physical education teaching lesson plan

Lesson Plan Sections

• Environmental (1)
• Science (1)

P.E. Lessons

Physical education prepares children for an active and healthy life while improving self discipline and reducing stress. This section includes PE lessons from kindergarten through high school spanning different skill levels and objectives. Lessons are categorized by grade for easy retrieval. These lessons were created by real teachers working in schools across the United States. The section will continue to grow as more teachers like you share your lesson plans. We encourage you! Share your lessons plans Teacher.org, contact us .

P.E. Environmental Lesson Plans

Food chain tag.

Students will learn a brief background about energy transfer between the sun, producers, primary consumers, and secondary consumers. ½ of the students are primary consumers (plants) and ¼ of the students are primary consumers (rabbits) and ¼ of the students are secondary consumers (hawks).

P.E. P.E. Lesson Plans

Aces and exercise.

Using a deck of playing cards, the students will pick the number of reps for various exercises.  

And Freeze!

Students will practice listening skills and basic physical concepts as required in physical education class. Students will also work on balance and coordination.

Animal Laps

Combining information about the speed of animals, the students will run laps in the gym or outdoors.

Basketball Relay

Students will practice teamwork, dribbling, and shooting a basketball.

Bear Hunt Obstacle Course

This plan will combine reading with balance and coordination skills to allow students to navigate a simple obstacle course.

Boom Over Movement Game

Students will play a game in which they need to change direction quickly. Students are to pretend that they are on a sailboat that is in the middle of a storm. They will have to run and change direction based on verbal commands and duck quickly to avoid being hit by the imaginary boom.

Butterfly Stretches

This lesson is designed to help students learn the importance and reasons for exercise through multiple activities and discussions.

Coordination Course

This plan will allow students to practice coordination while staying physical.

Multi-Ball Basketball

The student will participate in a game of basketball using various sizes of available balls.

Music Movement

The students will move to the music based on its beat, words, tune, and other variables.

On Top of Spaghetti

Pe immigration.

The students will research games and activities from other countries to share during a PE class.

Pass It Off

This lesson will allow students to practice passing, dribbling, and bouncing skills using basketballs

Plate Aerobics

Students will practice basic aerobics moves while trying to stay positioned on paper plates, this aids in coordination.

Race to the Answer

This lesson will allow students to practice teamwork, basic math skills, and get exercise through a relay race. Note: Problems/difficulty level can be altered by grade

Ride ‘Em Cowboy/girl

This lesson will allow students to practice gross motor skills.  

Students will practice listening skills and basic physical concepts as required in physical education class.

Ski to the Finish Line

This plan will allow students to practice coordination while staying physical. Students will demonstrate moving straight, backwards, and in a zig-zag pattern.

The New PE Class

The students will create a PE activity to share and demonstrate to peers.

This lesson will allow students to practice teamwork and trust building, as well as working on directionality for younger students.

What Time is it FOX?

The students play a game where they practice different movements including jumping, galloping, skipping, running, jogging, leaping, and walking. Based on National Physical Education Standards, students should have been learning these skills for the last 4 years.

P.E. Science Lesson Plans

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Free Lesson Plans

Spark sample lesson plans, the following pages include a collection of free spark physical education and physical activity lesson plans. if you’re searching for lesson plans based on inclusive, fun pe-pa games or innovative new ideas, click on one of the links below..

Snakes and Lizards Lesson Plan

Field Day Activity

Centipede Pass

Manipulatives Lesson

Partner Hoop Rolling

Parachute Switcheroo Lesson Plan

Catching and Throwing

Catching and Throwing Circuit Lesson Plan

Skill Cards

Skill Cards (Spanish)

Back to School

Back to School (Spanish)

Social and Emotional Learning

Kindness Definition Card and Lesson

Fitness Circuits

Body Composition Circuit Lesson Plan

Mirror, Mirror Lesson Plan

Performance Rubric Assessment

Choice Count (Pedometer Activity)

Cross the Pond

3-Catch Basketball Lesson Plan

SEL Definition and T-Chart Card

Flying Disc

Durango Boot

Zone and Player-to-Player Defenses

Radio Control

Mini Soccer

Soccer Student Self-Assessments

Track and Field

Sprints and Jumps Circuit

Skill Cards (English & Spanish)

Task Cards (Spanish)

Cooperatives

Spartan Adventure Race 201

Spartan Adventure Race 101

Group Fitness

Yoga Basic Training Lesson Plan

Yoga Content Cards

Yoga Content Cards (Spanish)

Basic Training Peer Checklist

Basic Training Peer Checklist (Spanish)

SFI Certification Tracking Sheet

iGames Lesson

iStrike/Field

Boulder Runner

I Got Your Back Lesson Plan

Practice Plan

Practice Plan (Spanish)

Fitness Fun

Fun and Fitness Circuit Lesson Plan

Fitness Station Cards

Fitness Station Cards (Spanish)

Fun Station Cards

Fun Station Cards (Spanish)

Great Games

Balanced Breakfast

Flying Disc Group Challenge Lesson Plan

Task Card (Spanish)

Building Blocks

Starting and Stopping Lesson Plan

Family Fun Activities

Family Fun Activities (Spanish)

Beanbag Bonanza

Station Play Lesson Plan

Station Cards

Have a Ball

Bounce and Catch

Recess Activities

Social studies.

Social Studies Fitness Relay

State Lists

State Lists (Spanish)

Fitness Relay State Cards

STEM Fitness Training

STEM Fitness Training Cards (English & Spanish)

Me Activities

ME: INSIDE (K-2)

ME: OUTSIDE (3-5)

We Activities

WE: INSIDE (3-5)

WE: OUTSIDE (K-2)

3 Activities

3: INSIDE (3-5)

3: OUTSIDE (K-2)

Sample Resources

Group Juggling

Object Control Skills-Underhand Throwing

What Your PE Student with Autism Spectrum Disorder Wishes You Knew

Football Unit Inclusion Strategies 3-6

SPARK Holiday Lesson

Hearty Hoopla

Stop the Grinch!

Zombie Graveyard

Build a Turkey

Let's Be Friends

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Almost every elementary school curriculum includes physical education. Physical activity should be a regular part of children’s lives so they can  develop their activity skills, motion, balance and overall physical fitness. 

Physical activity  not only helps children develop critical physical skills, but it also encourages healthy habits and improves educational performance .

To ensure that students receive a comprehensive physical education experience, it is  important to have well-planned and engaging lesson plans . However, even experienced teachers find it challenging to design engaging and developmentally appropriate physical education lesson plans.

Fortunately, there are many resources available for teachers to create effective physical education lesson plans.  A little creativity and planning can help teachers design lesson plans  that incorporate a variety of skills and activities, and tailor them to their students’ skills and needs.

The goal of this article is to explore the fundamentals of physical education lesson planning for elementary students. Our goal is to provide an  overview of the different types of lessons that can be used to engage students and develop appropriate fitness goals and objectives.

Whether you are a new teacher looking for inspiration or an experienced teacher updating your curriculum, this article will provide you with information and ideas that will make creating engaging and effective physical education lesson plans easier.

You will gain insights into how to integrate different types of activities into your lessons, from warm-ups to cool-downs. In general, this article will  help you plan effective physical education lesson plans that will improve the physical skills of your students  and improve their overall health and well-being.

Why Physical Education Is Important for Elementary Students?

There are several reasons why elementary students need physical education lesson plans. The first and foremost purpose of physical education is to  promote physical health and fitness .

Children can  maintain a healthy weight, develop strong bones and muscles, and reduce their risk of chronic diseases  like diabetes, heart disease, and obesity by participating in regular physical activity.

Including physical education in the school day ensures that children get the exercise they require in order to stay healthy.

Besides promoting physical health , physical education lesson plans encourage children to develop motor skills and coordination . Practicing coordination and balance while running, jumping, throwing, and catching can help children develop a greater sense of body awareness and control. 

Physical activity is also linked with mental development and consistency  that’s why developing athletic skills at a young age can also help children perform better academically.

Social and emotional development is another skill that can be promoted through physical education lesson plans . Communication, cooperation, and teamwork are among the social skills that children can develop through group activities and team sports.

During these activities, children can gain new skills, achieve personal goals and build self-esteem and confidence.

It’s a common fact that fun and engaging physical education lesson plans can  keep students motivated and active throughout the school day. 

Let alone that teaching children how to remain engaged in physical activity can help them develop healthy habits that will last a lifetime.

List of Elementary P.E Activities for your Lesson Plan

1. warm-up stretches.

Warm-up stretches are an  essential feature of any physical education lesson plan . The benefits of stretching before physical activity include  preparing the body for movement, increasing blood flow to the muscles, and reducing the risk of injury . Warming up your students with stretches can also  keep them engaged and motivated.

