LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Basketball shot

This lesson introduces students to the proper technique of shooting the basketball.

A lesson plan for grade 6 Healthful Living

By Eric Gramer

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Learning outcomes

Students will:

  • demonstrate the proper technique of free throw in basketball
  • make one out of three shots successfully

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

40 minutes

Materials/resources

Basketball and goal

Activities

  1. Teacher will give verbal instruction and demonstrate proper technique of shooting the basketball:
    • Feet should be shoulder width apart for a good base of balance.
    • Shooting hand is under the center of the ball with the guide hand at the side of the ball.
    • Elbow of shooting hand should be tucked in and under center of ball.
    • Keep eye on the target, the center of the goal, shoot ball with an up and outward motion.
    • Follow through as if you were reaching through the goal to drop the ball in.
  2. Break into groups of six at each goal. They will then partner up and practice shooting the ball to their partner. Partners will watch each other and help correct any mistakes in using the proper technique. (One way to make partner assessment more effective is to choose one or two critical elements for students to focus on at a time. For example, is the shooting hand under the center of the ball with the guide hand at the side of the ball?)
  3. The students will then get back into their groups of six and form a circle around the goal. The first student will take three shots, making at least one shot. They will continue shooting until they are successful. The students will then rotate in a clockwise direction. They can stand as close to the goal as they need to in order to have successful results.
  4. The students will then compete against the other groups to see who can make the most number of shots. Each student will take three shots then rotate, keeping score of the team’s total number of made shots. This can be done for five minutes or longer depending on how much time remains in the class.

Assessment

The student will demonstrate proper technique making one out of three shots successfully.

Supplemental information

Comments

This lesson can be adapted by varying the distance to the goal and by varying the number of makes to be successful. The students can also vary the lesson by using the opposite hand as the shooting hand.

North Carolina curriculum alignment

Healthful Living Education (2006)

Grade 6

  • Goal 6: The learner will demonstrate competency in a variety of movement forms and proficiency in a few to gain competence towards lifetime physical activities (NASPE Standard 1).
    • Objective 6.04: Demonstrate beginning strategies through small-sided games for net and invasion games.
    • Objective 6.05: Demonstrate increasing competence in more advanced specialized skills.