Week 4 - Circus
Skill focus: Cooperation
Session equipment:
Markers or cones
Juggling objects - scarves, balls
Beach ball
Balancing objects
Download Circus Skills - Week 4 activity card to support teaching before and during the sport session.
Fast start - Fish in the Net
Equipment
8 markers (to set out a playing area approximately 25m x 25m)
Activity set-up
Set out the playing area (25 students = approximately 25m x 25m).
Select two groups of three students to act as 'nets'. \The remainder of students will act as 'fish'.
How to play:
Students acting as nets need to link hands in a chain, while the remaining students are the fish.
As the fish move around the area, the nets attempt to catch as many fish as possible by either surrounding or tagging them.
When a fish is caught they link hands and join the net.
When the net contains 4 people, split the net to become two separate nets of 2 students.
Select the card to download.
Skill development games
Activity 1 - Kai
Equipment: Inside or outside playing area free of obstructions, small beach ball or soft sponge ball for each team
How to play: Players stand in a circle and hit a ball up in the air with the palm of their hands. (Play in teams of 4 or more.)
Letters of the alphabet – each team attempts to make as many hits as they can without dropping the ball, calling out a consecutive letter of the alphabet or number on each hit.
Activity 2 - Run the Circle
Equipment: 2 x scarves or balls
How to play: Players form a circle with two scarves. Using the spider throw, scarves are thrown from player to player. The aim is for one scarf to catch up to the other. (Play with 6 or more.)
Players form a circle, standing close together, almost shoulder to shoulder.
Using the spider throw, scarves are thrown from player to player.
Players should throw with their right hand across their body to the player on the left, who catches it with their right hand, or vice versa for the other direction.
Activity 3 - Racing Relay
Equipment: Balls, juggling objects,
How to play: Players race each other in a relay, performing various movement patterns. (Play in teams of 4 or 5.)
Incorporate a variety of circus acts into the relay race, for example:
pretend to walk a tightrope
run with a juggling ball between the knees
run/walk while balancing a juggling ball in the palm of your hand
run to the end and juggle the ball without dropping it.
Activity 4 - Look out for others
Equipment: Clear space
How to play: Players run in random directions in a defined area. Players are made aware that the activity is focused on learning to play safely in the presence of others.
Call out combinations which can include any of the following: feet, bottom, shoulders, knees, hands, backs, elbows.
For example, if you call out ‘Four hands!’, 4 players come together and make sure they have 4 hands touching.
Modified small-sided games
Teams work together to design and reheasrse a circus show.
The circus show will be held on the Circus gala day.
Dress Rehearsals
Equipment: All equipment from the lessons
How to play: Players prepare and rehearse for the final circus show. (Play in groups of 6–10.)
Players are split into groups of around 5–10 and asked to prepare a mini circus show to perform for the rest of the group.
The circus show must include a minimum of three acts, two of which must include two or more people. It must have a definite beginning (perhaps a ringmaster/mistress introducing the show) and a definite ending (e.g. a group bow)
Reflection
TAG
Ask students to form pairs with a student from their team.
Inform students they are going to give feedback to their partner using 'TAG'.
Tell your partner something they did well in today's session.
Ask your partner a question.
Give your partner some feedback on a skill or tactic they could focus on during next weeks session.
