Lesson 3 - Reaching & Stretching Skills
Body Awareness & Creative Move
•Reception
•Fundamental Movement Skills
•Start Planning Better PE Lessons
Sign up free to access 3 complete units per month, unlimited activity library, and your personal locker.
What's included
- Complete activity instructions & timing
- Teaching tips & differentiation strategies
- Assessment guidance & success criteria
- Downloadable lessons & units
How can we use our whole body to reach places and move things safely?
Learning Objectives
- To develop reaching and stretching skills while maintaining balance
- To understand how to move equipment safely using different body parts
- To work cooperatively with others in relay activities
Key Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate controlled reaching and stretching movements
- Students will successfully move equipment using various body positions
- Students will participate positively in group relay activities
Equipment & Resources Required
Distributed around activity area
Alternative: Beanbags, soft toys, blocks
Spread out with space between each mat
Alternative: Carpet squares, marked spaces on floor
In container near activity area
Alternative: Small soft toys, fabric squares
In basket ready for relay activities
Alternative: Soft play balls, bean bags
Ready for turning over activity
Alternative: Small markers, flat discs
Laid flat on floor for relay stations
Alternative: Chalk circles, rope circles
One per hoop for rolling activity
Alternative: Medium playground balls, soft play balls
Set at safe height for placing objects
Alternative: Low platform, sturdy boxes
Key Vocabulary
Making your body or limbs as long as possible
Extending your arm or leg towards something
Staying steady and not falling over
How heavy something feels or pressing down with your body
Using something to help hold you up
Skill Progression Pathway
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Prior Learning
- Basic awareness of body parts
- Simple stretching movements
- Understanding of following instructions
Current Skills
- Controlled reaching and stretching
- Weight transfer and balance
- Object manipulation and placement
Next Steps
- More complex balance challenges
- Throwing and catching skills
- Coordinated movement patterns
Milestone Indicators
Key Teaching Points
- Always emphasise control over distance when reaching and stretching
- Encourage use of both left and right hands equally throughout activities
- Focus on maintaining balance and stability during all reaching movements
- Promote cooperation and turn-taking rather than competition in early activities
- Connect learning back to real-life situations where reaching and stretching are useful
Common Misconceptions
- Students thinking distance is more important than control - correct by praising technique
- Belief that one hand is 'better' than the other - encourage equal practice with both
- Assuming relay activities are about speed - emphasise skill and cooperation
- Thinking they need to reach beyond their comfort zone - teach safe limits
- Believing competition means being unkind to others - model positive sportsmanship
SEN Adaptations
ADHD
- Shorter activity bursts, clear boundaries, regular position changes, positive reinforcement
dyspraxia
- Larger equipment, simplified movements, extra practice time, break down into smaller steps
autism spectrum
- Clear routine structure, visual schedule, quiet rest area available if needed
visual impairment
- Use brightly coloured equipment, clear verbal instructions, buddy system for guidance
hearing impairment
- Visual demonstrations, hand signals for instructions, written activity cards
physical disability
- Seated versions of reaching activities, modified equipment height, reduced distance expectations
Cross-Curricular Links
Maths
Measuring distances in footsteps, comparing left/right hand reaches, counting objects in relays
Science
Understanding balance and gravity, exploring how body parts work together
Geography
Positional language (left, right, far, near), spatial awareness and direction
PSHE
Cooperation and turn-taking, encouraging others, managing competitive feelings
Teacher Guidance
Positioning
Move around the space to observe all students, position centrally for demonstrations
Observation Focus
Watch for balance control, safe reaching technique, and positive cooperation
Intervention Points
Step in if students overreach unsafely, if competition becomes negative, or if technique deteriorates
Demonstration Notes
Exaggerate safe technique, show common mistakes to avoid, model positive encouragement
Verbal Cues
- •'Stay in control!'
- •'Gentle placement!'
- •'Both hands get a turn!'
Safety Considerations
Space & Surface Requirements
Space Requirements
Large indoor hall or outdoor area minimum 15m x 20m
Surface Check
Clean, dry, non-slip surface free from obstacles
Equipment Safety
Safety Checks
- •Check mats are secure and flat
- •Ensure cones have no sharp edges
- •Verify benches are stable and appropriate height
Risk Management
Key Risks
- •Falls when reaching too far
- •Collisions between pairs/groups
- •Strain from overreaching
Risk Mitigation
- •Emphasise controlled movements over distance
- •Ensure adequate spacing between groups
- •Teach safe falling and recovery
- •Monitor for fatigue and overexertion
Supervision & Emergency Procedures
Supervision Points
- •Position to observe all groups simultaneously
- •Move around to check technique up close
- •Watch for competitive pressure affecting safety
Emergency Procedures
Stop activity immediately, assess injury, apply appropriate first aid, contact school first aider if needed