5th Grade Baseball Hitting Lesson

Tim Vogel

Lesson objectives: Students will be able to strike a pitched ball with a bat using a mature
pattern.
Students will be able to strike an object with a long-handled implement using proper grip,
stance, swing plane, and follow through.
Students will be able to organize a baseball or softball game using all the proper rules. (Grade
level outcomes for K-12 physical education - Shape America. (n.d.)).

Summary of tasks/activities: students are introduced to hitting using a technology-based project.

Students will follow the steps below and complete most of the work on their own or in their
group. When students are finished, they will turn in their notes, video, and drawing
representation on Canvas. Students will complete steps 1 through 4 on day 1. They will
complete steps 5-7 on day 2 and they will complete step 8 on day 3.

1. Students will begin by opening up a note-taking app of their choice. They will take notes
on proper hitting form and drills to use to improve their hitting. Students should gain a
good understanding of proper hitting form. Students take notes from the baseball hitting
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRjscfWpdMw
2. Students will again take notes online and students will examine concepts or principles
related to hitting using the following website: https://www.beabetterhitter.com/
3. Students will be moved into groups of 3 or 4 and they will discuss what they have
learned from the hitting video and their research. Students will compare notes and talk
about correct hitting forms.
4. Within the classroom, students will stay in their groups and use the Wii Sports baseball
game to practice their hitting form. Each student will play a 10-minute game. Their other
group member will watch their hitting form and be ready to give helpful feedback to their
peers.
5. Students will now create a representation of proper hitting form using their drawing skills.
Students will use their notes and knowledge to draw the steps batters take while hitting.
Students will use: https://sketch.io/sketchpad/
6. Students will now get to practice their hitting form in small groups using sand balls.
There will 1 batter, 1 pitcher, and 1 student taking a video of the batting using the batting
student's personal I-pad or device. Each student will get 20 pitches to hit before they
switch off.
7. During the group practice time, students will give each other feedback and teach each
other proper hitting form. Students will be encouraged to make on-the-spot corrections
to help put their group.
8. Game time: students will now be given the chance to create a full baseball game on the
field using the whole class. Students will first have 15 minutes to turn in their
assignments on Canvas. The students will turn in their notes, the hitting video they
 created, and the drawing representation they created. After students have turned in
their work they will have 30 minutes to play baseball as a class.

Materials needed:
● Wii Sports Baseball game and paddles
● Student I-pads
● Baseball gear, bats, sand balls, gloves, balls
● Access to the field with bases

References:

Sketchpad - draw, create, share! Sketch.IO - The Maker of Sketchpad. (n.d.). Retrieved July 30,
2022, from https://sketch.io/sketchpad/

Helke, M., Plouffe, S., & Murphy, J. (n.d.). Be a better hitter. Be A Better Hitter. Retrieved July
30, 2022, from https://www.beabetterhitter.com/

BaseballSecrets. (2017, January 30). 3 essential baseball hitting drills for kids! YouTube.
Retrieved July 30, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRjscfWpdMw

Educational software development. Instructure. (n.d.). Retrieved July 30, 2022, from
https://www.instructure.com/

Grade level outcomes for K-12 physical education - Shape America. (n.d.). Retrieved July 30,
2022, from
https://www.shapeamerica.org/standards/pe/upload/Grade-Level-Outcomes-for-K-12-Physical-E
ducation.pdf