“MoveWell” to Move Well

This resource teaches game-based activities to help build student’s confidence and ability in physical activities, encouraging students to experience enjoyment in movement and to have fun while learning.

MoveWell is a new resource and program for schools from Sport NZ that it being introduced at Wairakei Primary School, in 2022. It provides skill based games that encourage and assist in implementing effective Physical Education and sport programs. This resource teachs game-based activities to help build student’s confidence and ability in physical activities, encouraging students to experience enjoyment in movement and to have fun while learning.

There are 5 principles that underpin the MoveWell approach.  These are:

• Play games - enjoyable, semi-structured, interactive

• Design game contexts - authentic, game-like, problem-posing

• Use sound teaching pedagogy - simplify, shape, focus, enhance

• Foster personal, social, and cultural identity - appreciating difference, enhancing self

• Develop game playing ability - game skills, tactical knowledge, teamwork

During Physical Education sessions, it is important that all elements of the skills are taught by teachers and experienced by students. Because teachers are using a game-centred approach, enjoyment and participation for all students is fostered and encouraged. This is not just games though - there is always a purpose to the activity, and it is essential to explain the skills to the students.

During the PE time, students are asked questions to encourage them to think about the learning. Some examples are:

• How do you track the ball in flight and move underneath or behind it to catch it? 

• Why should you watch the bean bag or ball as it falls into your hands? 

• How do you read the bounce of the ball? 

• Can you show your group three critical things about moving to catch?

This questioning time is essential as it encourages students to think about what it is they are learning and the strategies and skills they are implementing.

Reflecting on the learning throughout the session allows teachers to find out what the students have learned and understood. This  allows for planning of the next lot of learning to revisit the skills that have not been fully understood. In the MoveWell resource, the reflection questions are clearly stated.

For example:  

• Can students read the flight of a ball? In other words, can they track the ball’s flight? 

• Can they coordinate their movement with the ball’s flight to catch it on the full? 

• Do students keep their eyes open as they catch?

In the Ohaaki team, students are learning striking, throwing and catching skills to enable them to play games such as T-ball and cricket. We want students participating confidently in both fielding and batting. We run four sessions a week when the students get to experience different aspects of games and skills, enabling the students to build their confidence and skills. Students spend twenty minutes each day at a different game-based activity that practises these particular skills. Ohaaki teachers have noticed great improvement in the catching, throwing and striking abilities of the students in the space of just three weeks.

The level of teamwork and communication during fielding situations has improved, and students are calling names before throwing the ball to identify where the ball is going. They are making choices on what kind of throw to make, underarm, overarm or straight, so the ball travels the required distance to a catcher and is able to be more easily caught.

During striking, the batters are able to connect with the ball and position their bodies for best direction of the ball flight and to connect with the ball. They are learning to keep their eye on the ball, develop timing and follow through with the bat after striking the ball.

The development of hand eye coordination is obvious to see, and practice on a regular basis is making an impact. With daily sessions, students join in with enthusiasm - the students really look forward to participating. As a bonus, the students are able to enjoy fresh air and gain fitness, as well as interact with students.

MoveWell helps students to move well, gain skills, knowledge and understanding of physical activities and movement. It is encouraging to see the enjoyment and enthusiasm of students, as well as the improvement in coordination and skills.