GRADES 3-4 LESSON FOCUS Tennis Skills — Forehand, Backhand

SHAPE Standards: DPE Outcomes: Equipment: 1 • I can strike a bounced ball to a wall using a • One racquet and cut foam training ball for forehand grip using two of four cues. each student • I can strike a ball to a partner using a forehand grip • Tumbling mats or net (volleyball, etc.) demonstrating three of four cues. • Rubber marking spots • I can use a forehand grip to rally with the wall.

Instructions The Forehand — Individual Activities 1. Begin the lesson by reviewing some racquet handling activities from the previous lessons. 2. Without excessive talking, show students the forehand bump against the wall and let them find a wall space to practice. Give students a minute or two to practice the forehand stroke. Focus on keeping the non-racquet side of the body toward the wall. Teach students to have their feet in proper alignment for hitting the ball to the wall in front of them. 3. Select the corrective feedback you will offer students. Teach to one point at a time and offer time for practice. Some points that often need practice are: a. Set up with your non-racquet side toward the wall. b. Make your swing move low to high (start low & follow through high). c. Move your body into position so you can make contact with the ball when it is in line with the front foot.

The Backhand — Individual Activities 1. Demonstrate the two-hand backhand stroke for the class. Have students practice performing backhand shots without a ball. 2. Backhand bump-ups with bounce. Practice bumping the ball in the air with a backhand and letting it bounce to the floor. 3. Backhand bump-ups without a bounce. Practice bumping the ball in the air continuously with the backhand. 4. Drop hit bump-ups into the air. Drop hit the ball into the air. This requires a firm wrist to elevate the ball. Remind students to drop the ball from shoulder height. 5. Backhands against the wall. Practice hitting backhand shots against the wall with a gentle bump stroke. Keep the distance from

1 of 3 GRADES 3-4 LESSON FOCUS Tennis Skills — Forehand, Backhand student to wall short so the ball doesn’t travel too far off course. 6. Forehand and backhand bump-ups. Offer the opportunity for students to practice using the forehand and backhand strokes to perform bump-ups. To make sure they know the difference between forehand and backhand, have them call out the stroke they are using. Note: Don’t over emphasize “how many in a row” can you perform? This has a tendency to have students focus on accumulating a number of hits without concern for how they perform their strokes.

The Forehand and Backhand Strokes — Station Activities: Move to stations and allow students to practice independently at each station. Station 1. Forehand and backhand bump-ups with bounce. Practice bumping the ball in the air with a forehand and letting it bounce to the floor. Follow with a backhand and bounce. Station 2. Forehand and backhand bump-ups without a bounce. Practice bumping the ball in the air continuously with the forehand. Repeat with backhand. Station 3. Drop hit bump-ups into the air. Drop hit the ball into the air. This requires a firm wrist to elevate the ball. Remind students to drop the ball from shoulder height. Station 4. Forehands and backhands against the wall. Practice hitting forehand and backhand shots against the wall with a gentle bump stroke. Keep the distance from student to wall short so the ball doesn’t travel too far off course.

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Teaching Hints Allow students to try a skill first before offering corrective feedback. This instills a need for help in improving their performance and allows you to see what help they need. There are a number of ways to simulate nets for students in the physical education setting. Tumbling mats can be laid folded and on- edge as a net. Cafeteria tables can also be used. Some teachers use two cones with a jump rope stretched between them for a net. Other alternatives are to use a lowered volleyball net or caution tape tied between floor standards or chairs. The purpose is to give students a target to hit the ball over. Remind the class that bump-ups should not go higher than eye level. Tell students the “top of the hand” leads the way on the backhand. Remind students to look before they chase a ball they have missed. Use a change of pace activity if students start to go off-task. Play one of the games below if necessary. Students go off-task if they become tired or bored. Divide the class into groups of 4 using the Whistle Mixer technique. Then assign one person from each group to the first station, a second person from each group to the second station, etc. 2-3 minutes per station will allow ample opportunity for practice. Ask students to put the equipment back where they acquired it at their station when they rotate to a new station.

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