Athletics — Running and Jumping Events — Year 2 Lesson Plan
National Curriculum: PE KS1 — master basic movements including running and jumping; develop balance, agility and co-ordination; engage in competitive activities
Overview
Pupils explore athletics through running and jumping events, developing technique, personal bests and the concept of fair competition. They practise sprinting from a standing start, running at a sustained pace, performing a standing long jump, and a vertical jump. Pupils learn to measure and record their own performance and support one another as competitors.
Learning Objectives
- Sprint from a standing start with an explosive drive phase and active arm movement.
- Run at a sustained, even pace for one minute without stopping.
- Perform a standing long jump, measuring the distance with a measuring stick.
- Encourage a partner during their performance using positive language.
Key Vocabulary
Suggested Lesson Structure
Pupils jog around the track or field boundary for two minutes. Then: dynamic stretches — high knees, heel flicks, side steps, arm circles. Short acceleration bursts: jog to cone, sprint to next cone, walk back. Repeat three times.
Sprint technique: demonstrate standing start — weight over front foot, drive forward with arms. Compare with a slow, shuffling start — what looks more powerful? Pupils practise 30m sprint in pairs, one times the other (count 'one-elephant, two-elephant'). Sustained running: explain that a long-distance runner tries to keep a steady pace — not sprint and stop. Pupils run for one minute, aiming to cover as much ground as possible without walking. Standing long jump technique: arms swing back then forward as you jump; land on both feet, bend knees. Measure from toes to heel mark.
Rotation: (1) 30m sprint — record which attempt felt best. (2) One-minute sustained run — mark your stopping point with a cone. (3) Standing long jump — three attempts, mark best with a name card. Teacher gives technique reminders at each station.
Pupils review their results and choose the event they want to try to improve. They get three more attempts at their chosen event, focusing on one aspect of technique they will work on. Explain personal best: 'You're not racing anyone else — you're trying to beat yesterday's you.'
Gather to cool down: slow jog, then stretches. Ask: did anyone beat their personal best? What did you change? Introduce: in real athletics competitions, records are only broken by small amounts, which shows how hard it is to improve. Every centimetre counts.
Common Misconceptions
- Pupils think running fast and running far are the same skill — sprinting and sustained running use different techniques and energy systems.
- Swinging arms wildly — arm movement should be forward and back, not across the body, which wastes energy.
Prior Knowledge
Pupils should already be able to:
- Basic running and jumping movements from Year 1.
- Understanding of personal bests and self-challenge.
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