Tennis Skills Showcase

Overview

Age Group: 7-9 years old
Class Size: 6 students (split into 2 groups of 3 for some activities)
Duration: 45 minutes
Unit: Tennis Skills for Kids (Lesson 8 of 8)
Curriculum Link:

• Physical education programmes of study (Key Stage 2, Years 3-4), National Curriculum in England
• Focus on developing agility, coordination, and understanding of game rules through adapted tennis activities (Aligned with the AfPE physical literacy framework and Youth Sport Trust guidelines)

---

Learning Objectives

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

• Confidently demonstrate the tennis skills learned during the unit, including forehand, backhand, serving, and rallying.
• Participate collaboratively in tennis-based challenges and mini-games to apply their skills in dynamic contexts.
• Reflect on their individual progress and articulate personal strengths and areas for improvement.
• Set achievable, personalised goals for continuing their tennis development beyond the unit.

---

Equipment

• 6 low-compression tennis balls
• 6 junior tennis rackets (lighter with appropriate grip for 7-9-year-olds)
• Cones to mark zones and stations
• Mini nets or portable net markers (approx. 0.75m height)
• Clipboards and reflective worksheets for self-assessment
• Whistle
• Stopwatch or timer

---

Lesson Structure

1. Introduction & Warm-up (7 mins)

Activity: Dynamic warm-up circuit creatively integrating tennis movements

• Jogging around the court (30 seconds)
• Side shuffles between cones (30 seconds)
• "Shadow" tennis swings without balls (1 minute) — encourage proper form
• Short rally footwork drill: “Quick feet” means rapid stepping on the spot, then moving towards cone when whistle blows (2 mins)
• Stretching arms, wrists, and legs (2 mins)

Teacher Notes: Use positive reinforcement and bring awareness to how proper warm-ups improve game readiness and injury prevention.

---

2. Tennis Skills Showcase Stations (20 mins)

Divide the class into two groups of three, rotating after 10 minutes.

Station 1: Rally Relay

• Students in pairs rally back and forth with a mini net. Partner encourages consistent contact for 10 hits.
• After 10 successful hits, they quickly rotate positions to create a relay challenge.
• Focus: Control, timing, and consistency.

Station 2: Target Serve Challenge

• Set cones or small hula hoops on different service boxes.
• Each child gets 5 serves aiming for the targets, scoring points for each hit.
• Focus: Accuracy, stance, and ball toss.

Teacher Notes: Use stopwatch to add a mild time pressure element once basics are mastered, increasing challenge.

---

3. Fun Tennis Games (10 mins)

Game 1: King/Queen of the Court

• 3 players in a mini round robin on one half court.
• Winner stays on, others rotate in. Points scored by playing successful shots through rallies.
• Encourages competitive but friendly play and strategic thinking.

Game 2: Tennis Obstacle Course

• Incorporate tennis skills with agility tasks: dribble/tap the ball with racket around cones, quick sprints to net, volley catches.
• Timed as a fun race — record times and encourage personal bests.

---

4. Reflection & Goal Setting (7 mins)

• Students complete a simple reflective worksheet prompted with:

  • What skill am I most proud of?
  • What do I want to improve in tennis?
  • What is one goal I want to achieve next time I play tennis?

• Teacher leads a brief circle time to share reflections and encourage positive peer feedback.

---

5. Cool Down & Wrap-up (1 min)

• Gentle stretching with deep breaths
• Reminder of the importance of enjoyment and continuous practice.

---

Assessment & Differentiation

• Formative Assessment: Observe students’ skill execution and sportsmanship during stations and games, providing immediate specific praise or guidance.
• Self-Assessment: Reflective worksheets encourage metacognition and ownership of learning.
• Differentiation:
  • Provide modified rackets or larger balls for students who require additional support.
  • Challenge more advanced players with increased rally targets or smaller target zones.
  • Use peer mentoring in stations to foster inclusivity.

---

Cross-Curricular Links

• English: Speaking and listening skills during reflections and peer feedback sessions.
• Maths: Simple scoring systems during games develop basic numeracy.
• PSHE: Builds confidence, resilience, and cooperative skills aligned with the Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education framework.

---

Teacher Tips to Wow

• Use a colourful skills progress chart displayed publicly to showcase everyone's achievements throughout the unit, culminating in today’s challenges.
• Record short clips (or photos) of rallies to share with parents or children later to celebrate progress and increase motivation.
• Use tennis-related music during warm-ups to boost energy and engagement.
• Create a ‘Tennis Champion’ certificate personalised for each pupil based on their goal-setting reflections.

---

This final lesson reinforces skills, builds confidence, and empowers young learners to continue their tennis journey with enthusiasm and clear goals. A blend of challenge, creativity, and reflection ensures a memorable and impactful PE experience for all.