Games — Sending and Receiving — Year 1 Lesson Plan
National Curriculum: PE KS1 — master basic movements including throwing and catching; develop balance, agility and co-ordination; apply these in a range of activities
Overview
Pupils develop the fundamental games skills of sending and receiving — rolling, kicking, catching and striking. They practise these skills in isolation and then in simple co-operative games with a partner. The lesson develops hand-eye coordination, communication and the concept of working together to keep a ball going.
Learning Objectives
- Roll a ball accurately to a partner along the floor using two hands.
- Kick a stationary ball towards a target with a preferred foot.
- Attempt to catch a large ball thrown by a partner at chest height.
- Communicate with a partner to keep a rally or exchange going.
Key Vocabulary
Suggested Lesson Structure
Each pupil has a ball. Individual dribbling — push ball along ground with feet, keeping it close. Change direction on signal. Then: sit and roll the ball to the wall and receive it back. Get used to the ball. Short practice: stand up and roll to self — throw the ball up and catch it. How many catches without dropping?
Rolling — demonstrate: sit opposite a partner, legs in a V shape, roll the ball firmly into their hands. Pupils practise; increase distance. Catching — demonstrate: hands together in a 'W' shape for a low catch, or basket catch (arms out, elbows soft) for a higher ball. Kicking — demonstrate: plant non-kicking foot beside ball, kick with instep for accuracy. Pupils practise kicking into a cone goal. Striking — use a large bat to hit a ball off a cone: side-on stance, watch the ball, swing through. Pupils try.
Pair activities: (1) Rolling rally — how many back-and-forth exchanges without losing control? Count together. (2) Catch rally — bounce pass and catch with a large ball, back and forth, 2 metres apart. (3) Kick to a goal, partner retrieves. Teacher circulates: encourage pupils to call their partner's name before sending.
Choose your challenge: (a) rolling — increase distance to 5 metres; (b) catching — stand up and throw to partner, how many catches in a row?; (c) kicking — try kicking a moving ball rolled to you by a partner. Record personal best on a whiteboard card.
Cool down: gentle arm circles, leg shakes. Ask: what helped you catch the ball? (Watch it, hands ready, soft hands.) What helped you roll accurately? (Aim, follow through.) Explain: these skills — sending and receiving — are used in football, tennis, cricket and almost every team game.
Common Misconceptions
- Pupils often flinch or close eyes when a ball approaches — build confidence with larger, softer balls before progressing to smaller ones.
- Kicking as hard as possible rather than accurately — remind pupils that power without direction is not useful in a game.
Prior Knowledge
Pupils should already be able to:
- Gross motor development from EYFS including rolling, kicking and throwing.
- Experience of simple ball play in Reception.
Want a personalised version of this lesson?
Use Staffroom to generate a complete lesson plan tailored to your class — add context about ability, recent learning, or specific pupils and get a plan ready to teach. Free trial, no card required.