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Lesson 1#                        Ball Games: Lacrosse

SUBJECT: Physical Education

TOPIC: Lacrosse

TIME FRAME:  2 - 3 classes per game.

COMMON ESSENTIAL LEARNINGS:  Communication, Independent Learning, Critical and Creative Thinking, Personal Social Values and Skills.

MATERIALS:  Lacrosse racquets and a soft ball small enough to be carried in the pocket of the sticks. A soccer or football field may be used to play the game. Two nets on either side of the field may be used as goals.

1. OBJECTIVES:                  Saskatchewan Physical Education Objectives

Cognitive: Students will...

- discuss the rules, etiquette and motor skills from one game to another.
- demonstrate an understanding of the origin and history of their game.

Psychomotor: Students will...

- demonstrate basic movement patterns and performance cues related to their game.
- apply movement concepts and principles to the learning and development of movement patterns and skills.

Affective/Spiritual:  Students will...

- display increased self-confidence, self-sufficiency, and individual initiative.

2. RESOURCES:

http://collections.gc.ca/games/ball/index.html

3. PURPOSE/TEACHER BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

    The purpose of this lesson is to give students' an opportunity to involve themselves in traditional games that were developed by the Plains Cree First Nation.  Four ball games were part of the Cree culture: lacrosse, shinny, tossing the ball and double ball.  These games were very demanding and required teamwork, skill and safety rules to avoid injury.  While each game had a specific purpose and role, students' can compare and contrast each game.The games will take practice before the students' become familiar with them. 

4. ACTIVITIES/IDEAS: 

Have the students' research lacrosse under the index on the web page and read through the history and rules of the game.  Print copies for each student and have them in a folder, or you could write the rules on a piece of bristle board and hang it up on the wall of the classroom and the gym.  Assemble the students' into teams that are fair, and begin practicing the game.

There is always a danger of someone getting hurt when you are playing games with hockey sticks.  Have the students' discuss the safety rules and print them on a piece of bristle board and before each gym period have the students' go over the rules.  You may even want to bring the rules along to avoid any conflicts.  It may also be beneficial to come up with corresponding consequences if the rules are broken.  That way the students' know what to expect if they break any of the rules. 

5. EVALUATION:

An example of traditional lacrosse game played by the Plains Cree people.