Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v5 - Grade 2

Lesson Video

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Performance objectives

• Show three new ways to move: hopping, skipping, and galloping.
• Practice throwing and catching a ball with a partner.
• Play safely in a group game, respecting everyone's space.
• Follow simple instructions about moving in a space.
• Understand the difference between your own space and the big play space.

Lesson summary

This lesson focuses on developing fundamental movement skills and patterns, which are the building blocks for more complex activities and sports. For Grade 2 learners in South Africa, physical activity is a vital part of daily life, from playing games like amagende (hopscotch) and soccer in the community to participating in cultural dances. By mastering basic locomotor movements, ball skills, and spatial awareness, learners not only improve their physical health and coordination but also build confidence, learn to cooperate with others, and understand how to play safely.

Lesson notes

This section explains the core ideas we will be learning about. These skills help us to become strong, fast, and great at playing games!

A. Locomotor Movements: Moving Your Body! Locomotor movements are actions that move your body from one place to another. Think of them as your body's superpowers for getting around!

Hopping: This is when you stand on one foot, bend your knee, and push off the ground to jump up and land on the same foot.

How to do it: Imagine you are a flamingo standing in the water. Lift one leg up. Now, jump up and down on the foot that is still on the ground. Try to do three hops in a row without falling!

Why it's important: Hopping builds strong leg muscles and helps with balance, which is very important for games like amagende.

Skipping: Skipping is a happy, bouncy movement. It's a combination of a step and a hop.

How to do it: Take a step forward with one foot, then do a little hop on that same foot. Then, step forward with your other foot and do a little hop on that one.

It goes: step-hop, step-hop, step-hop. Try singing a little song while you do it to get the rhythm!

Why it's important: Skipping is great for coordination because you have to do two different things with your legs at the same time.

Galloping: This is how you move like a horse! One foot is always in the lead.

How to do it: Take a big step forward with one foot. Then, slide your back foot up to meet your front foot. Keep the same foot in front all the time. Step-slide, step-slide. You can pretend you are riding a horse!

Why it's important: Galloping helps with rhythm and is a key movement in many running games.

B. Ball Skills: Throwing and Catching Playing with a ball is fun, but it's even more fun when you know how to throw and catch properly.

Catching: When a ball comes to you, you need to be ready.

How to do it: Watch the ball: Keep your eyes on the ball from the moment it leaves the other person's hands until it's in yours.

Make a basket: Put your hands out in front of you with your pinkie fingers close together to make a "basket" for the ball.

Be soft: When the ball touches your hands, pull it in towards your body like you are giving it a soft hug. This stops it from bouncing out.

Underhand Throw: This is a safe and easy way to throw a ball to a friend who is close to you.

How to do it: Stand sideways: Your shoulder should point to where you want the ball to go.

Swing back: Hold the ball in your throwing hand and swing your arm back gently, like the pendulum of a big clock.

Step and throw: Step forward with the foot opposite your throwing arm (if you throw with your right hand, step with your left foot). As you step, swing your arm forward and release the ball.

C. Spatial Awareness: Knowing Your Space To play safely, we need to understand the space around us.

Personal Space: Think of this as your own invisible bubble. It's the space right around your body. You need to keep your hands and feet inside your own bubble, and you shouldn't go into someone else's bubble without asking. This helps us avoid bumping into each other.

General Space: This is the big, open area where everyone can move, like the school field, the playground, or the classroom floor during a game. When you move in the general space, you need to look where you are going to stay safe and not bump into other people who are also moving. Guided Practice (With Solutions) Let's try these skills together with some fun activities.

Activity 1: The Animal Parade Question: The teacher will call out an animal. You must move across the general space like that animal.

For example: "Hop like a rabbit!" "Gallop like a horse!" "Skip like a happy lamb!" The teacher will watch to see if you are using the correct movement. Worked Solution &

Commentary: When the teacher says "Hop like a rabbit!", a successful attempt involves the learner taking off and landing on two feet together. For "Gallop like a horse!", the learner should lead with one foot consistently. For "Skip!", the teacher looks for the "step-hop" rhythm.

Commentary: The purpose is not to be the fastest, but to perform the movement correctly. The teacher should give positive feedback like, "I love how you are lifting your knees when you skip, Sandile!" or "Great balance on one foot, Thabo!" Activity 2: Partner Ball Pass Question: Find a partner and a soft ball. Stand three big steps apart. Pass the ball to your partner using an underhand throw. Your partner must catch it. Try to do this 5 times in a row without dropping the ball. Worked Solution &

Commentary: A successful pair will complete 5 consecutive passes and catches. The teacher observes their technique.

Commentary: The teacher can guide them by asking questions: "Are your hands making a basket to catch the ball?" "Remember to step with your opposite foot when you throw." This activity focuses on both the throwing and catching skills, as well as cooperation with a partner.