B. Active Living / C. Movement Competence · Active Living and Movement: Moving with Purpose, Safety and SkillSmart Tactics and Healthy Competition
C2 A1.1 A1.3 A1.4 A1.6About 40 minutes
Learning goals- I can use pacing and a steady breathing rhythm in endurance activities.
- I can use offence and defence tactics: make the space big when attacking and small when defending.
- I can explain what healthy competition is and how it can keep me motivated.
- I can manage my feelings when I win or lose, and treat others with respect.
Words to know
tactic
A plan or choice you make to increase your chances of success.
pacing
Choosing a speed you can keep up for the whole activity.
breathing rhythm
A steady pattern of breathing in and out, often matched to your steps or strokes.
offence
When your team has the object and is trying to score.
defence
When the other team has the object and you are trying to stop them scoring.
healthy competition
Trying hard to win or do your best while respecting the rules, your opponents, your teammates and yourself.
Remember from Grade 4
In Grade 4 you learned tactics for each kind of game, like sending to open space in net/wall games and marking a player in territory games. You solved game problems like a coach: Notice, Choose, Try, Check. You practised fair play: following the rules, accepting the call and saying "Good game."
This year you will add tactics for endurance activities (pacing and breathing), learn two big ideas for offence and defence, and explore healthy competition.
The tortoise tactic
Ana and Ben race 3 laps of a park path. Ben sprints the first lap and is way ahead. Ana runs a steady pace. By lap 3, Ben is gasping and slowing down... and Ana passes him!
Look at their lap times. Which runner had the better tactic?
Ana: 70 + 72 + 71 = 213 seconds. Ben: 55 + 80 + 90 = 225 seconds. Ana finished 12 seconds faster, even though Ben led after lap 1.
Ana used pacing: a speed she could keep for the whole race.
Endurance tactics: pacing and breathing
In endurance activities (long runs, swimming laps, cross-country skiing, long bike rides):
- Pace yourself. Start at a speed you can keep. You can speed up at the end if you have energy left.
- Find a breathing rhythm. Match your breathing to your steps, for example in for 3 steps, out for 3 steps. Find a pattern that feels comfortable and steady.
- In swimming, breathe on a regular pattern too, like every 2 or 3 strokes.
- Relax your shoulders, hands and face. Tense muscles waste energy.
- Use the talk test: in a long run, if you can't say a few words, you may be going too fast to finish strong.
- Break it into chunks: "Just get to the next tree."
Two big ideas for team games
- On offence, make the space BIG. Spread out wide (to the sides) and deep (ahead and behind). Move to open space. Keep the object with quick passes. More space means more room to pass and score.
- On defence, make the space SMALL. Get goal-side (between your player and the goal), stay close together, and pressure the player with the object. Less space means fewer passing lanes.
| Situation | A tactic to try |
|---|
| Territory, offence: defenders keep blocking passes | Spread out wider; move to a new open space; give-and-go. |
| Territory, defence: the other team keeps scoring with long passes | Get goal-side and stay closer to your player. |
| Net/wall: your opponent returns everything | Mix short and long shots to move them around the court. |
| Striking/fielding: you keep getting out | Hit to the gaps between fielders, not right at them. |
| Target: the other team's bocce ball is right by the target | Block the path, or knock their ball away with more force. |
| Endurance run: you're exhausted after one lap | Start slower, use a breathing rhythm and a steady pace. |
Healthy competition
Competition can be great. Trying to win, or to beat your own best, can make you work harder, focus better and improve faster. It can also be exciting to play a close game against a good opponent.
