Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v5 - Grade 1

Lesson Video

This page supports the lesson note with a companion video and a short classroom-ready summary.

For class groups and homework, share this lesson page so learners also get the summary, objectives, and full lesson context.

Performance objectives

• This week’s Physical Education lesson focuses on fundamental movement skills that are not only fun but are also the building blocks for more complex physical activities. We will explore locomotor skills such as hopping, skipping, and galloping, which are common in playground games across South Africa, from playing amagende (hopscotch) in a dusty schoolyard to chasing friends during break time. We will also focus on crucial perceptual-motor skills: laterality (knowing left and right) and crossing the midline. These brain-boosting activities are vital for learners' development, directly impacting their ability to read, write, and even tie their shoelaces. By mastering these skills, Grade 1 learners build physical confidence, improve their coordination, and enhance brain function, setting them up for success both in the classroom and on the sports field.
• Learning Objectives (CAPS Aligned):
• By the end of this lesson, learners will be able to:
• Demonstrate hopping on one foot for a distance of three meters without losing balance.
• Perform a basic skipping and galloping movement across a designated area.

Lesson summary

This week’s Physical Education lesson focuses on fundamental movement skills that are not only fun but are also the building blocks for more complex physical activities. We will explore locomotor skills such as hopping, skipping, and galloping, which are common in playground games across South Africa, from playing amagende (hopscotch) in a dusty schoolyard to chasing friends during break time. We will also focus on crucial perceptual-motor skills: laterality (knowing left and right) and crossing the midline. These brain-boosting activities are vital for learners' development, directly impacting their ability to read, write, and even tie their shoelaces.

Lesson notes

A. Locomotor Skills: Moving Our Bodies Locomotor skills are the ways we move our bodies from one place to another. They are the foundation of all games and sports.

Hopping: What it is: Hopping is taking off from one foot and landing on that same foot. It requires good balance and leg strength.

How to do it: Stand on one leg. Lift the other foot off the ground and bend it behind you. Bend the knee of your standing leg slightly. Push off the ground powerfully with the ball of your foot, jumping up. Land softly on the same foot, bending your knee to absorb the shock. South African

Example: Think about playing amagende (hopscotch). You have to hop from one block to another on one foot, which is a perfect example of this skill.

Skipping: What it is: Skipping is a combination of a step and a hop, alternating feet. It's a joyful, bouncy movement.

How to do it: The pattern is "step-hop, step-hop". Take a step forward with your right foot. Do a small hop on that same right foot. As you come down, take a step forward with your left foot. Do a small hop on that same left foot. Continue this pattern. It feels like you are floating along!

Why it's important: Skipping helps with coordination because you have to do two different things with your feet in a rhythm.

Galloping: What it is: Galloping is moving forward with one foot always leading.

How to do it: Think of a horse! Choose one foot to be your 'leader'. Let's say it's your right foot. Step forward with your right foot. Quickly slide your left foot up to meet your right foot. Immediately step forward with your right foot again. The pattern is "step-together, step-together".

Why it's important: Galloping helps develop rhythm and the ability to use both sides of the body differently at the same time.

B. Perceptual-Motor Skills: Moving Our Brains These skills connect what we see and think with how we move.

Laterality (Knowing Left and Right): What it is: Laterality is the awareness that our body has two sides, a left side and a right side. It is an internal understanding, not just guessing.

How to develop it: We can help our brains remember by putting a sticker or a piece of colourful tape on our right hand. The right hand is the one many people in South Africa use to hold their pencil or spoon.

Why it's important: Knowing left and right is essential for everything! It helps us follow instructions ("Line up on the left side"), read words from left to right, and understand directions for road safety.

Crossing the Midline: What it is: The midline is an imaginary line that runs down the centre of your body, from the top of your head to your toes, dividing you into a left and right side. Crossing the midline is when one side of your body (like your right hand) moves into the space of the other side (the left side).

Example: Using your right hand to scratch your left shoulder. Or drawing a big circle that starts on your right side and finishes on your left side.

Why it's important: This skill is a super-booster for the brain! It forces the left and right hemispheres of the brain to communicate. This communication is critical for developing skills like writing (your hand has to move across the page) and reading. Guided Practice (With Solutions)

The Animal Parade Question: "We are going on an animal parade! When I call out 'Flamingo!' I want you to hop on one leg. When I call out 'Happy Pony!' I want you to skip. When I call 'Strong Horse!' I want you to gallop. Are you ready? Let's start with... Happy Pony!" Worked Solution and

Commentary: The teacher calls out the different animals. Learners should perform the corresponding action. For "Happy Pony", they should skip. For "Flamingo", they hop. For "Strong Horse", they gallop.

Commentary: This activity checks if learners can link a verbal cue to the correct locomotor skill. The teacher should model each movement clearly before starting the game and provide positive reinforcement like, "I love how Zola is hopping so high like a flamingo!" The Body Map Game Question: "Listen carefully to my instructions. Let's make a map on our bodies. Put your right hand on your left knee. Good! Now, put your left hand on your right shoulder." Worked Solution and

Commentary: Learners should reach across their body with their right hand to touch their left knee. Then, they should reach across with their left hand to touch their right shoulder.

Commentary: This directly assesses both laterality (identifying the correct hand/knee) and midline crossing. The teacher can use this to identify learners who hesitate or mirror the teacher's movements without processing the left/right instruction. To help, the teacher can have learners wiggle their right hand first before giving the instruction.

The Drummer's March Question: "I have a drum (or you can use clapping). Listen to the beat. I will make a slow, steady beat: BUM... BUM... BU

M. Can you march like a soldier to this beat? Now listen, I will make a faster beat: BUM-BUM-BUM-BUM.