New
New
Year 2

Balance

I can understand the importance of balance when playing sport and can move with balance and control.

New
New
Year 2

Balance

I can understand the importance of balance when playing sport and can move with balance and control.

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Move: moving with balance and control can help you to be successful in physical activities.
  2. Move: a balanced body position and controlled movement helps with activities that require aim and accuracy.
  3. Think: concentration and focus help you to move with balance and control.
  4. Feel: encouraging others and listening to their ideas demonstrates empathy.
  5. Connect: challenging ourselves to try different techniques and ideas shows self-belief.

Keywords

  • Balance - keeping a steady and stable body position

  • Control - moving and placing your body in the position you want

  • Focus - concentrating on your movements to perform them with high quality

Common misconception

Some pupils may think that balancing is only about staying completely still.

Activities such as riding a bike, skateboarding, surfing, throwing darts, basketball shooting, long jump etc., all need a well-balanced and controlled body position whilst the athlete is still moving.


To help you plan your year 2 physical education lesson on: Balance, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Remind pupils that good performance means showing balance and control; it is not necessarily about always hitting the target. Some of the challenge activies in these practice tasks are optional and will depend on the equipment that you have available.
Teacher tip

Equipment

beanbags (1 per pupil), hoops (1 per pupil), 30+ cones, low hurdles, chalk/floor markers

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - physical activity

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
Which of these means the opposite of fast?
Correct answer: slow
quick
sprint
Q2.
What can help you to understand how your partner is feeling?
shouting at them
laughing at them
Correct answer: listening to them
Q3.
In which of these sports do we sometimes stay completely still and hold our bodies in an interesting shape?
Correct answer: gymnastics
basketball
hockey
Q4.
Which of these body parts helps most with balance?
skin
heartbeat
Correct answer: muscles

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
How can balance help you in sporting activities?
Correct answer: improve your aim
win more races
improve your flexibility
Q2.
How should we move our arms when we are throwing an object?
randomly
all directions
Correct answer: controlled
Q3.
What do our feet create when we are well balanced?
Correct answer: a solid base
footwork patterns
a small base
Q4.
Which of these is very important when moving with control and balance?
speed
Correct answer: focus
scoring