Your warm-up routine can be enhanced by teaching students different stretches and  having them perform them in a circuit-style fashion . During a circuit-style warm-up, students rotate through different stretches or exercises, each performing the stretch or exercise for a set amount of time before moving on to the next.

Make sure your warm-up stretches target a variety of muscle groups and body parts . For example, you might do stretches for the hamstrings, quadriceps, calves, chest, shoulders, and neck. However, keep in mind that students should also be taught  stretches that are appropriate to their age and skill level.

To make warm-up stretches more engaging add music to your warm-up stretches or incorporate partner stretches . Stretching with a partner can improve trust and teamwork skills for students, as well as provide a deeper stretch than stretching alone.

Stretching is a great way to prepare your students’ bodies for physical activity while also keeping them active and enthusiastic. Lastly, by teaching students the importance of warming up and stretching before any physical activity, you can  help them develop healthy habits  that they can carry into their future.

2. Fitness Circuit 

Incorporating a fitness circuit into a physical education lesson plan is a  great way to include a variety of exercises and activities . The intention of a circuit is to  rotate through several stations, each focused on a different type of activity or exercise.

Here is an example of a fitness circuit for elementary students:

Station 1: Jumping Jacks

Students should perform 20 jumping jacks. By performing this exercise, students will improve cardiovascular endurance and strengthen their arms, legs, and core.

Station 2: Hula Hoops

Give students hula hoops and have them practice spinning them around their waists or performing tricks with them. This activity helps develop coordination and balance.

Station 3: Lunges

On each leg, have students perform 10 lunges. By performing this exercise, students will strengthen their legs and improve their balance.

Station 4: Jump Rope

Give students jump ropes and have them jump continuously for 30 seconds. This exercise boosts cardiovascular endurance and coordination.

Station 5: Push-ups

Have students perform 5 push-ups. This exercise is ideal for building up the upper body.

Station 6: Balance Beam

Set up a balance beam and have students practice walking across it or doing other balance exercises. This activity can improve balance and core strength.

Station 7: Sit-ups

Students should perform 10 sit-ups. This exercise helps strengthen the core.

Rotating through these stations will not only improve students’ coordination, balance, and cardiovascular endurance, but will also offer a full-body workou t.

By increasing the number of repetitions or the amount of time spent at each station, you can make the circuit more challenging. If you feel that your circuit lesson plan becomes a bit boring you can switch out stations or use different equipment.

Yoga poses can be a  fun and engaging way to promote physical activity and mindfulness  in elementary school students.  It has been proven that yoga is beneficial to both mental and physical health , including increasing  flexibility, strength, and balance, and reducing stress . Here is an example of a basic yoga sequence that can be used with elementary school students:

• Mountain Pose

Students should stand tall with their feet hip-width apart and their arms by their sides. Encourage them to take deep breaths and focus on grounding themselves in the present moment.

• Downward Facing Dog

In the downward-facing dog pose, students should come down on their hands and knees, then lift their hips up and back. Practising this pose is beneficial for stretching the hamstrings, calves, and spine.

Bring students into standing and have them rest one foot on the opposite thigh, pressing their foot into the thigh while bringing their hands to their heart centre. The purpose of this pose is to improve balance and concentration.

• Child’s Pose

Get students to come down to their knees and sit back on their heels, stretching out their arms. Practising this pose helps to release tension from the back and shoulders.

By introducing students to basic yoga poses and guiding them through a sequence, you can  help them foster physical skills, mindfulness, and overall well-being . Let alone  group yoga can also foster a sense of community  and connection among students.

4. Tag Games

The c lassic and popular tag game is a great way to get elementary school students active.  Chasing after and trying to tag their peers is an excellent way to  promote cardiovascular endurance and coordination . The following are some examples of classic tag games that can be played with elementary school students:

During freeze tag, one player is “it” and tries to tag other players. When tagged, a player must freeze in place until another player crawls between their legs to “unfreeze” them. The game continues until all players are frozen.

• Sharks and Minnows

In Sharks and Minnows, one or more players are designated as the “sharks” and sit in the centre of a selected area. The other players are the “minnows” and must try to run from one side of the area to the other without getting tagged by the sharks. In the event that a player is tagged, they become a shark and help on tagging other players.

In blob tag, one player starts as the “blob” and tries to tag other players. A tagged player must help tag other players by joining hands with the blob. As more players join, the blob grows bigger and bigger until every player has been tagged.

Elementary school students can  have fun while improving their cardiovascular endurance, coordination, and teamwork skills  when they play tag games. It is also possible to modify or change the rules of these games in order to make them suitable for different skill levels and group sizes.

Additionally,  playing tag games can promote physical activity and exercise while also developing social skills like communication and sportsmanship.

5. Ninja Warrior Course

The Ninja Warrior Course is a  challenging and exciting way to encourage physical activity and develop strength, agility, and problem-solving skills  in young students.

The Ninja Warrior course is based on the popular television show American Ninja Warrior and can be set up indoors or outdoors, depending on the skill level and size of the group.

Some popular obstacles in a Ninja Warrior Course for kids involve balance beams, rope swings, cargo nets, monkey bars, and wall climbs.  By setting up a Ninja Warrior course kids can build their confidence and skills gradually as they progress through the obstacles.

Elementary school students  benefit physically and mentally  from Ninja Warrior Courses. It is a great way to  promote fitness and healthy habits, while also encouraging kids to challenge themselves and develop important life skills .

6. Football Skills 

Football is one of the most favourite and adored sports of all time. Kids love to play and chase the ball; that’s why creating a P.E. lesson plan for football will excite students. 

Football skills r efer to the physical abilities and techniques required to play football effectively . These skills include  passing, dribbling, shooting, and ball control , among others. Developing football skills requires practice, coordination, and physical fitness. 

By improving their football skills,   students can increase their enjoyment of the game and improve their performance on the field . Additionally, learning football skills can encourage physical exercise and healthy routines, while also building trust and teamwork skills.

Football Skills Lesson Plan Example

Materials: Footballs, cones or markers, goals or target areas.

Warm-up (5-10 minutes):

• Jogging: Have students jog around the field or designated area to get their heart rate up and warm up their muscles.
• High Knees: Have students jog in place while bringing their knees up to their chest.
• Butt Kicks: Have students jog in place while bringing their heels up to their butt.
• Side Shuffles: Have students shuffle to the left and then to the right, facing the same direction.
• Stretching: Have students stretch their legs, arms, and back.

Main Activity (30-40 minutes):

• Passing Drills: Divide students into pairs and have them practice passing the ball back and forth to each other. Encourage them to use the inside of their foot to pass the ball accurately.
• Dribbling Drills: Set up a course using cones or markers and have students dribble the ball through the course, using both feet to improve their coordination and control.
• Shooting Drills: Set up goals or target areas and have students practice shooting the ball into them. Urge them to use proper techniques, such as planting their non-kicking foot next to the ball and following through with their kicking foot.

Cool Down (5-10 minutes):

• Walking: Have students walk around the field or designated area to bring their heart rates back down.
• Static Stretching: Have students stretch their legs, arms, and back to prevent muscle soreness and improve flexibility.

7. Noodle Hockey 

The game of noodle hockey is a  great way to expose children to hockey and help them build their physical fitness and agility.  The soft and less rigid nature of pool noodles makes the game safer and less likely to cause injury; that’s why they are excellent for an elementary physical education activity.

In addition, the use of foam balls as the puck allows for a lighter and easier-to-handle object, making it accessible for young children to participate.

Including noodle hockey in elementary physical education courses or after-school activities  can encourage communication and teamwork . The game  provides children of all skill levels with a fun and inclusive environment for them to enjoy and develop a love of physical activity.  

Noodle hockey is an excellent way to introduce children to the fundamentals of a popular sport while teaching them about staying active.

8. Balloon Tennis

Another enjoyable activity for physical education classes in elementary school is balloon tennis. Regardless of the season, physical education teachers can  easily set up the game, use minimal equipment, and play it indoors or outdoors.

During balloon tennis, children can  exercise and develop their motor skills, coordination, and reflexes while having fun . This low-risk activity uses a balloon instead of a ball, so children can  learn the basics of tennis without being injured or frustrated  by the traditional tennis ball and racket.

Furthermore, balloon tennis  can be   played in groups or pairs , allowing children to develop communication and teamwork skills. It is also possible to modify the game rules so that it is accessible to students of all skill levels.

In general, balloon tennis is a  safe and fun way to teach children the fundamentals of popular tennis sport.

9. Fitness Dice

Fitness dice is a  fun and interactive way to encourage physical activity  in elementary schools. These  large foam dice have different exercises and movements printed on each side , such as jumping jacks, lunges, and push-ups. S tudents roll the dice and then perform the exercise indicated on the side that faces up.