But competition is only healthy when you respect the rules, your opponents, your teammates and yourself.
| Healthy competition | Unhealthy competition |
|---|
| Trying your hardest and following the rules | Cheating or bending rules to win |
| Respecting opponents: "Nice shot!" | Teasing, trash talk or mocking |
| Including all teammates | Only passing to the best players |
| Learning from a loss | Blaming others or quitting |
| Winning kindly: no showing off | Bragging or rubbing it in |
| Competing with your own best | Feeling worthless if you lose |
How it connects to motivation: A good challenge gives you a reason to practise and improve. When you focus on effort and getting better, competition keeps you motivated, win or lose. When you focus only on winning, a loss can make you want to give up.
Handling big feelings: win or lose
- Losing can bring disappointment, frustration or embarrassment. Name it ("I'm disappointed"), take a slow breath, shake hands, and ask: "What's one thing I did well? What's one thing to practise?"
- Winning feels amazing! Celebrate with your team, then thank your opponents. Remember how losing feels.
- During a close game, focus on the next play, not the scoreboard.
Worked exampleLet's make a pace plan
Kai wants to run 1 km around a 250-metre loop in his park in about 7 minutes. How many laps is that, and what time should each lap take?
- Laps: 1 km = 1000 m. 1000 ÷ 250 = 4 laps.
- Total time: 7 minutes = 7 × 60 = 420 seconds.
- Each lap: 420 ÷ 4 = 105 seconds, which is 1 minute 45 seconds.
- Tactics: start at 1:45 per lap, not faster. Use a breathing rhythm (in for 3 steps, out for 3). If he has energy left on lap 4, he can speed up.
4 laps at about 1 minute 45 seconds each, steady pace and steady breathing.
Just for funAna won with the tortoise tactic, and she had one big advantage over a real tortoise: she didn't have to carry her house around the park! 🐢
Worked exampleLet's choose a healthy response
In a close game of 2-on-2 soccer at the park, the other team scores the winning goal. One of them shouts, "You're so slow!" Rana feels angry and embarrassed. What could she do?
- Notice the feeling: "I'm angry and embarrassed." Naming it helps her stay in control.
- Breathe: a slow breath in and out before she says anything.
- Respond respectfully: she doesn't shout back. She says "Good game" to the players, and can tell a grown-up if the teasing continues.
- Learn: "What did I do well? I made two good passes. What can I practise? Getting back on defence faster."
- Stay motivated: she can set a goal to work on her speed, or ask for a rematch next week.
Name the feeling, breathe, respond respectfully, and turn the loss into a goal.
Hands-on activityPacing challenge and family tournament
You need: a timer, markers to mark a loop (shoes or cones), paper, a pencil, beanbags or rolled socks, a laundry basket and family members.
Part 1: Pacing challenge
- Mark a loop in your yard or park (or use a path). Warm up.
- Run or jog 3 laps and have a grown-up time each lap. Use a breathing rhythm and try to keep every lap about the same time.
- Write your lap times. Were they even? Which lap was fastest?
- Cool down and stretch.
Part 2: Healthy-competition tournament
- Set up a beanbag toss: a laundry basket about 3 big steps away. Each player gets 5 tosses per round. Play 3 rounds.
- Before you start, everyone agrees on two healthy-competition rules, like "Say 'nice shot' to others" and "No bragging."
- Keep score, and also keep a fair-play score: 1 point each time someone shows respect or encouragement.
- Afterward, everyone shares one thing they did well and one thing to practise.
Safety: Run on a safe, even path away from traffic. Toss only when the area near the basket is clear.
Your turn
Choosing a speed you can keep up for the whole activity.
2Give an example of a breathing rhythm for running.
Example: breathe in for 3 steps, out for 3 steps (any steady, comfortable pattern).
3On offence, should you make the space big or small?
Big: spread out wide and deep.
4On defence, where should you stand compared with your player?
Goal-side: between your player and the goal.
5Name two signs of healthy competition.
Any two: trying your hardest, following rules, respecting opponents, including teammates, learning from a loss, winning kindly.
6How can competition help motivation?
A challenge gives you a reason to practise and improve, especially when you focus on effort and getting better.
7Do it and check: Jog 2 laps of a loop using a breathing rhythm, timed by a grown-up.
