This unit introduces Year 1 students to fundamental movement patterns through playful athletic activities, building confidence in running, jumping, throwing, and balancing. The emphasis is on exploration and personal best achievements rather than competition, with each lesson developing body awareness and movement control. Through progressive challenges, students discover how athletes use their whole body to move effectively, laying essential foundations for future athletic development.

Lessons in This Unit

8 lessons in this unit

Lesson 1

Running Speeds & Distances
45 min

Big Question:

How do athletes change their body movements to run at different speeds?

Key Objectives:

  • To learn to move at different speeds for varying distances
  • To understand the relationship between speed and distance in running

Lesson 2

Balance and Stability Foundation
45 min

Big Question:

How can we use our bodies to stay balanced like a tightrope walker?

Key Objectives:

  • To develop foundation skills for balance and stability
  • To understand how body position affects balance control

Lesson 3

Agility and Direction Changes
45 min

Big Question:

How can we move our bodies quickly and safely to change direction like an athlete?

Key Objectives:

  • To develop agility and coordination through direction changes
  • To understand the key body positions for quick direction changes

Lesson 4

Hopping, Jumping & Leaping
45 min

Big Question:

How can we use different types of jumps to travel the furthest distance?

Key Objectives:

  • To explore and practise hopping, jumping and leaping movements
  • To understand how different jumps can be used for different distances

Lesson 5

Balance in Jumping and Landing
45 min

Big Question:

How can we control our bodies when we take off and land like athletes?

Key Objectives:

  • To develop balance whilst jumping and landing using different take-off and landing techniques
  • To demonstrate controlled movement patterns in jumping, hopping, and leaping activities

Lesson 6

Balance and Rhythm Over Obstacles
45 min

Big Question:

How can we stay balanced and move smoothly when jumping over obstacles?

Key Objectives:

  • To develop balance and rhythm when travelling over obstacles
  • To demonstrate controlled landings with soft knees

Lesson 7

Throwing for Distance
45 min

Big Question:

How can we throw objects as far as possible using our whole body?

Key Objectives:

  • To develop throwing for distance using underarm and overarm techniques
  • To understand the difference between underarm and overarm throwing

Lesson 8

Throwing for Accuracy
45 min

Big Question:

How can we aim our throws to hit exactly where we want them to go?

Key Objectives:

  • To develop throwing for accuracy using underarm and overarm techniques
  • To understand how hand position affects throw direction