Fitness dice can be used in a variety of ways in elementary physical education classes.  Teachers can use them as part of a warm-up routine or as a way to break up the monotony of traditional exercises.  They can also be used in group activities or as a fun way to introduce new exercises and movements to students.

Using fitness dice in elementary schools encourages physical fitness and helps children formulate coordination, balance, and dexterity. Additionally, because the dice provide a variety of exercises, students can exercise different muscle groups and improve their overall fitness levels.

Fitness dice are also a great way to make physical activity more fun and engaging for children . They  can be used as part of a game or challenge, and students can compete with one another  to see who can complete the exercises the fastest or with the most accuracy.

Overall, fitness dice is a versatile and useful tool for boosting physical training and improving fitness levels in elementary schools. The foam dice exercise can provide a fun and interactive way for children to engage in physical activity and develop important motor skills and coordination.

10. Jump Rope

Jump rope is a  traditional and widely used physical exercise  that can be integrated into elementary school physical education plans. Students can benefit physically and mentally by learning basic jump rope skills and practising in groups or individually.

The jump rope activity c an improve students’ coordination, balance, and cardiovascular fitness.  By playing this game – activity students can also gain a  better sense of rhythm, timing, and spatial awareness . A fun and engaging activity like jumping rope can also  help students relieve stress and improve their mood.

To teach elementary students jump rope skills,  you should start with basic jumps such as the two-foot jump and then progress to more advanced jumps like the cross-over and double-under . To make the activity more exciting and varied, teachers can include jump rope games, such as Double Dutch.

It’s a  versatile activity for all weather conditions , as you can game both indoors and outdoors. Additionally, the jump rope  can be easily modified to suit different skill levels and abilities , making it accessible to everyone.

Including dance in an elementary school fitness education plan is an amazing way to inspire students to engage in physical activity while also delivering a fun and innovative source for self-expression.  Introducing a simple dance routine and having students perform it together can offer a range of physical and mental benefits.

Dance delivers a full-body exercise that can improve cardiovascular fitness, strength, balance, and coordination . It can also improve flexibility, posture, and body awareness. Moreover, dance is an imaginative and expressive training that  can assist students to build confidence, self-esteem, and social skills.

When teaching a dance routine to elementary students,  it is important to choose music and choreography that are appropriate for their age.  Teachers can also include different styles of dance, such as hip-hop, jazz, or ballet, to r eveal students’ different workout/dance techniques.

Dance can be performed both indoors and outdoors, making it an adaptable activity that can be adjusted to all spaces.  It can also be altered to suit different group sizes, making it an inclusive activity for all students.

In summary, mixing dance into an elementary school physical education plan is an  excellent way to encourage physical wellness, creativity, self-expression, and social skills .

By teaching a simple dance routine and encouraging students to perform it together, teachers can help students improve their physical and mental well-being while also having fun.

12. Heads or Tails

Heads or Tails is an exciting and easy physical exercise that can be used by elementary school physical education teachers to get students engaged and active during class time.  All that is needed to play this game is a coin and a list of physical activities for students to perfor m.

To play Heads or Tails, pairs of students are given a coin and take turns flipping it.  If the coin lands on heads, the first student in the pair chooses an activity from the list and the pair performs it together . If the coin lands on tails, the second student in the pair chooses an activity.

The list of physical activities can be tailored to the age and skill level of the students and can include a variety of exercises such as jumping jacks, push-ups, squats, or lunges . By allowing students to choose their own activities, they are more likely to be engaged and motivated to participate.

Heads or Tails is a great way to get students warmed up and ready for other fitness lessons . It is also a perfect activity for days when there is limited time for lesson prep. Additionally, this game helps to improve coordination, balance, and other physical skills.

Heads or Tails is a simple and practical physical activity that can be used by elementary school physical education teachers to engage students and get them moving. 

13. Cone Race

The cone race is a fun, engaging activity that is great for children in first grade and younger. By playing this game,  students will improve their hand-eye coordination, motor skills, and colour recognition .

The activity involves  placing cut-up pool noodles over tall plastic pipes  or broom handles inserted into cones to hold them steady.

To play Cone Race, students are divided into teams and given a set of pool noodles that have been cut up into small pieces.  The goal of the game is to match the coloured noodles with the corresponding cones . The team that matches all its noodles to the cones first wins.

For this fitness lesson,  students must focus on their hand movements and the placement of the noodles  as they place the cut-up pool noodles over the tall plastic pipes or broom handles.

A cone race is a great way to get young students moving and engaged in physical education. Regardless of class size or skill level, it is simple to set up and adaptable. Overall,  the Cone Race is a great way to promote physical activity and help young children develop their motion and mental – thinking skills.

14. Parachute Fun

Parachute games are a fun and exciting way for elementary students to learn about  teamwork, coordination, and motor skills . Here is a lesson plan for a parachute game that can be used in an elementary PE class:

Objectives:

• Students will learn to work together as a team.
• Students will develop gross motor skills.
• Students will have fun and stay active.
• Large parachute
• Balls or beanbags
• Warm-up: Have students stand in a circle around the parachute. Begin by keeping everyone hold onto the parachute with one hand and doing some light stretches with the other hand. Then, have them switch hands and repeat the stretches.
• Introduce the game: Present to the students that they will be playing a game with the parachute. Have them practice lifting and lowering the parachute as a group.

Game 1 : Ball toss. Place some balls or beanbags in the middle of the parachute. Have the students lift and lower the parachute to toss the balls into the air and then catch them on the parachute.

Game 2 : Parachute popcorn. Have the students lift and lower the parachute quickly to make the balls or beanbags “pop” up like popcorn.

Game 3 : Switch sides. Divide the students into two groups and have them stand on opposite sides of the parachute. On the count of three, have each group lift the parachute and walk towards the other group until they have switched sides.

• Cool down: Have the students gather around the parachute and take turns saying one thing they liked about the game.

Variations:

• Change the number of balls or beanbags used in the games.
• Change the movements of the parachute (e.g., waving, shaking, twisting).
• Add in more complex games like “shark attack” where students must run under the parachute without getting tagged by students holding it.

Parachute games are a great way to  get students excited about PE  while teaching them valuable skills like teamwork and coordination. By incorporating fun and interactive games like these into PE classes, students are more likely to  develop a lifelong love of physical activity.

15. Olympic-Style Events 

Olympic-style events can be a great way to engage elementary students in physical education and  teach them about the importance of sportsmanship, cooperation, and determination .

These events can be created to be age-appropriate and can be  adjusted to suit the skill levels  and capabilities of each individual student.

Some examples of Olympic-style events that can be integrated into elementary  physical education   lesson plans include relay races, obstacle courses, long jump competitions, and mini-triathlons .

Students can be teamed into groups and allowed to contest against one another, with medals or ribbons awarded to the winners.

In addition to the physical benefits Olympic-style events, can also provide an opportunity for  students to learn about different countries and cultures .

The Olympics is a global event that brings together athletes from all over the world, and elementary students  can learn about different countries and their traditions through classroom discussion s and research projects.

Overall, Olympic-style events can be a joyful and fascinating way to  encourage   physical activity and teach important values  to elementary students. By incorporating these events into physical education lesson plans, teachers can help students formulate a lifelong love of sports and physical fitness.

16. Basketball Skills 

Basketball is a famous sport that can make students excited about physical education. Here are some basketball skills that can be integrated into an elementary physical education lesson plan:

• Dribbling : Familiarize students with the basics of dribbling, including proper hand placement and dribbling techniques. Have them practice dribbling in a specified area or through an obstacle course.
• Shooting : Introduce students to fundamental shooting techniques, such as the BEEF (balance, elbow, eyes, follow-through) approach. Have them practice shooting baskets from various spots on the court.
• Passing : Train students how to properly pass a basketball, including chest passes, bounce passes, and overhead passes. Have them practice passing to a partner or through an obstacle course.
• Defence : Teach students primary defensive techniques, such as guarding an opponent and blocking shots. Have them rehearse these techniques in one-on-one or small group drills.
• Gameplay : Separate learners into teams and have them play an altered game of basketball. Make sure to highlight the significance of good sportsmanship and teamwork.

By incorporating these basketball skills into a physical education lesson plan, elementary students can grow their coordination, teamwork, and sportsmanship skills, all while having fun and staying active.

17. Volleyball Skills 

Volleyball is a famous team sport played worldwide, and it is also a great way to enhance physical wellness and develop teamwork skills. In elementary physical education classes, students can be introduced to the basics of volleyball and learn skills such as serving, bumping, setting, and spiking. 

By incorporating volleyball skills into lesson plans, teachers can help students develop their hand-eye coordination, motor skills, and communication skills.  Volleyball can be played with varying levels of intensity, making it adaptable for different age groups and skill levels.

