Grade 6Creative Arts

Athletics — Long Jump & High Jump

Sail technique (long jump), scissors technique (high jump); design a multimedia invitation card.

📖 4 min read · 3 worked examples · 7 practice questions

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The lesson

By the end of today, you'll know the main jumping events, understand the sail technique for long jump and the scissors technique for high jump, and you'll create a fun multimedia invitation card for our school athletics day. First, let's recall the two main jumping events in athletics: the Long Jump, where you sprint and leap as far as you can, and the High Jump, where you try to clear a bar at increasing heights. Next, we'll identify the sail technique for the long jump—think of spreading your arms like a sail to stay balanced in the air—and the scissors technique for the high jump, where you swing your legs over the bar like a pair of scissors. Finally, we'll bring our creativity together by making a multimedia invitation card that encourages everyone to join our athletics day. Any questions before we dive in?

Everyone, let's explore the sail technique used in the long jump. First, the approach run: we build speed in a straight line, just like sprinting down a hallway before you leap. Next, the take‑off: plant your board foot firmly and swing the free leg forward to generate upward lift. Then comes the sail position: raise the lead leg and extend your arms, creating a balanced "sail" that keeps you steady in the air. Finally, the landing: stretch your legs forward and roll onto your feet, absorbing the impact smoothly. Remember, each step flows into the next—speed, launch, sail, and landing. Any questions before we move on?

The overview of the scissors technique for the high jump. First, the approach: you run in a gentle curve toward the bar, keeping your eyes on the mark and your body relaxed. Next, the take‑off: plant your inside foot firmly, push upward, and swing your arms to generate height. Then comes the scissor motion: lift your lead leg over the bar first, followed quickly by the trail leg, like the blades of a pair of scissors. Finally, the landing: aim to fall safely onto the mat, keeping your body upright to avoid injury. Great job following each step. Remember, practice the curve and the timing of the leg swing, and you'll improve your height quickly.

Everyone, we've reached the final part of today's lesson – the reflection and next steps. First, let's quickly summarise the key points of the sail and scissors techniques we practiced earlier. Remember, the sail technique helps us create smooth, flowing lines, while the scissors technique lets us cut and shape those lines precisely. Think about how we can share our invitation cards with the whole school community – maybe through a display board, a digital slideshow, or handing them out during assemblies. Finally, set a personal practice goal for the next week. For example, practice the sail technique for five minutes each day, or create three new card designs using scissors cuts. Great work today, everyone! Keep practicing, share your creations, and we'll see the wonderful results next week.

Worked examples

– Sail Technique

We'll see how to calculate the optimal approach speed, where to place our feet, and how the body should look at the peak of the sail. First, we calculate the optimal approach speed. For a Grade 6 jumper, that's about 7 meters per second. This speed gives enough momentum to lift off without losing control. Notice the bar chart: each trial shows how speed relates to jump distance. As speed increases, the distance improves, but only up to a point—just like we saw at 7 m/s. Next, foot placement. The take‑off board should be stepped on with the front foot positioned at the board's edge, while the back foot stays slightly behind for balance. Finally, body position at the peak of the sail: keep your torso upright, arms extended forward, and eyes looking ahead. This posture maximizes lift and stability. To recap, we calculated an approach speed of roughly 7 m/s, positioned our feet correctly on the board, and maintained an upright, forward‑facing body at the peak. Follow these steps, and the sail technique becomes much easier.

– Scissors Technique

Class, let's explore Worked Example 2 – the Scissors Technique. This is a key movement that helps us jump higher and land safely. First, notice the optimal curve angle, about 30 degrees. This angle gives the best lift while keeping our balance. Here I've drawn the curve path on the board. See how the body follows a smooth arc rather than a flat line. At the diagram of the scissors jump. The leg lift happens just before the bar clearance, giving extra height. Finally, this table compares three trial heights and body positions. You can see the trial with the 30-degree angle achieved the greatest height.

– Combining Techniques in a Mini‑Competition

Class, let's walk through Worked Example 3, where we'll see how to organise a mini long‑jump or high‑jump competition using the techniques we've practiced. First, we need to set up a safe take‑off board and landing mats. This ensures everyone can jump confidently without injury. Next, we'll create a simple scoring sheet to record each jumper's distance or height – a quick table works perfectly. Finally, encourage teamwork: let students cheer each other on and give constructive peer feedback after each jump. If we follow these three steps, we'll have a safe, fun, and collaborative mini‑competition that reinforces our jumping techniques.

Practice questions

For the sail technique, think of it like preparing a kite. First you set the sail (trim it), then you point the boat toward the wind, and finally you tighten the sheet to catch the wind efficiently.
When it comes to the scissors technique, the safest approach isn't head‑on or from directly behind. A moderate angle—about 45 to 60 degrees—gives each boat enough space to pass without colliding.
Take a moment to read each question carefully, choose the best answer, and don't worry if you need to think it through. Trust the steps we practiced, and you'll do great!
First, remember the jump‑distance formula we used: horizontal distance = (v² sin 2θ) / g. With a speed of 8 m/s and a take‑off angle of 20°, you can calculate the approximate landing point.
For safe landings in gymnastics, the body position matters a lot. The arms should be outstretched to the sides to help balance and absorb the impact, rather than tucked or crossed.
Then, match each track‑and‑field event with the technique it uses: the high jump uses the Fosbury Flop, the shot put uses the glide (or spin) method, the 200‑metre sprint relies on a running technique, and the javelin throw is a standing throw. Keep the associations clear.
Finally, when a swimmer does the butterfly stroke, staying horizontal and streamlined reduces drag. A streamlined shape lets water flow smoothly over the body, which means less resistance and more speed.

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Athletics — Long Jump & High Jump

📖 The lesson

✏️ Worked examples