From Athletics to Yoga, children throughout the school have enjoyed their first couple of P.E. sessions of the year. See a slideshow of the children learning and practising their techniques. Read on to learn more details on what they are learning.
Mrs. Shara is teaching basic yoga poses on the stage to Years 1 -7 this first half term, along with Gymnastics and Dance. Yoga helps children develop better body awareness, self-control, flexibility and coordination. Next term she will be teaching sports along with the teachers and hopefully swimming again in the Summer Term.
Children in Years K-2 are learning games skills. In this unit children develop basic game-playing skills, in particular throwing and catching. They play games based on net games (like basketball and tennis), and games based on striking and fielding games (like rounders and cricket). They have an opportunity to play one against one, one against two, and one against three. In all games activities, the children are encouraged to think about how to use skills, strategies and tactics to outwit their opposition.
Children in Years 3-6 are starting the term with a PE unit on Athletics. We are very fortunate to have access to the National Stadium only a short walk away. Many of the skills learned and practised will be incorporated into our Sports Day later this term. In this unit children explore running, jumping and throwing activities, and take part in simple challenges and competitions. They experiment with different ways of travelling, throwing and jumping, increasing their awareness of speed and distance. The children are encouraged to think about how to achieve the greatest possible speed, height, distance or accuracy. We have access to the track and long jump facilities at the stadium and the school has discus, javelin and hurdle equipment to use in this athletic unit.
Last week the children learned about the running long jump. The most important things to think about in the long jump is your approach, your takeoff, your flight and your landing. See below to find out how to improve your technique in each of these steps and be ready to do your best in Sports Day:
The Approach – A strong approach with lots of speed will allow you to get the momentum you need for a good flight. Start your run towards the board with a relaxed pace. When you’re half way to the board, pump your arms and legs to hit maximum speed. Look straight ahead and not down at the board. You can improve your approach by practicing 30 metre sprints, focusing on reaching your top speed.
The Takeoff – When you reach the board, power yourself up by driving your front leg upward. Look slightly upward so your body is directed up and out. Once again, do not look down at the board.
The Flight – Once you’ve taken off, force your body further through the air by circling your arms.
The Landing – You should start preparing for your landing when you reach the peak of your jump. Thrust your legs forward and extend them outward. As you hit the sandpit, bend your knees and move your body forward. You may need to lean to one side to stop yourself from falling backwards.
The key to being successful at the long jump is to have a good technique at each stage of the jump. A strong approach will lead to a better takeoff, which will lead to a better flight and a longer jump.