• Students will be able to execute basic volleyball skills such as passing, setting, and serving.
• Students will be able to work collaboratively with their peers to accomplish a common goal.
• Students will learn the importance of communication and teamwork in a sports setting.
• Volleyballs
• Cones to mark boundaries
• Students will participate in a brief warm-up that includes jogging, jumping jacks, and stretches.

Skill Instruction

• The teacher will instruct students on how to perform basic volleyball skills such as passing, setting, and serving.
• Students will practice each skill individually, then work in pairs to practice passing and setting to each other.
• Students will divide into teams and play an altered version of volleyball that concentrates on practising the skills they learned.
• Teams will work to pass, set, and serve the ball over the net to score points.
• The teacher will observe and provide feedback to students to help them improve their skills.
• Students will participate in a brief cool-down that includes stretching and reflection on what they learned during the lesson.

Assessment:

• The teacher will assess students’ progress in performing basic volleyball skills during the gameplay portion of the lesson.
• The teacher will also assess students’ ability to work collaboratively with their peers and communicate effectively during the gameplay portion of the lesson.
• For advanced students, the teacher can introduce more complicated volleyball skills such as spiking and blocking.
• Students can make their own individual versions of the game to practice various skills.
• The teacher can include a discussion about sportsmanship and fairness in sports.

18. Hula Hoop

The Hula hoop is  an adaptable object that can be utilised for a broad range of physical activities in elementary schools . It can help children develop their  teamwork, balance, and motion skills , while also promoting cardiovascular health and endurance. In physical education classes, hula hoop games can be incorporated in many ways, including:

• Hula Hoop Relay

Divide students into teams and have them race to pass a Hula Hoop down the line as fast as possible. Each line of students stands in a line and holds a Hula Hoop. Upon receiving the signal, the first player passes the Hula Hoop to the next in line without letting go. The game continues until the last player in each line reaches the end and crosses the finish line.

• Hula Hoop Tag

This fun game twists the classic game of tag. To play the game Hula Hoops must be worn around students’ waists as they run around a designated area. The student who is “it” tries to tag the other students with their Hula Hoop. Students must also hold their own Hula Hoop once they are tagged and attempt to tag others.

• Hula Hoop Toss

An excellent game for developing hand-eye coordination. Each student tosses a Hula Hoop to a partner in a circle. A Hula Hoop must be kept moving around the circle without being dropped. If you want to make the game more challenging, try adding a second or third Hula Hoop.

• Hula Hoop Obstacle Course

 Use Hula Hoops to create an obstacle course. In order to complete the game, the students finish the course without touching the Hula Hoops. This game is a great way to develop balance and agility.

Students can engage in physical activity and promote their overall health and well-being through hula hoop games and activities. In general,  children can learn healthy habits that will last a lifetime by engaging in fun and exciting physical activities  and moving their bodies.

19. Rock Climbing 

Rock climbing c an be an exciting and innovative activity to add a physical activity lesson for elementary students . It’s an activity that not only boosts  physical strength and endurance but also helps students to build their problem-solving skills. 

One perfect way to introduce rock climbing to students is by adding to your course equipment a bouldering wall in the gymnasium or in an outdoor space.  Start by teaching students the basic techniques of climbing and bouldering , like footwork and handholds, and progress to more difficult courses as they earn experience and confidence.

As a teacher , you can also use a portable climbing wall that can be easily set in any space . Those walls are made to be perfectly safe and user-friendly for children and can be adapted to all skill levels and ages. 

However,  keep in mind that this sport is a bit more dangerous and demanding that’s why proper supervision and equipment   should always be in place . By using a climbing wall you will help students to develop both physical and mental skills.

20. Scooter Board Activities

Scooter boards are  small boards with wheels that can be used for a variety of physical activities . Scooter board activities can be an  innovative lesson  to add to your physical education lesson plan as elementary students can be  taught valuable skills like balance, coordination and teamwork skills . There are many scooter board activities that can suit all skill levels and ages.

Some  famous scooter board activities are relay races, obstacle courses, and target games . For relay races, students can contest in teams and check who can finish the course in the fastest time, while also sitting or lying on the small scooter boards.

Obstacle courses can be set up using cones, hurdles, and other tools to challenge students’ balance and motion skills. Target games can include actions like rolling a ball or beanbag onto a target while seating on a scooter board.

Scooter board activities can be  adjusted for all ages and skill levels . They are a versatile option for physical education teachers who are tired of using the same traditional games. 

They can be utilises as an exciting break from classic sports and games , while still providing useful physical activity and skill development opportunities.

21. Sack Races

Sack races are a  classic physical activity that elementary school students can participate in and have fun while exercising . This activity involves students standing inside a large sack or pillowcase and jumping toward a finish line .

A student wins the race if he or she crosses the finish line first . Everything is a matter of speed, balance and coordination skills

A sack race is not only a fun and entertaining activity, but it  can also provide a number of physical perks . The purpose of sack games is to develop  fine control skills, coordination, balance, and leg strength.  The distance and size of the sacks can also be  adjusted for students of different ages and skill levels.

For a more challenging activity, you can  use obstacles such as cones or hoops and let students race through them . Relay races can also be incorporated, where students pass the sack to each other before sprinting to the finish line. Generally, sack races can be a great way to get elementary students active and involved in physical education.

22. Kickball

Kickball is a  traditional physical education activity that is used in elementary schools for years.  Kickball is a simple twist of the classic baseball game.

The game involves kicking a large rubber ball instead of the traditional baseball one. T he game is played outdoors with four bases and a pitcher, and the purpose is to score runs by running around the bases after kicking the ball.

Kickball is an amazing activity that helps students  grow their fitness levels and physical skills, like strength and agility.  It is a game that also promotes more  personal skills like teamwork and sportsmanship , as students must play together to win the game while following the rules.

If you want to make the game more difficult there are plenty of variations that can be added. Apply some different rules for the base running or use different types of balls. Kickball games can be played in indoor and outdoor spaces making it an excellent choice for all elementary schools.

23. Wall Ball

Wall Ball is an easy and  exciting activity for elementary school students that can be played both indoors and outdoors . It is an amazing way to enhance  hand-eye coordination, throwing and catching skills, and overall fitness.

The game  involves throwing a ball against a wall and catching it before it hits the ground or bounces off  in an unexpected direction. Students can play this game individually or in teams, and the rules can be changed based on their age and skill level.

Wall Ball can be played with different types of balls such as tennis balls, rubber balls, or foam balls.  It is an easy and accessible game that requires minimal equipment and can be adapted to fit the available space and resources.  

Wall Ball also provides a chance for children to engage in friendly competition and practice sportsmanship. With the proper equipment and supervision, Wall Ball can be a safe and enjoyable activity for elementary students of all skill levels.

24. Topple Tube

Topple Tube encourages teamwork and strategic thinking through fun and engaging gameplay.  Students must be divided into teams in order to play the game.  Each team must flip its coloured cups to be on top of its opponents’ coloured cups in order to win the game.  The cups are placed on top of tall poles or tubes, making it challenging for players to reach them.

In this game,  two teams are formed, and each team is given a set of cups of a specific colour.  Afterwards, the players scatter around the playing area, flipping cups to the colours of their teams. Depending on the equipment available, you can use either plastic cups or wooden blocks with different colours on each end.

In order to flip the cups effectively, the players must strategize and communicate with each other.  To succeed in the game, they must also be quick on their feet and have good hand-eye coordination.  By the end of the game, the team with the most cups flipped to the colour of their team wins.

The Topple Tube is an excellent physical education activity for elementary school students. As well as promoting physical activity and hand-eye coordination,  Topple Tube promotes teamwork, communication, and strategic thinking skills.

25. Portable Balance Games

Portable balance games are  a great way to challenge elementary school students’ balance and coordination skills.  To play the games you  only need some buckets  in order to create the course and  place them upside-down .

The upside-down buckets can be modified to fit students of all skill levels since they can walk along them at their own pace.  If you want to make the activity more challenging, arrange the buckets in a zig-zag or curvy pattern . In order to navigate the bucket course, students will need to use their balance and gross motor skills in different ways.

Another  great feature of portable balance games is that they can be positioned indoors or outdoors . As a result, it is an excellent option on days when the weather may prevent outdoor activities or for classrooms with limited space.

In addition, the buckets are a  low-cost and convenient option for physical education lessons  on a budget since they can be easily stacked and stored.

In conclusion, physical education is a critical element of a well-rounded education.  It encourages physical exercise, teamwork, sportsmanship, and overall health and wellness . With the increasing prevalence of technology and passive lifestyles, it is more important than ever to foster children to engage in physical activity.

