Finishing a race
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can finish a sprinting race strong, maintaining speed until I cross the line.
Key learning points
- Move: to maintain good sprinting technique we must pump our arms, run on the balls of our feet and keep our head up.
- Move: ending the race involves dipping at the finish line by bending forward at the waist as we cross the line.
- Think: good sprinting technique means we can run more efficiently and at a greater speed with less effort.
- Feel: always trying our best to improve our sprint technique and to win races demonstrates excellent self-motivation.
- Connect: encouraging and supporting others can help them and us to improve our sprint technique.
Keywords
Sprint - when you run and use all of your energy to go as fast as you can for a short distance
Speed - a measure of how quickly we move from one point to another
Dip - the technique where runners extend their bodies forward to cross the finish line
Common misconception
Pupils dip at the wrong time, dipping too early, which has a negative impact on their running speed. Often pupils just dip their head forwards, rather than their upper body.
Give pupils opportunities to practise implementing the dip, aiming for around 3 steps before the finish line. Ensure pupils understand that a sprint race is measured when a runners upper body, shoulders cross the line, not their head.
Teacher tip
If you have access, using ipads to record in cycle 2 will give pupils a chance to watch back their technique and self-assess.
Equipment
30+ cones, 10 long poles
Content guidance
Risk assessment required - physical activity
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What do you need to do at the start of a sprint race?
Q2.Which distance race is most suitable for sprinting the whole race?
Q3.What can improve your sprinting speed?
Q4.How can you show self-motivation?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Which word describes running, using all of your energy, to go as fast as you can?
Q2.What should you do with your body when ending the race?
Q3.What can help you to believe in yourself when trying to win a race?
Q4.What can cause you to slow down before a race is finished?
To help you plan your 5 physical education lesson on: Finishing a race, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 5 physical education lesson on: Finishing a race, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom.
Explore more key stage 2 physical education lessons from the Athletics: enhanced athletic challenges unit, dive into the full primary physical education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.