Look for: a steady, relaxed pace, a regular breathing pattern, and two lap times that are close to each other.
More practice: warm-up
1Who won the race, Ana or Ben?
Ana: 213 seconds compared with Ben's 225.
2Is trash talk healthy or unhealthy competition?
3What should you say to the other team after a game?
"Good game!" (or thank them).
4Should you start a long run with a sprint?
No. Start at a pace you can keep.
5In swimming, how often might you breathe?
On a regular pattern, like every 2 or 3 strokes.
More practice: on your own
1Why did Ben slow down so much in laps 2 and 3?
He started too fast (55 seconds), used up his energy early, and couldn't keep that speed.
2Your team keeps losing the ball because everyone crowds around it. Which big idea helps, and how?
Make the space big on offence: spread out wide and deep so teammates are open for passes.
3Mo's lap times: 90, 92, 91 seconds. Lily's: 75, 100, 105. Who paced better, and whose total was faster?
Mo paced better (very even). Totals: Mo 90 + 92 + 91 = 273 s; Lily 75 + 100 + 105 = 280 s. Mo was faster by 7 seconds.
4You win a close game. What does winning kindly look like?
Celebrate with your team, thank and congratulate the other team, no bragging or showing off.
5Why might someone who only cares about winning want to quit?
If winning is the only goal, a loss feels like total failure. Focusing on effort and improvement gives you success to notice even when you lose.
Challenge
1Make a pace plan: 1.5 km on a 500-metre loop in 12 minutes. How many laps, and how long per lap? Add one breathing tactic.
1500 ÷ 500 = 3 laps. 12 minutes = 720 seconds. 720 ÷ 3 = 240 seconds = 4 minutes per lap. Tactic: breathe on a steady pattern such as in for 3 steps, out for 3.
2In 2-on-2 keep-away, your team keeps getting intercepted. Use Notice, Choose, Try, Check to plan a fix.
Notice: our passes get cut off because we stand too close. Choose: make the space big: spread out wide and move to open space after passing (give-and-go). Try: play 3 minutes. Check: count interceptions. If they still happen, try quicker passes or bounce passes.
3Explain the idea of healthy competition to a younger student, with an example of how it can keep them motivated.
Example: "Healthy competition means trying your hardest to win or beat your best, while following the rules and being kind. If you lose a skipping contest, you can set a goal to skip 10 more next week. Then you have a reason to practise, and you feel proud when you improve, even if you don't win."
Quiz
1. Which is the best tactic for a long run?
2. On offence in a territory game, you should...
3. On defence, you should get...
4. Which is healthy competition?
5. Ana: 70, 72, 71 seconds. Ben: 55, 80, 90 seconds. What was Ana's total?
6. You lose a close game and feel upset. What is a helpful first step?
7. What is a breathing rhythm?
Big idea: Grade 5 students identify common features and strategies of activities and use tactics to increase their chances of success, including endurance tactics like pacing and establishing a breathing rhythm. This lesson adds two big team-game principles (make space big on offence, small on defence) to the Grade 4 category tactics, and explores the curriculum's idea of healthy competition: what it involves and how it connects to motivation.
How to help at home:
- Time laps on a walk-jog loop and talk about even pacing.
- Hold a family mini-tournament and keep a fair-play score as well as a game score.
- Model good sportsmanship when watching or playing sports.
Common difficulties:
- Starting too fast. Use lap times to show what happens.
- Crowding the ball. Cue "spread out!" or "find space!"
- Strong reactions to losing. Acknowledge the feeling first, then move to "one thing you did well, one thing to practise."
Math link: Pace plans use Grade 5 multiplication, division and time conversions.
Social-emotional learning: Managing feelings after wins and losses builds emotion management; focusing on effort and improvement builds positive motivation; respecting opponents builds healthy relationships; choosing and checking tactics builds critical thinking.