Ireland · NCCA Curriculum Specifications
6th Class Active Bodies, Healthy Minds: 6th Class PE
A comprehensive physical education program for senior primary students focusing on refined movement patterns, tactical awareness in games, and the integration of physical wellbeing with mental health. Students develop leadership skills and personal fitness strategies to support a lifelong commitment to an active lifestyle.
Invasion Games and Tactical Awareness
Students develop advanced ball skills and strategic thinking in team-based invasion games like basketball, soccer, and hockey.
Learning how to create and use space effectively to maintain possession and create scoring opportunities.
Focusing on player-to-player marking and zonal defense techniques to regain possession.
Developing the ability to move quickly from defense to attack and executing accurate shots under pressure.
Athletics and Personal Performance
Focusing on the mechanics of running, jumping, and throwing while setting personal goals for improvement.
Refining stride patterns and mastering the non-visual baton exchange in relay racing.
Exploring the phases of the long jump and high jump, focusing on the approach and take-off.
Developing techniques for the shot put and javelin throw using safe, age-appropriate equipment.
Gymnastics and Sequence Composition
Students create complex sequences involving balance, travel, and rotation using floor mats and apparatus.
Working in pairs to create stable shapes using weight-bearing and pulling forces.
Developing safe landing techniques when jumping from heights and performing controlled rolls.
Combining individual movements into a fluid, aesthetic routine with clear starts and finishes.
Outdoor and Adventure Activities
Developing teamwork, problem-solving, and navigation skills through orienteering and cooperative challenges.
Learning to orient a map to the ground and use symbols to navigate a school-based course.
Engaging in group activities that require collective decision-making and mutual reliance.
Using limited resources to complete physical tasks like crossing 'acid rivers' or building shelters.
Health, Fitness, and Wellbeing
Understanding the physiological effects of exercise and the importance of nutrition and mental health for overall wellness.
Investigating how the heart, lungs, and muscles respond to different intensities of physical activity.
Analyzing the role of different food groups in providing energy and repairing the body after exercise.
Exploring the link between movement and stress reduction, mood improvement, and sleep quality.