (3 stations focus on movement skills; 3 stations for leadership warming up)
• Soft mats for rolling
• Markers or cones for jumping activities
• Visual aids illustrating warm-up exercises at each station
• Whistle or signal for timing rotation and gathering

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Lesson Structure

1. Introduction and Explanation (5 minutes)

• Brief whole-class gathering.
• Teacher explains the purpose: “Today you will take turns being the leader and helping your friends warm up!”
• Discuss safety expectations and how to listen carefully to the leader.
• Show quick demo of warm-up movements: rolling on a mat, jumping over cones, and cross-body arm/leg reaches.

2. Group Formation and Station Instructions (5 minutes)

• Divide the class into 6 groups of 10.
• Assign each group to a station.
• Explain that the first person in the group will lead the warm-up at their station.
• Leaders will rotate with each group rotation so everyone gets a turn.

3. Station Activities (30 minutes; 5 minutes per station, plus transition)

• Station 1: Rolling Warm-up
• Leader guides group through gentle rolling exercises on mats (log roll, tuck and roll).
• Focus: body awareness and control.
• Station 2: Jumping Warm-up
• Leader guides group through jumping activities: two-foot jumps over cones, hopping on one foot.
• Focus: coordination and balance.
• Station 3: Cross-Body Movements Warm-up
• Leader guides group through crossing midline activities: reaching arm across body to opposite foot, gentle twists.
• Focus: brain-body coordination.
• Repeat twice so each group experiences all three stations.
• For leader rotation: after each 5-minute station, the leader role passes to the next member in the group.

4. Cool Down and Reflection (5 minutes)

• Whole class gathers in a circle.
• Discuss what it felt like to lead and to follow.
• Ask:
• What was your favourite warm-up?
• How did it feel to be the leader? To listen to the leader?
• Highlight teamwork and leadership qualities observed.
• End with deep breaths and gentle stretching.

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Differentiation and Support

• Provide visual cue cards with simple instructions at each station.
• Use paired buddies for younger or less confident leaders.
• Offer extra encouragement to students showing leadership for the first time.
• Repeat instructions and model movements clearly.

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Assessment and Evidence of Learning

• Formative assessment during the activity by teacher observation:
• Can the student demonstrate the warm-up movements with control?
• Does the student successfully lead the warm-up with peers’ engagement?
• Does the student show understanding by following safety rules and co-operating?
• Use a simple checklist or anecdotal notes for leadership skills and motor skill execution.

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Teaching Tips to Wow

• Use enthusiastic praise to build confidence in young leaders.
• Incorporate a 'leadership badge' or headband for the student leader to wear temporarily — makes leadership visible and special.
• Encourage students to use clear voices and simple commands ("Ready, set, go!") modelling tone and pace for communication.
• Consider filming one warm-up led by a student to show back, celebrating their leadership and reinforcing learning.
• Integrate te reo Māori language by naming movements or encouraging commands in te reo, e.g., "Kia kaha — be strong!"

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In this lesson, students not only practise essential physical skills but also build social and personal competencies pivotal for their holistic development, aligning well with the refreshed New Zealand Curriculum goals for Year 1 Physical Education.