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      Movement: can you perform fine and gross motor skills?

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can move my hands and feet with precision to demonstrate dexterity and perform whole body movements with agility, balance, coordination and power.

      Key learning points

      1. Move: a high quality movement requires coordination and careful timing.
      2. Think: evaluating a performance requires consideration of the difficulty and quality of execution.
      3. Feel: evaluating and refining a skill can make you feel accomplished, empowered and more confident in your abilities.
      4. Connect: working with others to provide input into how to improve movement skills fosters collaboration and creativity.

      Keywords

      • Gross motor skill - movements using large muscles, like running, jumping or throwing

      • Fine motor skill - movements using small muscles, especially in the hands and fingers for precise actions

      • Evaluating - thinking carefully about your performance to decide what went well and what could be improved

      Common misconception

      Struggling with coordination means you are clumsy, careless or simply not trying.

      During adolescence, rapid growth spurts cause a temporary mismatch as limbs are longer than the brain thinks they are, which causes a calibration error. Consequently, it is essential to keep practising fine and gross motor skills as you grow.

      Equipment

      A safe and open floor space, a coin, a pen, a plastic drinks bottle, 4 tea bags and 4 mugs, 4 socks ideally all different colours and a towel.

      Content guidance

      Risk assessment required - physical activity

      Supervision

      Adult supervision required

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      4 Questions

      Q1.
      Which is the correct definition for using different parts of the body together smoothly and with control?

      agility
      balance
      Correct answer: coordination
      power

      Q2.
      When throwing underarm, which foot should you step forward with as you release the ball?

      both feet at the same time in a jump
      neither foot as you keep them both on the floor
      the foot on the same side as your throwing hand
      Correct answer: the opposite foot to your throwing hand

      Q3.
      Why is it important to stop or get 'stationary' momentarily just before you throw while on the move?

      to give the target time to move
      because the rules of most sports say you can't move and throw
      to let your arms rest for a second
      Correct answer: to achieve a stable base for a more accurate throw

      Q4.
      When a throwing task becomes difficult and you get frustrated, what skill helps you to stay focused?

      accuracy
      overarm technique
      ambidexterity
      Correct answer: regulating your emotions

      4 Questions

      Q1.
      What is the main characteristic of fine motor skills?

      they do not require any coordination
      they always require running or jumping
      Correct answer: they use small muscles for precise actions
      they involve large muscles for power

      Q2.
      Which of the following activities is an example of a gross motor skill?

      Correct answer: throwing a javelin
      building Lego
      handwriting
      making jewellery

      Q3.
      What does 'bilateral coordination' mean?

      using only one hand to catch
      moving your feet while sitting still
      using your eyes to track a ball
      Correct answer: using the left and right sides of the body together

      Q4.
      In a pop up when surfing, which animal pose should you copy during the setup phase before transitioning from lying to standing?

      lion
      Correct answer: cobra
      downward dog
      eagle

      To help you plan your 7 physical education lesson on: Movement: can you perform fine and gross motor skills?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...