The 25 elementary physical education lesson plans listed above are just a few examples of the many activities and games that can be used to boost physical activity and learning.  As an instructor though you can form your own lesson plans  based on the requirements and interests of your students.

By making physical education fun and engaging, we can help children create a lifelong love of physical activity and healthy living . Let’s continue to prioritize physical education in our schools and communities, and encourage children to lead healthy, active lives.

Jessica Elrajan

Jessica Elrajan has been in the field of education for the past decade. She has taught all grade levels from Kindergarten through 5th grade (and some twice!). Jessica also wrote an ELA Curriculum for Elementary school students that has been implemented district-wide for six international schools in Asia and the Middle East. More about Jessica

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PE Lesson Plans (With Free Downloadble PDFs)

• Doug Curtin
• December 15, 2022

There are endless PE lesson plans to choose from for your physical education class. We break down the importance of physical education lesson plans and highlight some of the best places to find physical education lesson plans for your age and audience.

The Importance Of Physical Education Lesson Plans

Physical education as a subject in school has always battled stereotypes. Unfortunately, many wrongly assume that a pe teacher just “rolls out the ball” for a typical PE class. But anyone who has observed or taken part in a quality physical education program knows that the subject of PE is one of the best opportunities for students’ physical health development.

Per the CDC,  physical education is an academic subject just like math, science, or social studies,

“It (PE) is an academic subject characterized by a planned, sequential K–12 curriculum (course of study) that is based on the national standards for physical education. Physical education provides cognitive content and instruction designed to develop motor skills, knowledge, and behaviors for physical activity and physical fitness.”  (CDC Healthy Schools – Physical Education & Physical Activity)

Therefore, physical education lesson plans are essential to developing a sequential curriculum. At every grade level, PE lesson plans can provide students in physical education class opportunities to develop lifelong fitness, health, and wellness skills.

Turning Ideas For PE Into Lesson Plans For PE

There is no shortage of activity ideas for PE. Historically, most ideas for PE were shared at professional development trainings and state/national conferences. And while these are still great opportunities to check out new ideas for PE, the rise of social media has created a new avenue for physical education teachers.

Now, any PE teacher can log onto Twitter, Facebook, and other social media platforms and find countless great ideas for PE. For example, the  PE Central Facebook Group  has over 34,000 members and has daily posts from PE teachers across the country. In this group, teachers share fun games and activity ideas for every grade level and type of unit.

But taking these one-off activity ideas and turning them into pe lesson plans that fit with the entire year-long curriculum plan can take time and effort. But as a pe teacher, you don’t have to go at this lofty task alone!

Wrapping up our #basketball unit This Week in #PhysEd #Geneva304 @Williamsburg304 Check out all the videos, lesson plans, and resources I share each week HERE: https://t.co/vCmaPk80Eg pic.twitter.com/9m9YpXNsnI — Mike Graham (@pe4everykid) December 9, 2022

Check out this article on what’s going on in PE at Evergreen!!! Evergreen's Fitness and Strength Curriculum In Action | PLT4M ⁦ @PLT4M ⁩ ⁦ @evglocalschools ⁩ ⁦ @EHS_Vikes ⁩ https://t.co/AGPwh2c5Qt — Mr. Schmidt (@MrSchmidtEVG) December 7, 2022

Finding Lesson Plans For PE

When it comes to lesson planning for PE, many teachers find themselves trying to do it alone. And when it comes to trying to fill an entire year full of lesson plans for PE from scratch, it can become an overwhelming process.

But just like in any other subject, there are lesson plans for PE that can be utilized at any grade level.

For instance, when a math teacher has to teach a unit on multiplication, they don’t typically create lesson plans on their own. Instead, they turn to professionally designed lesson plans and curriculum.

Physical education should do the same! For example, a PE teacher might aim to introduce different movements like the squat, lunge, hinge, press, and pull in a foundational human movement unit. Instead of creating physical education lessons from a blank template, they can tap into grade-level appropriate programs and units that cover these skills in a series of physical education lessons.

At every grade level, there are tons of great PE lesson plans that teachers can utilize. And PE lesson plans are just that: PLANS. From a framework and structure, PE teachers can still adjust and modify lesson plans for PE to fit their time, setting, and student experience levels. But finding quality PE lesson plans can be a great starting point to save time and energy while still creating a physical education class to be proud of.

Example content! This instructional video is part of a larger fitness lesson utilized at the middle and high school level. 

Examples of Physical Education Lesson Plans

To get you started, we have highlighted at a high-level PE lesson plan options for every grade level bucket. 

While this article gives a bird’s eye view, we encourage you to explore some helpful links and resources for each grade level. So take a deep dive into your grade level and see if any of the resources provided can help you build out your PE lessons for an entire school year.

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High School PE Lesson Plans

High school physical education lesson plans are the final step before students graduate and are on their own for physical fitness and health. Therefore,  high school PE lesson plans  should take a progressional approach to support students’ individual interests.

For example, a high school physical education class will start everyone with the different elements of foundational fitness and then allow them to explore units like strength training, yoga, dance, pilates, and other lifelong fitness activities.

And although games are not as big of a focus as they are with younger students, some high school students will still want to play ball sports and other PE games. This can still be a piece of high school pe lesson plans! The primary goal for any high school pe lesson plan is to support students as they prepare for the next steps in their young adult lives.

Links for High School PE Lesson Plans

• PLT4M High School PE Lesson Plans [Free Download]
• Weight Training Lesson Plans 
• Dance Fitness Lesson Plans 
• Nutrition Lesson Plans
• Mindfulness Lesson Plans 
• Yoga Lesson Plans 
• Pilates Lessons Plans 
• Boxing Lesson Plans 
• Bodyweight Bootcamp Lesson Plans
• Stretching Lesson Plans 

Middle School PE Lesson Plans

Middle school physical education presents its unique challenges and opportunities. Middle school students are at a pivotal age regarding their relationships with fitness, health, and wellness. 

Many physical education teachers look to incorporate shorter middle school physical education units that can still cover key concepts, but not lose students’ interest. In addition,  middle school PE lessons  start to take on a more lifetime fitness approach.

Here, lesson plans for middle school can introduce students to different topics like fitness, yoga, dance, racquet sports, and more. Middle school PE lesson plans balance lifelong fitness activities and fun pe games.

Links for Middle School PE Lesson Plans

PLT4M Middle School PE Lesson Plans [Free Download]

• Kan Jam Lesson Plans 

Gymnastics Lesson Plans 

• Basketball Lesson Plans 

Pickleball Drills For Physical Education

Elementary PE Lesson Plans

Elementary pe is the first step for students on their lifelong fitness and wellness journey. At the elementary school level, you can teach some of the critical gross motor skills and fine motor skills that can be a launching point for future years to come.

While at the middle and high school level there has been a transition away from a PE games focused curriculum, elementary PE lessons still center around getting younger students moving through gameplay.

Links For Elementary PE Lesson Plans

31 Unique Phys Ed Games Your Students Will Love 

Quaver – Health and PE Lesson Plans 

AMPED – Physical Activity Program 

Bonus Content: Health Lesson Plans 

Within many schools, health is a larger part of the physical education curriculum. Health Education Lesson Plans   can offer an added layer of learning for students of all ages and grades. Check out some different health units to cover in physical education! 

• Personal Hygiene
• Drug and Substance Education 
• Physical Literacy
• Social Emotional Learning

Key Takeaways On PE Lesson Plans

Don’t go at creating physical education lesson plans alone! There are endless resources, lesson plans, and community of PE teachers that are all available to make lesson planning streamlined and easy.

Often when a PE teacher considers incorporating new PE lesson plans, they view it as all or nothing endeavor. But starting small is a great first step to long-term success.

You can introduce your new PE lesson plans to just one PE class. Look at them as a trial run before rolling out a new curriculum across all of your classes.

Another approach is just picking one of the new PE units you found and introducing it over a few weeks. Again, this small step can let you test run your new PE lesson plans without having to overhaul an entire year’s curriculum.

No matter your approach, don’t be afraid to tap into the community and team of physical education professionals across the united states that are all working towards a shared mission of empowering lifelong physical activity, health, and wellness. 

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Physical education lesson templates.

Find below a selection of Physical Education Lesson Templates for use in your K-12 classroom. Templates may be in various different formats that can be customized for a Teacher's particular needs

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NO PREP Physical Education Lesson Plans

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Quickly and easily plan your physical education lessons and PE activities with these NO PREP Physical Education Lesson Plans. This resource includes 35 PE lesson plans and activities that will last the entire school year. Each lesson is on a separate card which makes it easy to grab and go! Perfect for taking to the gym, the field, the court, or the classroom. 

