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Sports Tournaments
History of Athletics

Be inspired by an upcoming athletics event. Use this block to teach children about the history of athletics and to make a timeline of key events, research specific aspects of athletic history, use hot-seating and role-play to learn about the achievements of Roger Bannister. Read motivational quotes from athletics and discuss what motivates athletes to succeed.

Topic Block Outcomes

Session 1 Athletics history

Session plan Download all files

Objectives

History

  • Pupils should continue to develop a chronologically secure knowledge and understanding of British, local and world history, establishing clear narratives within and across the periods they study.
  • They should construct informed responses that involve thoughtful selection and organisation of relevant historical information.

Teaching and Activities

Create an overview of athletic history and research some specific aspects of athletic history. Learn about the achievements of Roger Bannister and his contribution to athletics, through hot-seating, role play and research.

Teaching Outcomes:

  • To create an overview of athletic history in the form of a timeline and research some specific aspects of athletic history.
  • To understand more about the achievements of Roger Bannister and his contribution to athletics, through hot-seating, role play and research.

Children will:

  • Have an understanding of the overview of athletic history and research some specific aspects and figures.
  • Understand more about the achievements of Roger Bannister and his contribution to athletics, through hot-seating, role play and research.

Provided Resources

  • Timeline of athletics history
  • Hot-seating: Roger Bannister
  • Article about Roger Bannister breaking the 4-minute mile

You Will Need

  • Masking tape
  • Chalk
  • Wipeboards
  • Dry wipe pens
  • Sticky notes

Session 2 Motivations and goals

Session plan Download all files

Objectives

History

  • Pupils should continue to develop a chronologically secure knowledge and understanding of British, local and world history, establishing clear narratives within and across the periods they study.
  • They should construct informed responses that involve thoughtful selection and organisation of relevant historical information.

Teaching and Activities

Discuss what motivates athletes to succeed. Hot-seat Eric Liddell and explore what motivated him to run and to compete. Understand that athletes in the spotlight can have a significant impact on the culture around them for a variety of reasons.

Teaching Outcomes:

  • To understand that athletes in the spotlight can have a significant impact on the culture around them for a variety of reasons.

Children will:

  • Have an understanding of what motivates famous athletes to succeed.
  • Understand more about the person of Eric Liddell, through hot-seating and research.
  • Understand that athletes in the spotlight can have a significant impact on the culture around them for a variety of reasons.

You Will Need

  • A3 paper
  • Sticky notes

Session 3 Playground athletics

Session plan Download all files

Objectives

History

  • Pupils should continue to develop a chronologically secure knowledge and understanding of British, local and world history, establishing clear narratives within and across the periods they study.
  • They should construct informed responses that involve thoughtful selection and organisation of relevant historical information.

PE

  • Pupils should continue to apply and develop a broader range of skills, learning how to use them in different ways and to link them to make actions and sequences of movement.
  • They should enjoy communicating, collaborating and competing with each other.
  • They should develop an understanding of how to improve in different physical activities and sports and learn how to evaluate and recognise their own success.
  • Pupils should be taught to use running, jumping, throwing and catching in isolation and in combination. To develop flexibility, strength, technique, control and balance.

Teaching and Activities

Hot-seat Paula Radcliffe and understand her motivations to compete. Examine the skills needed by athletes and their training routines. Consider the attitude to health and diet that athletes have and make pledges to live a healthy lifestyle. Look at the variety of amateur athletics events and choose one to research and present to the class.

Teaching Outcomes:

  • To devise and test different games and warm up games to play in the playground and to consider the attitude to health and diet that athletes have and make pledges to live a healthy lifestyle.

Children will:

  • Understand more about Paula Radcliffe and understand her vast contribution to world athletics.
  • Examine the skills needed by athletes and their warm up routines.
  • Devise and test different games and warm up games to play in the playground.
  • Consider the attitude to health and diet that athletes have and make pledges to live a healthy lifestyle.
  • Understand the variety of amateur athletics events held locally.

Provided Resources

  • Tips for Hot-seating
  • Paula Radcliffe warming up before running
  • How to make a warm-up game

You Will Need

  • PE equipment such as cones, hoops, timers, ropes, balls

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