with respect, the small orders are more often than not split...

with respect, the small orders are more often than not split orders, you see them go up as individual orders sometimes as little as 1 share at a time (have a look at BLY, WOW and BHP).
They are part of algorithmic trading but it is hard to know what part of the equation they may be, either triggers to close a position one way or the other i.e. buy or sell, or to put new positions on.
I often see them go on after a move one way or the other and these would signal a technical retracement through a level which in turn should reinforce the move by adding more selling or buying in that direction.
If you are worried about intraday moves, stick to stocks with more depth, you are unlikely to get whipped 10% with a one cent move that way!