This unit introduces Year 3 students to tennis through a carefully scaffolded approach that prioritises fundamental movement and ball control before introducing stroke technique. The emphasis is on building confidence with racket and ball whilst developing the eye-hand coordination essential for future tennis success. Through partner work and collaborative competition, students learn that tennis is as much about working together as it is about individual skill development.

Lessons in This Unit

8 lessons in this unit

Lesson 1

Ready Position and Ball Tracking
40 min

Big Question:

How can the ready position help me become a better tennis player?

Key Objectives:

  • • To understand and demonstrate the ready position in tennis
  • • To track a moving ball and position body effectively

Lesson 2

Ball Control and Movement Skills
1h

Big Question:

How can we use our eyes and feet together to control a moving ball?

Key Objectives:

  • • To develop hand-eye coordination through catching skills
  • • To improve tracking and movement skills with a moving ball

Lesson 3

Racket and Ball Control
45 min

Big Question:

How can you use the racket face to control a tennis ball accurately?

Key Objectives:

  • • To develop effective racket and ball control techniques
  • • To understand the different parts of a tennis racket and their functions

Lesson 4

Forehand Groundstroke Development
45 min

Big Question:

How can we use the perfect swing to send the ball exactly where we want it to go?

Key Objectives:

  • • To develop returning the ball using a forehand groundstroke technique
  • • To improve ball control and accuracy when hitting to targets

Lesson 5

Forehand Rally Development
45 min

Big Question:

How can we control the ball to keep a rally going with our partner?

Key Objectives:

  • • To develop forehand technique for consistent ball control
  • • To work cooperatively with a partner to maintain rallies

Lesson 6

Two-Handed Backhand Development
45 min

Big Question:

How can we use two hands to give us better control when hitting a tennis ball?

Key Objectives:

  • • To develop correct two-handed backhand technique
  • • To understand when and why to use a backhand shot

Lesson 7

Tennis Scoring and Match Play
1h

Big Question:

How can we use tactics and rules to outsmart our opponent in tennis?

Key Objectives:

  • • To learn how to score points in tennis using official rules
  • • To be able to play competitively against an opponent using basic tactics

Lesson 8

Fair Play in Competition
45 min

Big Question:

How can we work together with our partner to compete fairly and improve our tennis skills?

Key Objectives:

  • • To work collaboratively with a partner to compete against others using simple tennis tactics
  • • To demonstrate honesty and fair play whilst competing in tennis matches