Lesson Plan: Line Ball Passing and Cross Throwing

Objective:

To develop and enhance the students’ hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness, and teamwork skills through line ball passing and cross throwing activities.

Curriculum Area and Standards:

This lesson aligns with the New Zealand Curriculum for Year 4 students under the Physical Education learning area. It specifically addresses the following aspects:
- Strand B: Movement Concepts and Motor Skills: Developing motor skills, body awareness, and movement through varied physical activities.
- Key Competencies: Participating and Contributing: Engaging with others to share physical activities and contribute to team sports.

Refer to the New Zealand Curriculum Online - Physical Education for further details on curriculum standards and expectations.

Materials:

- Soft foam balls (one per pair)
- Cones to mark the playing area
- Whistle
- Timer

Class Size:

25 students (Year 4)

Time Duration:

30 minutes

Location:

School gymnasium or safe outdoor area

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Detailed Lesson Plan:

Introduction (5 minutes)

1. Greeting and Safety Instructions: Begin with a greeting and briefly discuss the importance of spatial awareness and safety during the game.
2. Objective Sharing: Explain the objectives of the activities - focus on teamwork, hand-eye coordination, and the enjoyment of physical activity.

Warm-Up (5 minutes)

1. Dynamic Stretching: Lead the children in a series of dynamic stretches such as arm circles, toe touches, and gentle jogging on the spot to prepare their bodies for physical activity.
2. 'Simon Says' Movement Game: A quick game of 'Simon Says' focusing on movements like jumping, crouching, and fast feet to elevate heart rates and engage muscles.

Activity Part 1: Line Ball Passing (10 minutes)

1. Setup:
- Divide the students into pairs.
- Have each pair line up facing each other approximately 2 meters apart.
2. Instructions:
- Demonstrate a chest pass and underhand pass.
- Students will pass the ball back and forth using chest passes initially.
- Introduce variations such as one-hand passing and bouncing the ball to their partner after 2 minutes.
3. Guidance and Feedback: Circulate among the pairs, offering tips to improve their passing techniques and encouraging communication between partners.

Activity Part 2: Cross Throwing (10 minutes)

1. Setup:
- Arrange students into four groups.
- Place cones to form a large cross where each group stands at one of the four ends.
2. Instructions:
- Each group has one ball. The goal is to throw the ball diagonally across to the opposite group.
- When a group catches a ball, they quickly pass it on to the next group on their right.
- Continue the cycle for several minutes.
- Discuss the importance of accurate throwing and catching to maintain the flow of the game.
3. Adjustments for Difficulty: Increase the throwing distance or introduce a rule where students can only catch with one hand to increase the challenge.

Conclusion (5 minutes)

1. Cool Down: Guide students through a cool-down session consisting of walking and static stretching to relax the muscles.
2. Discussion and Feedback: Gather students and discuss what they learned about teamwork and the skills they practiced. Encourage students to provide feedback on what they enjoyed or found challenging.
3. End of Session: Thank students for their participation and energy.

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This lesson plan is designed to cater to the needs and developmental stage of Year 4 students, encouraging not only physical development but also communication and teamwork within a fun and engaging environment.