Looking to broaden your PE curriculum? Check out the latest offering, “ Soccer, Basketball & More PE Lesson Plans. ” Ideal for grades 3-6, this resource provides engaging sports-based activities for skill development.

Each lesson includes ideas for warm-up activities, skill practice, and games. Each card also shows you the equipment you will need, the ages/grade levels the activities are suited for, and any needed diagrams. A variety of skills, concepts, sports, and activities are included in this resource. 

View the Preview Video to see everything included in this resource!

No prep physical education lesson plans and activities includes

• 35 ready to print lesson plan cards
• Each card includes:
• Warm-up ideas
• Skills practice activities
• Suitable Grades / Levels
• Equipment Needed
• Game / Activity Instructions
• Game / Activity Diagrams

These PE lesson plans cover:

Section One: Fundamental Skills

1.1 – Catch 1.2 – Skipping 1.3 – Soccer pass 1.4 – Sprint run 1.5 – Overarm throw

Section Two: Early Morning Fitness

2.1 – Aerobic dance 2.2 – Circuit training 2.3 – Cross country run 2.4 – Games 2.5 – Obstacle course

Section Three: Modified Sports

3.1 – Freeball 3.2 – Mini basketball 3.3 – Mini soccer 3.4 – Mini tennis 3.5 – Netta netball 3.6 – Tee-ball

Section Four: Athletics

4.1 – Javelin 4.2 – Long jump 4.3 – Relay 4.4 – Shot put

Section Five: Dance

5.1 – Cobbler’s dance 5.2 – Hokey pokey 5.3 – Let the feet go tramp 5.4 – Shoo fly 5.5 – Springtime on the farm

Section Six: Gymnastics

6.1 – Body awareness 6.2 – Body control 6.3 – Flexibility 6.4 – Locomotion 6.5 – Strength

Section Seven: Indoor Games

7.1 – Do as I do 7.2 – Hide in sight 7.3 – Magic carpet 7.4 – Missing people 7.5 – Posture tag

See what teachers are saying about the PE lesson plans and activities

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• “A wonderful resource, easy to follow and great fun for the kids!!! Thank you!”
• “I’ve always had trouble figuring out what to do for PE class. This is great. Thank you.”
• “Nice and thorough. I am excited to use this with my elementary aged students for p.e.!”
• “Thank you so much for this. I am still using this years after the original purchase. Thank you.”
• “Thank you! This will simplify my P.E. planning tremendously!”

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Physical Education Lesson Plans

Kindergarten to Second Grade

• $10 Billion to Host the Winter Olympic Games: Is It worth It?
• Adapted Physical Education - To make sure all students have a great understanding of the activity while enjoying it.
• Airports - Students will be learning about personal and general space while moving in different levels.
• Body Toss - After learning to Identify the proper names of body parts,and the proper underhand throwing techniques, the students will participate in the game named Body Toss.
• Cardio Fitness - The Oxygen Cycle - To learn more about how oxygen is needed for exercise and as fuel for our body.
• Color Me Healthy - Learning about how our hearts help keep us healthy.
• Dairy & The Food Pyramid - Students will be able to identify the parts of the Food Pyramid and will know details are the dairy portion of the chart.
• Handwashing - Following a demonstration, the student will be able to wash hands independently.
• Match & Go - Review various forms of locomotor movements used in prior games and activities.
• Mental Health and Stress Reduction - To educate the students about the importance of having a positive outlook on life, the importance of having strong self-esteem and to present them with some ways to cope with stress and make decisions.
• Moving in General Space - Warm up with exercises. Discuss and demonstrate proper handling of a parachute.
• Parachute Washing Machine - To increase upper body muscular endurance and develop gross motor skills, cooperation, and listening skills.
• Popcorn Just Makes More Sense - The teacher will have the students close their eyes and imagine what may happen if popcorn was popping.
• Teamwork - The students will demonstrate teamwork with members of the class.
• What Makes Us Grow - To help children see the importance of eating healthy and getting exercise to help them grow stronger each day.
• Who Are You? - A lesson on community skills.

Third to Fifth Grade

• Challenge Fitness Stations - The students will work on physical fitness development by moving through fitness challenges, making fitness FUN!
• Home Safety I - How to stay safe from Electric Shock, Poisons, Common Household dangers.
• Introduction to the 5 Food Groups - Students will identify the Five Food Groups and use technology (multimedia and computer) to communicate information. Children will learn about the five food groups as well as the specific foods found in each of these groups.
• PE Central Lesson Ideas - Lessons for all grades. They also have warm-ups and instant activities.
• Physical Education Spelling Relay - Students will work cooperatively in small groups to spell grade level spelling words while participating in scooter relays.
• Sharks and Minnows - Students will improve their cardiovascular system by participating in this activity.
• Spelling Sprint Relays - A fun game to add content classes.
• TAILBAIL adapted from Marc Wedding - Students will learn strategies and skills to successfully pass and throw the tailball. Students will be able to referee themselves based on the rules of the game.
• United States of America Tag - Students will by the end of this game have had review on the general location of where each state in the USA is located.
• Your Health and Fitness - This performance is to help target great exercise techniques that the students can grow into as they grow older.
• Was Babe Ruth Underpaid? - Sports related inflation lesson that kids identify with.

Middle School

• Aerobic fitness - Students will gain knowledge of how to build their own aerobic fitness plan to use in their daily life, gain an understanding of the importance of aerobic fitness, and actively participate in aerobic fitness during class.
• Circuit Training - The goal of this lesson is for my students to increase their heart rate by doing a variety of exercises.
• Full Body Workout: Introduction - This will not tax the students body much due to the intentions of introducing the students to a full body workout.
• Gross Motor Development - To development and strengthen gross motor muscles through the medium of swimming exercises.
• Heart Rate Activity - The goal is to have each student self-assess his or her personal fitness and make recommendations for change.
• How To Handle Stress - Students will be able to define stress, stress-or, stress response, distress, eustress.
• How to have Healthy Teeth! - Students will be able to brush their teeth correctly.
• Let's Get Physical - Students will create an outline/rough draft describing an activity or exercise depicted in a photograph.
• Personal Safety - By the end of the first trimester the students will be able to demonstrate acquired knowledge of dangers in the community.
• PFT 1 Mile Run - The goal of this lesson is for students to increase their heart rates by doing a variety of warm-up exercises and run the 1 Mile California Physical Fitness Test.
• Risk Reduction - Identification of factors that increase and decrease chances of being hurt.
• Settling Disputes - To provide a strategy to students in grades 6-8 to settle simple disagreements.
• Stress management and Prevention - Identify stress management and prevention skills.
• Teen Pregnancy - The subject is Sexuality and Birth Control.
• Turning over a new leaf - Creating a classroom contract and completing self-interest forms.
• What is Peace? - To help children gain an understanding that peace is more than the negation of violence.

High School

• Childhood Obesity - To educate parents on the ways to help reduce childhood obesity and prevent their children from becoming obese.
• Creating a video production - Creating an instructional wrestling video.
• Fun in the Sun for Everyone - Educate on bicycle safety, and the proper wear of a bicycle helmet.
• Function and Structure of the Human Body - The aim of this course is to provide the students with the knowledge about the structure and function of the human body that will need in the performance of their daily functions as member of healthcare team.
• Nintendo Wii Sports - At the end of this lesson, students will be able to play a complete game of tennis and be able to articulate the basic rules of the game.
• Positive Atmosphere In Physical Education Class - Get every student involved and pay every student equal amount of attention.
• Proper Conditioning - Conditioning to improve health.
• Strong Abs Strong Bones Class #1 - Understand the power of stabilization as the most effective abdominal strengthener.
• Relaxation Techniques - Techniques to relax your children.
• Self-Care: Women's Health - To develop a proactive approach to getting recommended screenings for women with high-risk factors in order to prevent or rehabilitate an illness before, during, and after it may occur.
• Weight lifting - The proper way to lift.

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The PE Specialist

Awesome Resources for Physical Education Teachers

How to Plan a Whole Year of PE in 15 minutes

Have you ever gotten to the end of the year and realized that you didn’t get around to teaching some really important areas of content?  I find that one of my biggest struggles as a teacher is prioritizing the content I need to include and trying to fit everything that I need to teach my students into the time that I am given with them (only 50 minutes once a week).

This strategy has helped me become more organized and planned out as I teach different units throughout the year.

Hopefully, through seeing my process you can take a few ideas and use them for yourself to plan the BEST YEAR EVER!   Here’s my process…

1.) Do a basic overview of the entire year on one page, this is what is commonly called your “Long Range Plan”

• This includes all the Units of Instruction that you hope to get in throughout the year
• I plan mine by grade and by month, but super generic as you can see, think “Big Picture”

2.)  Print or Buy a Monthly Calendar (or use a monthly planner)

• It’s great if you can print a school calendar that already has important dates on it like early release days, student holidays, professional development ect. to save you some time.  

