G3 Invasion Games UOI

Next week we will be wrapping up our invasion games in grade 3. There has been so much learning happening during this whole unit.

The central idea for this unit was:
In a game, we must learn how to move into space with or without a ball.

As we played different small-sided games, students asked questions, wondered about the best ways to create space and let their teammates know when they were ready to receive the ball.

We played a variety of invasion games such as "benchball", basketball, or "prairie dog pick off." During those games, students were able to use similar strategies to attack or defend the opposite team. They became more aware of what to do when they had a plan rather than just running towards the ball.

In order to provoke students' thinking, I had different materials for them to use and play with. They could choose between using a foam ball, a rubber bouncy ball, a basketball, a frisbee, and a foam rugby ball. We also had bowling pins and hoops.

The scoring area had also some options for them. This kind of set up led to wonders and fostered curiosity and inquiry.

We had hula hoops hanging from the basketball hoops and small goals underneath. Before playing, learners would decide on how to score. For instance, they played a modified ultimate frisbee where they could score by throwing the frisbee into the goal, 1point, or up into the hula hoop, 5 points.

We talked about the importance of being good winners and good losers and to celebrate others successes as well.

We also co-created an Invasion Games Success Criteria:

• I can explain what invasion games are and give some examples
• I can demonstrate the skills to play the game
• I can create space in attack
• I can create space in the defense
• I can send a ball to my teammate
• I can receive a ball
• I can help my team to create a plan to play the game
• I can follow my team’s plan
• I can positively and respectfully interact with others
• I can describe what’s going well and not so well

  

Below you can see some pictures of students in action.

G5 Invasion Games Inquiry

G5 students are in the middle of their "Invasion Games Unit." Using the "Teaching Games for Understanding" approach, we started exploring basketball throughout small sided games.

The learner profile items we chose for this unit are:

• Inquirers: "We nurture our curiosity, developing skills for inquiry and research. We know how to learn independently and with others. We learn with enthusiasm and sustain our love of learning throughout life."

• Communicators: "We express ourselves confidently and creatively in more than one language and in many ways. We collaborate effectively, listening carefully to the perspectives of other individuals and groups."

This year, we are focusing on inquiry and one of our goals in physical education is to nurture the student's curiosity by providing more opportunities for student-directed inquiry in PE.

Yesterday, after the warm-up, I wrote down a few provocations for learners and asked them to add their thoughts.

This is what I wrote:

"A Closer Look at Invasion Games"

Good Decision Making Is:      Good Running Is:       Good Defending Is:       Good Attacking Is:

I had several markers and learners stood up and started adding their thoughts. We also looked at the modified small-sided games and talked about the importance of respecting the rules.

The PYP Attitudes for this unit are "Respect, Commitment, and Cooperation."

We made a big deal about them before starting the small sided games.

Learners got together in groups of 7 and divided into 2 teams and one person filming the games.

They changed roles during the games so everyone would get a turn to play and a few to film the games.

Before they started playing, G5 students took a look at what was written on the board, their ideas and other thoughts I had added and created a strategy with their teams. As they played, questions raised and students wondered.

I walked around, observed the games, stopped them and asked them questions about their strategies

We ended up our unit using a great tool called "Plickers" that gets me instant feedback about every single student.