Physical education: movement and games – Week 10 focus
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Subject: Life Skills
Class: Grade 1
Term: 1st Term
Week: 10
Theme: General lesson support
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This week in Life Skills, we're going to focus on different ways our bodies can move and how much fun we can have playing games! Physical activity is super important for Grade 1 learners in South Africa. It helps us grow strong, learn to work together with our friends, and even helps us focus better in class. Playing games teaches us important skills like taking turns, following rules, and being good sports. It also makes us feel happy and healthy! In our communities, being active helps us participate in local events and enjoy outdoor spaces.
This week, we're going to explore locomotor movements, warming up, and game rules.
Locomotor Movements: Locomotor movements are ways that we move our bodies from one place to another. Think about how you get from your desk to the door, or from your house to your friend's house. These movements use our legs and feet!
Some important locomotor movements are: Walking: Moving one foot in front of the other, keeping one foot on the ground at all times. Imagine you're walking to the spaza shop to buy sweets.
Running: Moving faster than walking, with periods where neither foot is touching the ground. Think about running to catch the bus!
Hopping: Jumping on one foot and landing on the same foot. Imagine you're a little bunny hopping through a garden!
Jumping: Pushing off the ground with both feet and landing on both feet. Think of jumping over a puddle of water after a rainstorm.
Skipping: A combination of a step and a hop, alternating feet. It's a fun, bouncy way to move!
Example: Let's say Lerato wants to get from her classroom to the school gate, which is 20 meters away. She could walk (taking small steps), run (taking bigger, faster steps), or hop part of the way and then walk the rest. The choice of movement depends on how quickly she wants to get there!
Warming Up: Before we start any physical activity, it's important to warm up our muscles. Warming up helps prevent injuries like sore muscles or sprains.
A good warm-up might include: Stretching: Gently pulling or extending our muscles. We can stretch our arms, legs, and neck. Imagine you are stretching like a sleepy lion waking up from a nap!
Light Jogging: Running slowly in place or around a small area. Pretend you are jogging to the beat of some amapiano!
Arm Circles: Making small or large circles with our arms. Imagine you are stirring a big pot of pap!
Example: Before playing a game of "Tag," Thabo leads the class in a warm-up. They start with arm circles (10 small circles forward, then 10 small circles backward), then toe touches (reaching for their toes 5 times), and finally, a light jog around the classroom. This gets their blood flowing and their muscles ready to run!
Game Rules: Every game has rules. Rules help us understand how to play fairly and safely.
Some common game rules are: Taking Turns: Waiting for our turn to do something.
Following Instructions: Listening to the teacher or leader and doing what they say.
Being a Good Sport: Being kind and respectful to others, whether we win or lose.
Example: In a game of "Duck, Duck, Goose," the rule is that the person who is "it" has to walk around the circle and tap each person on the head, saying "Duck." When they say "Goose," the person they tap has to chase them around the circle. If the "Goose" tags the "it" person before they sit down in the "Goose's" spot, the "it" person has to go again. This rule makes sure everyone gets a chance to participate and have fun! Guided Practice (With Solutions)
Question 1: Name two different locomotor movements you can use to get from your desk to the water fountain.
Solution: Walking and running.
Commentary: Walking is a slower, controlled movement, while running is a faster movement. Learners may also suggest hopping or skipping, depending on the classroom space.
Question 2: Why is it important to warm up before playing a game of "Simon Says"? Give one reason.
Solution: Warming up helps to prevent injuries like sore muscles or sprains.
Commentary: Warming up prepares the body for physical activity by increasing blood flow and muscle flexibility.
Question 3: In a game of "Red Light, Green Light," what do you do when the leader says "Red Light"?
Solution: You must stop moving.
Commentary: This tests understanding of following simple instructions and game rules.
Question 4: If you lose a game of "Tag," how should you act?
Solution: You should be a good sport, congratulate the winner, and be ready to play again.
Commentary: This reinforces the importance of good sportsmanship and positive social interaction. Independent Practice (Questions Only) List three different ways you can move your body from one side of the playground to the other. Why do we stretch before playing games? Give two reasons. In a game of musical chairs, what happens when the music stops? What does it mean to take turns when playing a game? Pretend you are teaching someone how to hop. Explain how to do it. Why is it important to listen carefully to the rules of a game? Name a game you like to play with your friends and describe one important rule of that game. What is one thing you can do to be a good sport if you don’t win a game?