3.) Write in Important Dates -Mark or highlight days when your classes aren’t on a normal schedule, you won’t have your teaching space or when school isn’t in session

• School Assemblies
• Jump Rope For Heart
• School-Wide Testing Days
• Professional Development Days

4.) Plan your Units of Instruction

• Get a PENCIL – you will probably have to make some changes throughout the year and begin to plan your units of instruction.  
• Work backwards from the holidays and important dates so your units don’t have big gaps in them and so you can culminate your units on important events.   
• Also I like to try and plan the unit at a relevant time (Basketball around March Madness or during Basketball Season… Soccer around the World Cup or during soccer season)

You can see a video of my entire process below.

It’s a bit long, but I did plan the whole year in under 15 minutes, so I’d call it a win.  Just for reference, I teach my kids once a week for 50 minutes, so your schedule and yearly plan might look different depending on the amount of time that you see your kids each week.

Getting your yearly schedule down on paper is great to give you a big picture vision of what your year will look like.  After I finish this up I can focus more of my attention planning great lessons for my kids and not stress about whether or not I will be able to fit it all in.

Making a Digital Copy

Another thing I like to do after getting the rough draft on paper is to reorganize my digital long range plan, which I use Google Sheets for.

You can see an example below:

If you’d like to make a copy of my Long Range Plan Template download the resource below for a link to make a copy in Google Sheets.  ( If your a member with our program, check out the Membership Version of this template in the Resources Area of the Membership )

And that pretty much sums up my yearly planning process!

If you do things differently, I’d love to hear about it – leave some advice in the comments.  

P.S. – Interested in my process for planning each week or each unit of instruction?  Check out an overview of what my first 9 weeks might look like below:

• Week 1 – First Week of School Lesson Plan
• Week 2 – Team Building Game – Hula Hut Relays or Cross the River
• Week 3 – Four Square Training (for recess)
• Week 4 – 6 – Fitness Testing Unit
• Week 7 – 9 – Any other units that fit with the calendar as described in the video – for an example of my unit planning process, check out my Throwing and Catching Unit Overview , Gymnastics Unit Overview or my Jumprope Unit Overview . 

Phys Ed Q & A Show: How to Plan Your Scope and Sequence

We recently recorded an entire episode of our Phys Ed Q & A Show dedicated to this one topic, so if you want to take a deep dive into planning your scope and sequence head over to our SHOW NOTES PAGE  to download the show notes, check out the podcast or you can just watch the video below:

Have a good one!

Have Fun and Teach On!

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Reader Interactions

August 30, 2024 at 1:14 am

These ideas and videos are great and so helpful! Really appreciate you breaking down what the first few weeks might look like. During the get to know you portion, I have always loved using a ball to pass around a circle. When someone catches it they say their name and one thing about themselves or one thing they did this summer. Thanks again for your resources!

August 30, 2024 at 7:03 am

Glad you’re enjoying the resources!

Thanks for sharing your ideas!

August 23, 2024 at 10:47 pm

Thank you for your help.

August 26, 2024 at 3:48 pm

You’re welcome Beth!

August 11, 2024 at 11:50 am

Looks great

August 12, 2024 at 3:48 pm

Glad you’re enjoying the resources Jared!

July 31, 2024 at 10:38 am

How do you differentiate with different grades on your planning guide? Same activity just vary how to do it? I’m teaching K-5 for the first time and would love some advice.

August 1, 2024 at 7:13 am

Hey Carrie,

Thanks for reaching out!

If you look at the activities within the planning guide, you will see how we differentiate between the grade level.

For example, if you click on the Throwing and Catching link, you will find how we break down each week and what each grade level activity consist of.

Hope this helps!

April 28, 2024 at 10:11 am

Do you sell a full packet/ full year of curriculum?

April 30, 2024 at 6:58 am

Hey Carolyn,

If you’re interested, we do have a paid membership with a full year of activities and lessons.

Check out the info at the link below:

https://www.thepespecialist.com/info

Let us know if you have any questions!

August 29, 2023 at 2:00 pm

Hello, I’m from Belarus Anastasia the first year I will work for primary school physical education teachers. Our education system gives us approximate annual plans (this is how the sections and the hours allocated to them are indicated) example: fundamentals of safety in the classroom, the Olympic movement – 4 hours are allocated for the year. Then there is an invariant component that cannot be changed: athletics (jumping, running, throwing) – 20 hours for all quarters. The question has finally reached him: do you make annual plans and overtime for each quarter? I will be glad of any answer, your colleague (I’m not afraid of this word) hah

August 29, 2023 at 4:39 pm

Hey Anastasia,

We try to make annual plans when we can. Check out our Podcast: How to Fit it All In it will give you tips on how we structure our activities.

August 24, 2023 at 5:11 pm

Hello! I love receiving your emails full of ideas and games. I would love to see more high school games. Do you have teambuilding games for high school students. Any ideas/suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!!!

August 24, 2023 at 8:51 pm

Hey Kristi,

You could always modify the games for high school students. Check out the message for Ben on Secondary recommends:

Secondary Teacher Recommends

There are some great folks out there in Secondary, but I’m not as connected to all the best resources, but I know that Physedagogy is a great resource to check out and find other teachers doing similar things to you – you can find them at: https://physedagogy.com/

Check out https://thephysicaleducator.com – Joey teaches elementary, but also up through secondary

Also Nathan Hornes website https://www.iphys-ed.com/ is great and he’s taught all levels.

Jarrod Robinson (The PE Geek) has a great technology integration site that applies to all levels.

Also of course social media will be a great resource for you to get connected with Secondary Folks, here’s a few secondary teachers I know are awesome, they might have some good resources or at least advice for where to look if you message or tag them on social with a question:

* Dave Senecal https://twitter.com/pepalooza * Matt Pomeroy https://twitter.com/Physed_Pomeroy * Sarah Gietschier-Hartman https://twitter.com/GHSaysRockChalk * Stephanie Sandino https://twitter.com/smsandino * Jerry Honeycutt: https://twitter.com/honeycutt_pe * Lisa Smith: https://twitter.com/lisasmithpe

OPEN Physed from US Games also has some Secondary resources you might want to check out: https://openphysed.org/

August 9, 2023 at 1:02 pm

Hello, How are you doing today.i would like to buy complete k-5 physical education 1 year long term plan as well as the weekly lesson plan for the same one year plan. I would like to have your email and maybe your phone number to call you.

August 9, 2023 at 7:00 pm

Hey Yakubu,

You can find out all the details of the PE Specialist Membership at the link below:

Email: [email protected]

Let us know if you need anything else!

July 15, 2023 at 2:27 pm

Was wondering if i could get the rules to your Star Wars game you referenced. Starting out with the first year of PE at our small private school and I appreciate your information so far.

July 17, 2023 at 8:57 am

We are working to get the lesson plan on the site for Star Wars, but check out the link below to a video on a similar style of Star Wars we play:

https://youtu.be/YGiYUsC0jSI

July 13, 2023 at 7:08 pm

I’ll give this a shot. It’s a lot more boxes than I’m used to but I think I can make it work. Thanks!

July 14, 2023 at 1:11 pm

Of course Nathalie!

Let us know if you have any questions! Great way to plan your school year!

February 15, 2023 at 1:06 pm

You really do a fantastic job. I and many other PE teachers I know come to your website for new ideas and/or improvements to activities already used. Thanks!!!

February 15, 2023 at 3:14 pm

Thanks for reaching out Thomas!

October 11, 2022 at 9:46 pm

You are a lifesaver for me as a first year PE teacher. Thank you so so so much for all the work you’ve put into helping others.

October 12, 2022 at 4:07 pm

You’re welcome Ms. H!

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions along the way!

You got this!

August 19, 2022 at 1:22 pm

Great job! I’m trying to use some of your links and it puts the items into a cart. How do I access the items? Thanks!

August 19, 2022 at 3:45 pm

Once you complete the checkout the resources will be linked to you on the site and sent via email.

August 17, 2022 at 7:47 pm

Hi Ben, thanks a lot for your pointers on making a year plan for PE classes. Do you teach one specific grade, or more than one each year? I used to teach one grade(e.g., G2 in 2022), but moving to a new school this year, I’m supposed to teach G3 – 6. I’m wondering if you would teach the same contents for these 4 graders.

Ideas so far: 1. Teach the same units & contents, but level up or down according to each and every grade. 2. Teach different units for each grade. Rotate units. e.g., G3: Striking > Invasion games > Net games > Gymnastics G4: Invasion games > Net games > Gymnastics > Striking G5: Net games > Gymnastics > Striking > Invasion games

I’m leaning towards #1, but I’d love to hear some comments from you. Once again, thanks tons for your ideas. I get a lot of takeaways from your site and channel. As a token of gratitude, I’m sharing one of my virtual PE class videos with you.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon!

