Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v5 - Grade 1

Lesson Video

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Performance objectives

• This week in Life Skills, we're diving into the exciting world of physical activity and fitness! Being active isn't just about playing games; it's about keeping our bodies healthy and strong so we can learn better, play harder, and feel great. Just like we need healthy food to grow, we need regular exercise to develop our muscles, bones, and hearts. In South Africa, where we love sports like soccer, cricket, and netball, it’s important to start building healthy habits early so we can participate and enjoy these activities with energy and enthusiasm. Imagine playing soccer with your friends in the street or dancing to your favorite gqom song – that’s the joy of being physically fit!
• Learning Objectives:
• By the end of this lesson, learners will be able to:
• LO1: Demonstrate understanding of at least three different gross motor skills. (CAPS: Movement and Physical Activities; Participating in physical activities that promote large muscle development and co-ordination.)
• LO2: Perform simple locomotor movements like walking, running, jumping, hopping, and skipping with some coordination. (CAPS: Movement and Physical Activities; Development of fundamental movement skills.)

Lesson summary

This week in Life Skills, we're diving into the exciting world of physical activity and fitness! Being active isn't just about playing games; it's about keeping our bodies healthy and strong so we can learn better, play harder, and feel great. Just like we need healthy food to grow, we need regular exercise to develop our muscles, bones, and hearts. In South Africa, where we love sports like soccer, cricket, and netball, it’s important to start building healthy habits early so we can participate and enjoy these activities with energy and enthusiasm. Imagine playing soccer with your friends in the street or dancing to your favorite gqom song – that’s the joy of being physically fit!

Lesson notes

This week focuses on locomotor skills – how we move our bodies from one place to another – and understanding why these movements are important for our health.

Locomotor Skills: These are the basic ways we move around. Think of them as building blocks for all sorts of sports and games.

Walking: This is the most basic locomotor skill. When we walk, we move one foot in front of the other while keeping one foot on the ground. It’s important to walk with a good posture (straight back) and swing our arms. Think about how you walk to school or to the shops.

Running: Running is faster than walking! We move our legs quickly, pushing off the ground with each step. When running, it’s good to lift your knees and pump your arms to help you go faster. Many South African children love running races!

Jumping: Jumping involves pushing off the ground with both feet and landing on both feet. We can jump forward, backward, or up in the air! Imagine jumping over a puddle or trying to touch the branches of a low-hanging tree.

Hopping: Hopping is like jumping, but we only use one foot to push off and land. This is trickier than jumping because it requires more balance. Try hopping around like a bunny!

Skipping: Skipping combines walking and hopping. It's like a little dance move where you step, hop, step, hop. It's a fun way to move around! Why are these skills important?

Strong Bodies: When we move, we build stronger muscles and bones. Strong muscles help us play, learn, and do everyday things. Strong bones help protect us from getting hurt.

Healthy Hearts: Physical activity makes our hearts stronger. A strong heart pumps blood around our bodies, giving us energy and keeping us healthy.

Better Brains: Exercise can actually help us learn better! When we move, our brains get more oxygen, which helps us concentrate and remember things.

More Energy: It might seem strange, but being active actually gives us more energy. When we exercise regularly, we feel less tired and have more energy to do the things we enjoy.

Good Mood: Exercise releases special chemicals in our brains that make us feel happy and relaxed. So, being active can help us feel good about ourselves!

Example: Imagine a soccer match. To play soccer well, you need to be able to run fast, jump to head the ball, and hop to avoid defenders. Practicing these locomotor skills helps you become a better soccer player! Another

Example: Think about playing "Amagwinya" (a traditional South African chasing game). You need to be able to run away quickly and jump to avoid being tagged. Developing these skills makes playing Amagwinya more fun! Guided Practice (With Solutions)

Question 1: Which of the following is a locomotor skill: sitting, walking, or sleeping?

Solution: Walking. Locomotor skills are about moving from one place to another. Sitting and sleeping don't involve moving around.

Commentary: This question tests the basic understanding of what a locomotor skill is. We emphasized that locomotor skills are about movement.

Question 2: Name one benefit of running for your body.

Solution: Running makes your heart stronger and helps you build stronger muscles.

Commentary: This question encourages learners to recall the benefits of physical activity discussed earlier in the lesson.

Question 3: Sarah wants to jump over a small rock. Explain how she should perform a jump.

Solution: Sarah should bend her knees, push off the ground with both feet, and land softly on both feet. She should look forward as she jumps.

Commentary: This question assesses the understanding of the steps involved in performing a jump correctly. It also highlights the importance of safety.

Question 4: Sipho is playing a game of tag. He needs to move quickly away from the person who is “it.” Which locomotor skill would be most helpful for him?

Solution: Running. Running is the fastest locomotor skill, making it the best choice for escaping in a game of tag.

Commentary: This question connects the locomotor skills to a real-life scenario, reinforcing their practical application. Independent Practice (Questions Only) What are the five locomotor skills we learned about today? If you wanted to move like a bunny rabbit, which locomotor skill would you use? Why is it important to swing your arms when you are running? Nomusa can only use one foot to move forward. Which locomotor skill is she using? Name two ways that being physically active can help you in school. Imagine you are playing a game where you need to move around quietly. Which locomotor skill would be the quietest? Thabo feels tired all the time. How might being more physically active help him? Draw a picture of yourself performing your favourite locomotor skill. How does doing regular exercise contribute to having strong bones? Give an example of a sport you play that uses the skill of jumping.