Badminton Bash: Serve, Smash, and Shine!

High School Grade

Lesson
45 minutes

Badminton Bash: Serve, Smash, and Shine!

Michael Geller

Purpose

The purpose of this lesson is to introduce high school students to the fundamentals of badminton through active participation and collaborative learning experiences. Students will engage in hands-on activities to develop essential skills such as serving, rallying, and strategic footwork. By participating in mini-tournaments and reflection circles, students will gain insights into their gameplay and work on personalized improvement plans, culminating in a public exhibition match to showcase their progress and celebrate their achievements.

Learning goals

Students will develop foundational badminton skills, including serving, rallying, and footwork, through hands-on practice and collaborative play. They will learn to analyze gameplay strategies, adapt to different opponents, and articulate their improvement plans. By engaging in reflection and feedback sessions, students will enhance their ability to critique performance and set actionable goals for skill enhancement.

Standards

National Physical Education Standards - Standard 1: Demonstrates competency in a variety of motor skills and movement patterns.
National Physical Education Standards - Standard 2: Applies knowledge of concepts, principles, strategies, and tactics related to movement and performance.
Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.1: Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.

Week 1	Day 1
Activities	Begin the lesson with a 'Badminton Bootcamp' to introduce students to the fundamentals of badminton. Set up three interactive stations: serving, rallying, and footwork. Divide the class into small groups and have them rotate through each station every five minutes. At the serving station, guide students to practice different types of serves, such as high serves and low serves. At the rallying station, pair students to practice continuous rallies, focusing on control and consistency. At the footwork station, demonstrate basic footwork drills, emphasizing agility and positioning. Use this time to build foundational skills and foster teamwork, ensuring students are actively engaged and learning through practice. (15 minutes) Organize mini-tournaments with rotating partners to give students the chance to apply the skills practiced during the bootcamp. Divide the class into pairs and have them play short matches, switching partners after each round. Encourage students to focus on strategic play and adapting to different opponents. After each match, allocate a couple of minutes for peer feedback, where teammates can share constructive insights on gameplay strengths and areas for improvement. This activity helps students develop a deeper understanding of game strategies and enhances their ability to give and receive feedback, promoting a culture of continuous improvement. (15 minutes) Conclude the lesson with a reflection circle, where students gather to discuss their experiences and insights from the mini-tournaments. Prompt students to share specific challenges they faced and strategies that worked well during the games. Facilitate a class discussion on essential badminton techniques and how they can be practiced effectively. Next, guide students to individually design a personalized improvement plan, highlighting specific skills they wish to enhance and strategies to achieve these goals. Encourage students to present their plans to the class for feedback, fostering a supportive environment where peers can offer valuable suggestions for improvement. This reflective activity encourages self-assessment and goal-setting, empowering students to take ownership of their learning journey. (15 minutes)
Deliverables
Preparation