- Year 5
Forehand (underarm shots) using rackets
I can play forehand shots with control and can hit the ball into the channels to create space and win points.
- Year 5
Forehand (underarm shots) using rackets
I can play forehand shots with control and can hit the ball into the channels to create space and win points.
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
- Move: to play a controlled shot, our dominant hand should be at the bottom of the grip.
- Move: tracking the ball and moving our feet so the ball lands on our forehand side improves the accuracy of shots.
- Think: evaluating our own/partners forehand performance will help improve our control and accuracy.
- Feel: continuing to try and improve our performance throughout the lesson demonstrates self motivation.
- Connect: working together with our opponents and listening to others shows we understand the importance of respect.
Keywords
Forehand - a shot in which the palm of your hand faces the direction in which you are hitting the ball
Backhand - when you hit a ball with a racket with your arm across your body and the back of your hand facing the ball
Accuracy - the ability to control where we hit an object
Common misconception
Pupils hit their shots too hard and the ball travels out of court. Pupils do not return to the ready position after every shot. Pupils struggle to rally when the ball can only bounce once.
Encourage pupils to follow through on their swing to develop more control over the shot. Remind pupils to return to the middle and be in the ready position after every shot. Allow pupils to continue to rally even when the ball bounces twice.
To help you plan your year 5 physical education lesson on: Forehand (underarm shots) using rackets, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 5 physical education lesson on: Forehand (underarm shots) using rackets, 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 Net and wall games: tactics to overcome an opponent through tennis unit, dive into the full primary physical education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
1 tennis racket per pupil, 1 tennis ball per pupil (or alternative) , 30+ cones of different colours
Content guidance
- Risk assessment required - physical activity
Supervision
Adult supervision required