Educación Física y Salud

Foundation

In Foundation PE this term, students started by preparing for the Athletics Carnival with races, parachute games and other fun games that built their sense of teamwork and belonging to their house groups. After the Carnival, the focus has shifted to moving in sequences. Students have been exploring how to move over, under and through equipment, and how to link these actions together to make a short pattern. Next week, they will begin to learn their first object-control skills by practising throwing and catching. To make this easier, they are using scarves which float slowly in the air and give them time to watch, get their hands ready and catch with control. Students will gradually move from scarves to beanbags and balls, learning how to catch with two hands, clap before catching, toss and turn and eventually catch while moving. These early catching skills are the foundation for many sports and games they will play in later years.

Grades 1/2s

In Year 1 and 2, the term began with practising different throwing techniques. Students learned how to throw a ball upwards with control, how to aim at targets, and then moved on to comparing underarm and overarm throws. They have been discovering when to use each throw — underarm for short and accurate passes, and overarm for longer and more powerful throws. After Athletics Carnival week, the focus has shifted towards catching skills. Students have progressed through a catching sequence, beginning with scarves and moving on to larger soft balls and then smaller balls, practising how to track the ball with their eyes, use soft hands and position their body to make catching easier. This week they have also been introduced to traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander games such as Kai and Kolap, which use throwing and catching in creative ways and connect students to the history and culture of First Nations people. In the coming weeks, students will continue to build their throwing and catching skills in cooperative team games, focusing on fairness, turn-taking and encouraging their partners.

Grades 3/4s

In Year 3 and 4 PE, the term began with an Athletics focus. Students worked on discus, shot put and long jump, learning the correct body positions, how to rotate and release the discus, how to push from the “power position” in shot put, and how to take off, fly and land with control in long jump. They then applied these skills at the Athletics Carnival. Since then, the focus has shifted to football skills. Students have been learning how to dribble the ball using the inside, outside and sole of their feet, how to aim passes and shots using accuracy and control, and why it is important to prepare their bodies with warm-ups before playing. This week they are combining dribbling and aiming at targets, and exploring how different types of warm-ups protect muscles and prepare them for exercise. In the weeks ahead, they will extend this learning into small-sided football games, practising strategies such as moving into space, passing and moving again, and spreading out to help their team score. They will also discuss how their body responds to different activities, from yoga to sprinting, and how warm-ups and cool-downs help them stay healthy and safe.

Grades 5/6s

In Year 5 and 6 PE, students began the term with Athletics preparation. They revised their techniques for discus, shot put and long jump, focusing on the fine details that help them throw or jump further, such as body rotation, using leg power, and coordinating arm and knee drive. They learned to give feedback to their partners and record their results, which linked directly to their performances at the Athletics Carnival. 

After Week 4, students have been introduced to Lacrosse, a fast-paced team sport that involves cradling (keeping the ball in the stick pocket while running), passing, catching, scooping the ball off the ground and shooting at goal. These skills challenge coordination, spatial awareness and teamwork, and students have shown great enthusiasm in learning them. We have been very fortunate to welcome Marcus, a Lacrosse player and coach, who is currently in the pre-selection squad to represent Australia at the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Marcus has shared his knowledge, energy and passion for the game, becoming an excellent role model for our students. His presence has lifted the excitement for Lacrosse across our school community and has given students a real sense of how far their learning in PE can take them.

Yours faithfully, 

Raúl Berral - Health and PE Teacher