Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - Basic 4

Lesson Video

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Performance objectives

• Identify different types of motor skills.
• Demonstrate basic locomotor movements.
• Explain the importance of motor skills.
• Perform a sequence of movements.

Lesson summary

Movement is a very important part of our lives here in Ghana. We move when we play games like *ampe* and football with our friends. We move when we dance to highlife or traditional music like *Agbadza*. We even use different movements when we help at home, like fetching water or sweeping the compound. Today, we are going to learn how to put simple movements together, like words in a sentence, to create interesting patterns called sequences. Mastering this will help us become better at sports, dance, and many other physical activities.

Lesson notes

This lesson focuses on three main types of motor skills, which are the building blocks of all our movements.

a. What are Motor Skills? A motor skill is simply an action that involves using our muscles to move our body. We use motor skills for everything from writing with a pencil to playing football. Today, we will focus on the big movements that use our whole body. These are grouped into three families:

b. Family 1: Locomotor Skills (Travelling Skills) These are movements that take your body from one place to another. Think of them as your "travelling" skills. You use them to cover distance. Examples: Running: Moving fast on your feet. (e.g., Running to catch a tro-tro). Walking: Moving at a regular pace on your feet. (e.g., Walking to the market with your mother). Hopping: Moving by jumping on one foot. (e.g., A game of hopscotch or *tumatu*). Jumping: Pushing off with both feet and landing on both feet. (e.g., Jumping over a small puddle or gutter). Skipping: A combination of a step and a hop, in a flowing rhythm. (e.g., Skipping happily on the way home from school). Galloping: Moving forward with one foot leading, like a horse. (One foot steps forward, and the other chases it).

c. Family 2: Non-Locomotor Skills (On-the-Spot Skills) These are movements you do while staying in one place. Your body, or parts of it, moves, but you don't travel. Think of them as "on-the-spot" skills. Examples: Bending: Lowering your body by bending your knees or waist. (e.g., Bending to pick up a piece of litter). Stretching: Extending your arms, legs, or body to its full length. (e.g., Stretching when you wake up in the morning). Twisting: Turning your body, especially the upper part, from side to side while your feet stay still. (e.g., Twisting to look at someone behind you). Turning: Rotating your whole body around to face a new direction. (e.g., Turning around when someone calls your name). Swinging: Moving a body part (like your arms) back and forth in an arc. (e.g., Swinging your arms as you walk).