Grade 6 Physical And Health Education Health And Fitness – Co-ordination Notes
Physical & Health Education — Health and Fitness
Subtopic: Co-ordination (for age 11)
Co‑ordination means the ability to use different parts of the body together smoothly and correctly. Good co‑ordination helps you in sports (football, netball, athletics), in the classroom (writing), and in daily life (walking on uneven ground).
Learning outcomes
- Explain what co‑ordination is in simple words.
- Perform basic co‑ordination tasks: throwing & catching, dribbling, skipping and balancing.
- Show safe practice during co‑ordination activities.
Types of co‑ordination (easy examples)
- Hand–eye coordination: catching or hitting a ball (e.g., catching a pass in football or netball).
- Foot–eye coordination: kicking a ball into a target.
- Bilateral coordination: using both sides of the body together (e.g., climbing or doing the frog jump).
- Fine motor coordination: small movements like writing or tying shoelaces.
- Gross motor coordination: big movements like running and jumping with control.
Why co‑ordination is important
- Makes you better at sports (passing, dribbling, jumping).
- Helps prevent falls and injuries by moving safely on rough ground or in a hurry.
- Improves concentration and confidence in games and class tasks.
Warm‑up (5–7 minutes)
- Gentle jogging on the spot for 1 minute.
- Arm circles, shoulder rolls — 10 each way.
- Heel-to-toe walks for 30 seconds to wake up balance.
- Light stretches for legs and arms (no bouncing).
Co‑ordination activities (with simple steps)
Equipment: 1 soft ball or a rolled sock. Stand 3–4 metres apart.
Steps: Throw to partner's chest area. Partner catches, returns the throw. Take one step back each successful 5 catches to make it harder.
Coach notes: Watch hand position and eye contact. Praise correct catching (thumbs together for small hands).
Equipment: Skipping rope. Try single jumps for 30 seconds, rest, repeat 3 times.
Progression: Move to alternate-foot jumps, then criss‑cross arms.
Benefit: Improves timing and foot–eye coordination.
Equipment: 4–6 cones (use stones or bottles if no cones). Dribble the ball through cones as fast as you can without knocking cones.
Steps: Keep eyes up sometimes, use small touches. Time each run or count successful runs in 2 minutes.
Progression: Use weaker foot only to improve both‑side control.
In pairs, one pupil leads slow movements (arm up, knee lift, turn), the other copies like a mirror. Change leader after 30–60 seconds.
Helps: Reaction time and whole‑body coordination.
Use school bench (walk across), cones (weave through), spots (jump onto spots). Time each pupil — encourage safe speed.
Tip: Make the course simple at first; add challenges like balancing a beanbag on the head to increase difficulty.
Safety tips (important for Kenyan schools)
- Always warm up and cool down.
- Check the playing area for stones, holes or sharp objects.
- Wear proper shoes (not slippery) and light clothing.
- Bring water and drink during breaks — Kenya’s sun can be strong.
- Teacher or coach must supervise, especially with benches or raised surfaces.
How teachers can assess co‑ordination
Use a simple checklist or short tests:
- Throw & Catch: catches 8 out of 10 throws = good.
- Skipping: continuous skipping for 30 seconds = developing.
- Dribble through 5 cones without losing control = meets expectation.
- Observations: listens to instructions, shows improvement over time.
Short classroom quiz (for review)
- What is co‑ordination? (one sentence)
- Name two sports in Kenya where co‑ordination is important.
- Give one tip to stay safe when doing co‑ordination activities.
End note: Practise co‑ordination often — even small daily games help your body and brain work together better!