Biomechanics in Athletics
Athletics
•Year 4
•6 Lessons
This unit moves students beyond basic athletic participation towards understanding how their bodies work as mechanical systems to achieve faster, further, and more accurate performance. The emphasis is on connecting proper technique with purpose, helping Year 4 students grasp why specific body movements create better results. Through progressive skill development across running, jumping, and throwing disciplines, students build both physical competence and analytical thinking about movement quality.
Lessons in This Unit
6 lessons in this unit
Lesson 1
Big Question:
How can we challenge ourselves to run faster, jump further and throw more accurately?
Key Objectives:
- • Challenge yourself to jump in a variety of ways for distance and height
- • Show different ways of running and moving
Lesson 2
Big Question:
How can we use our bodies like powerful machines to accelerate quickly over short distances?
Key Objectives:
- • Assess what fast running feels like to accelerate over short distances
- • Practice and perform running at speed using appropriate technique
Lesson 3
Big Question:
How can we use our running speed to jump further and land safely?
Key Objectives:
- • Use running to increase the distance of jumps with one-footed take-off
- • Judge speed and timing to take off from a specified point accurately
Lesson 4
Big Question:
How can using a sling action and proper body mechanics help us throw objects further and more accurately?
Key Objectives:
- • To learn and apply the sling technique for discus throwing
- • To develop wind-up technique for generating power in throws
Lesson 5
Big Question:
How can we run efficiently around curves and exchange batons like real relay runners?
Key Objectives:
- • To develop the technique for running efficiently on curves
- • To learn how to perform a safe and effective baton exchange
Lesson 6
Big Question:
How can we use feedback and evaluation to improve our athletic performance?
Key Objectives:
- • Work collaboratively in teams to apply running, jumping and throwing skills in competitive situations
- • Challenge themselves to improve personal scores using appropriate techniques and measurement