Ireland · NCCA Curriculum Specifications
1st Class Active Bodies and Healthy Minds
A comprehensive physical education program for 1st Class students focusing on fundamental movement skills, social interaction, and personal wellbeing. Students develop physical literacy through structured play, creative movement, and health-related fitness activities.
Mastering Movement and Locomotion
Students explore different ways of moving their bodies through space while developing balance and coordination.
Developing speed control and spatial awareness while moving in different directions and pathways.
Focusing on explosive leg power and the rhythmic coordination required for complex locomotor patterns.
Exploring static and dynamic balance using different bases of support on the floor and low apparatus.
Ball Handling and Cooperative Games
Introduction to sending, receiving, and traveling with equipment to build hand-eye and foot-eye coordination.
Practicing underarm and overarm throwing techniques and learning to track a moving object.
Developing control of a ball using the feet and understanding how to direct force.
Learning the importance of rules, turn-taking, and supporting others during group activities.
Creative Dance and Gymnastics
Using the body as an instrument for expression and exploring physical limits through sequence and shape.
Creating wide, narrow, curled, and stretched shapes individually and with partners.
Moving in time to a beat and responding creatively to different types of music and sounds.
Linking movements together to create a short performance with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
Health, Fitness, and the Body
Understanding how physical activity affects the body and the importance of healthy lifestyle choices.
Investigating the immediate effects of exercise on heart rate and breathing.
Identifying healthy foods and the importance of hydration for physical performance.
Exploring the role of sleep and relaxation in keeping the body and mind healthy.
Outdoor Adventures and Water Safety
Developing map skills, problem-solving in nature, and understanding safety near water.
Following simple maps and clues to navigate the school grounds or local park.
Learning the PAWS (Primary Aquatics Water Safety) principles for staying safe near water.
Understanding the 'Leave No Trace' principles while being active outdoors.