Grid Catch and Toss

Lesson 2 of 5
30 minutes
Curriculum expectations: A1.1, B1.4, B2.3, 1.4
Topics: Movement Competence, Active Living

Grade 4 | Small Group Target Activities

Learning Goals

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

use the tactical solutions of proximity, force and aim to successfully send objects using an underhand
throw to a target
demonstrate relationship and social skills while participating with team mates in small group tasks
actively participate in a variety of target games.

Facility

Gymnasium

Safety Requirements

Refer to the Ontario Physical Education Safety Guidelines - Elementary Curricular Module, Movement
Activities for Primary Grades activity page.

Equipment List

20 30 pylons (1 per student)

20 30 beanbags (1 per student)

Teacher Resource 3: Aim and Accuracy Checklist

Teacher Resource 4: Active Living and Living Skills Anecdotal Recording Chart

Grade 4 | Small Group Target Activities | Grid Catch and Toss | Page 1 of 6

Grid Catch and Toss

Lesson 2 of 5
30 minutes
Curriculum expectations: A1.1, B1.4, B2.3, 1.4
Topics: Movement Competence, Active Living

Grade 4 | Small Group Target Activities

Warm-Up

Students will gradually increase their heart rate by participating in the following activity.

Rotating Pylons

Set boundaries for the activity a safe distance from walls.

Spread enough pylons for everyone in the class over the activity area floor and place one beanbag on top
of each pylon.
Students begin by weaving their way around all the pylons using various locomotor movements (e.g.,
running, jogging, skipping, hopping, galloping). At a stop signal they must each run to the closest pylon
and pick up the beanbag from on top of it.
Students then throw this beanbag, underhand, at the next closest pylon.
Students retrieve the beanbag and place it on the pylon.
At a go signal, students begin to move again.

Grade 4 | Small Group Target Activities | Grid Catch and Toss | Page 2 of 6

Grid Catch and Toss

Lesson 2 of 5
30 minutes
Curriculum expectations: A1.1, B1.4, B2.3, 1.4
Topics: Movement Competence, Active Living

Grade 4 | Small Group Target Activities

Minds On

Share and clarify the lesson Learning Goals with the students. The goal of the lesson is to deliver an
object toward a target with the right amount of force to successfully reach the intended target.
Have students reflect on their experience during the Warm-Up by responding to the following prompts:
Teacher prompt: What happens if you stand close to a target? Far from a target? Student response:
Standing closer to the target makes it easier to aim. Standing farther away makes it more difficult.
Teacher prompt: When do you need more force and speed to send an object? Student response: If
you are farther away you will need more force and speed to send the object toward the target. Using
student (or teacher) modelling, students identify Success Criteria for Underhand Throwing to a Target
and share with class.
Preparation Phase

Focus on the target.

Step into the throw with the non-throwing leg.
Keep legs bent and body low to the ground for stability.

Execution Phase
Perform a low high five (approximately hip height) when releasing the object, to project it further.

Follow-Through Phase

Finish with throwing arm pointing toward target.

Briefly play Rotating Pylons again so students can incorporate the Success Criteria they identified into
their throws.
Caution students that when throwing at a distant target, they must first check that there is no one
between them and the target, and should keep the throw below waist height.

Grade 4 | Small Group Target Activities | Grid Catch and Toss | Page 3 of 6

Grid Catch and Toss

Lesson 2 of 5
30 minutes
Curriculum expectations: A1.1, B1.4, B2.3, 1.4
Topics: Movement Competence, Active Living

Grade 4 | Small Group Target Activities

A&E - Minds On

Teacher observation with feedback of students demonstrated knowledge and application of the
underhand throw while varying speed, force and distance

Action

Zone Catch and Toss

Review the skills to use for catching an object below the waist and above the waist. (See Notes to
Teacher.)
One group of 3 4 students plays against another. Group members use four pylons to mark a zone (four or
five metres square) beside their opponents, leaving four or five metres between grids. (Refer to Fig. 1.)
On a signal, students stand in their grid and throw beanbags into the opponents grid. A point is scored
each time a beanbag touches the ground in the opposing teams grid.
Team members attempt to limit points scored against them by catching any object thrown in their area.
The game begins with each team having two beanbags.
Start a new game after a specified time or after a team has reached 10 points.
Encourage students to make sure every team member has a turn to throw.
Have students try playing the game using their non-dominant hand to throw.
Students self-assess their level of fair play using a Four Finger Strategy (see Appendix):

1 I need reminders to co-operate and follow the rules of fair play.

2 I sometimes co-operate and follow the rules of fair play.
3 I co-operate and follow the rules of fair play.
4 I always co-operate and follow the rules of fair play.

Fig. 1

Grade 4 | Small Group Target Activities | Grid Catch and Toss | Page 4 of 6

Grid Catch and Toss

Lesson 2 of 5
30 minutes
Curriculum expectations: A1.1, B1.4, B2.3, 1.4
Topics: Movement Competence, Active Living

Grade 4 | Small Group Target Activities

A&E - Action

Teacher observation with anecdotal writing of students active participation and relationship and social
skills in large group play using Teacher Resource 4: Active Living and Living Skills Anecdotal Recording
Chart
Teacher observation with feedback of students application of throwing skills and strategies using
Teacher Resource 3: Aim and Accuracy Checklist
Student self-assessment of own level of fair play using a Four Finger Strategy (see Appendix)

Cool-Down

Students gradually decrease their heart rate to a resting rate by participating in the activity below.
Students should also stretch the body parts that have been active throughout the lesson.

Students move around the activity area slowly in a variety of different ways
On a teacher signal, they stretch a designated part of the body (e.g., shoulders, back, arms, legs) and hold
the stretch for 10 seconds, then continue walking.
Repeat.

Consolidation

Briefly gather students in and ask what types of strategies they used to have the beanbag land
successfully in the other teams grid and how this strategy improved their success at this game.
Have students discuss what games are similar to this one (e.g., horseshoes, lawn bowling). Have
students make recommendations as to how these strategies are similar to different to the ones used in
those games. Students continue to play.

Grade 4 | Small Group Target Activities | Grid Catch and Toss | Page 5 of 6

Grid Catch and Toss

Lesson 2 of 5
30 minutes
Curriculum expectations: A1.1, B1.4, B2.3, 1.4
Topics: Movement Competence, Active Living

Grade 4 | Small Group Target Activities

A&E - Consolidation

Teacher observation with feedback of students application of throwing skills using Teacher Resource 3:
Aim and Accuracy Checklist

Ideas for Extension

Grid Catch and Toss

Place squares closer together and have students attempt to throw their beanbag into any other groups
square

Next Steps

Students refine their knowledge of sending objects to a target, experimenting with proximity, force and
aim.

Notes to Teacher

Review: Skills for Catching

Relax arms and absorb the object.

Adjust body for height and force of object.
Position body toward object with one foot slightly in front to absorb the object.
Eyes follow the object.
Hands catch the object.

Grade 4 | Small Group Target Activities | Grid Catch and Toss | Page 6 of 6