August 17, 2022 at 7:51 pm

Hey man! yep, #1 is correct – if you watch our Scope and Sequence Video on the Podcast Page (or listen to the episode we go into depth on this)

August 16, 2022 at 5:51 pm

I just wanted to say, thank you for all your emails and posts. This is my 7th year teaching PE and I get most of my ideas from you. I teach K-8th grade PE and I modify some of my activities for all the grade levels. I just wanted to Thank you though showing me how a field day works. I read your idea and used it. Field Day this year is going to be better. I know what worked and what didn’t. Thank you for what you post and send out. I really appreciate it. Mostly, I feel I don’t know what I am doing and with your encouragement, I feel better about teaching PE!

August 17, 2022 at 3:57 pm

Thank you SO much for the kind words!

So glad you’re enjoying the resources!

I will be sure to pass your message over to Ben! This is the reason why we have the site!

August 16, 2022 at 4:12 pm

Is this for elementary students only? How would you apply this to middle school students?

August 17, 2022 at 3:56 pm

Hey Patricia,

The blog post was designed for Elementary teachers, but the concept and theme can be applied to middle school students.

We just trying to find what students find interesting, that cover and address the standards, and organize it to fit in the school year.

February 9, 2022 at 1:57 pm

coach ben, hi i was wondering if we can receive a certificate for the training you had. it was great and i enjoyed it every much. i learn alot in the training. thanks

February 9, 2022 at 3:28 pm

Hey Marsha,

We have an E-Learning system within our membership that provides certificates after trainings are completed, but for free trainings on Youtube we don’t have any way to provide these certificates or verify that teachers have completed the trainings, sorry about that.

If you’d like to check out the membership and see if your school might be able to support you with a membership you can see the info page below:

January 7, 2022 at 2:07 pm

My name is Brenda Wilcox and I will be a fill in Sub PE teacher for grades K -4 for the remainder of the school year. I am not an althlete but do enjoy being around this age group and helping them with PE. I have reseached some inside games for them as we are in a very cold climate and moat activities are in the gym for a while. I was referred to your web site for ideas and plans. Any information of advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you Brenda Wilcox

January 7, 2022 at 3:10 pm

Hey Brenda!

We have tons of indoor activities on our site. I encourage you to check out the resource page! I will link it below:

https://www.thepespecialist.com/home/

Hope the helps!

October 31, 2021 at 11:17 am

Hello I am a 1-5 PE teacher in Montana. I am wondering if you teach any Heath topics/units to your students throughout the year.

November 1, 2021 at 3:21 pm

We don’t teach health specifically, although we do try to incorporate Health concepts into all of the activities that we do – especially our Fitness Unit, which you can check out below:

https://www.thepespecialist.com/fitnessgram/ Sometimes the schedule works out to give me a random class coming twice a week for an extra PE class, if that’s the case I do a little health integration with them, which I’ve blogged about at the link below:

https://www.thepespecialist.com/health/ If you want more content, I haven’t used the resource below personally, but have seen it recommended by other PE teachers, so it might be worth checking out:

https://3rs.org/3rs-curriculum/3rs-curric-search Hope that’s helpful!

September 22, 2021 at 8:36 pm

I’m sure I received this already but I didn’t save it properly when I was working on it. Many thanks for sharing your awesome resources!

September 23, 2021 at 3:19 pm

You’re welcome Sara! Glad you’re enjoying the resources!

August 26, 2021 at 1:07 pm

hi. Awesome stuff AS ALWAYS!!!!

I downloaded the digital copy and was hoping to use it on Google Sheets, unfortunately if only saved as a PDF.

Is there a way to convert PDF to Sheets??

August 26, 2021 at 3:26 pm

We’ve included a link with instructions to convert to Sheets:

https://productivityspot.com/convert-pdf-to-google-sheets/

August 27, 2021 at 8:04 pm

hello. thanks for the response, I appreciate it. Sadly, I could not figure it out. I got to the ‘open in Google Docs’ part, but when I do, it is a bunch of text that is a mess of letters.

I am at [email protected] if it isn’t too much to ask, may you share with me? I will make a copy and then delete.

August 30, 2021 at 4:32 pm

We sent you a copy via email!

August 13, 2021 at 2:35 pm

I keep trying to checkout both of the long range lesson plan templates and it just saying “cart it empty”. Do I need to have a membership?

August 13, 2021 at 3:45 pm

Hey Dustin,

Sorry about the issue!

Usually, this issue is related to a school filter, pop-up blocker, or browser caching issue – so we’d recommend trying from another computer, switching browsers, clearing your cache and making sure all pop up blockers have been turned off.

As a another option you can also find some of our products on our Teachers Pay Teachers Page Here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Pe-Specialist

Just search “Yearly Plan” in the search box.

August 13, 2021 at 10:46 am

Thank you all the resources you provide!

-A fan and second year teacher!

August 13, 2021 at 3:42 pm

You’re welcome Amanda! Glad you’re enjoying the resources! Good luck in year two!

August 13, 2021 at 10:07 am

Hi Ben, any way to get a copy of your google sheet of your long range plan for the year? It’s not working off your site. Would love a copy! Thanks so much!

Hey Danielle,

August 10, 2021 at 4:39 pm

Hey Ben. I’ve your idea of ninja warriors unit if you didn’t have to do fitness testing. Do you have any good resources on a warrior unit? Thanks

August 11, 2021 at 4:30 pm

Don’t have any warrior unit resources yet but we do have exercise posters you can use from prepping students I will link down below:

https://www.thepespecialist.com/exerciseposters/

Here a video of back yard warrior activities to give you some ideas as well:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXer2Oxu37Y

August 6, 2021 at 9:52 am

Hi! My name is Laura and this is my first year being a P.E teacher. I was super nervous but thanks to your amazing help, my head stopped spinning and I was able to have a good idea at to how my first week should go. You’re awesome man!

August 9, 2021 at 6:59 am

Welcome to the profession! We are excited you found some helpful tips when trying to plan a whole school year! We also have a podcast where we discuss some first year tips to get you started, check it out, along with others, at the link below:

https://www.thepespecialist.com/podcast/

Have a great day!

May 21, 2021 at 5:12 am

How do you come up with exactly what the Units will be about or called. Do u just look at outcomes or standards, group similar ones together and then make a ‘theme’? For example, if the outcome is about teamwork, you would link it to a Unit called teamwork and then do teamwork activities?

May 21, 2021 at 3:05 pm

Great question Timothy!

We take into account lots of factors when determine units. We look at grade level outcomes, standards, student interest, what’s available around the community, and what they can do for a lifetime away from PE class.

The naming of them is arbitrary but it helps to encapsulate what we are trying to teach them. We also try to name units based on what they may hear outside of class like “teambuilding or soccer”.

May 19, 2021 at 10:39 am

Awesome ideas, kangaroo club /bracelets and obviously you could apply to a lot of other activities. thanks

May 19, 2021 at 3:55 pm

Sure can Debra! Glad you’re enjoying the resources!

April 22, 2021 at 3:50 pm

This information was really helpful

April 23, 2021 at 3:19 pm

Thanks Kenneth! Glad you found the resources helpful!

August 18, 2020 at 6:44 am

we could expect a PE yearly plan for middle and High school

August 19, 2020 at 12:37 pm

Also of course social media will be a great resource for you to get connected with Secondary Folks, here’s a few secondary teachers I know are awesome, they might have some good resources or at least advice for where to look:

Dave Senecal https://twitter.com/pepalooza Matt Pomeroy https://twitter.com/Physed_Pomeroy Sarah Gietschier-Hartman https://twitter.com/GHSaysRockChalk Stephanie Sandino https://twitter.com/smsandino Jerry Honeycutt: https://twitter.com/honeycutt_pe Lisa Smith: https://twitter.com/lisasmithpe OPEN Physed from US Games also has some Secondary resources you might want to check out: https://openphysed.org/

July 29, 2020 at 6:53 pm

Is the format readable only are editable. I want to insert some ideas please. Thank you!

July 31, 2020 at 8:06 am

Hey Jennifer,

The format is set for readable or view only. You can also “make a copy” of the resource, that way you can make edits and insert ideas.

July 29, 2020 at 6:43 pm

May I use and modify this template in a power point then invert to a video? Coach Jones

July 31, 2020 at 8:04 am

Yes feel free to modify this template for personal use.

April 27, 2020 at 9:17 am

LOVE this, I’ve been following a similar vein. I’ve been keeping a list of all activities that were well-received and once the overview calendar is set I then start plugging in the activities. As a fitnessgram alternative we switched to http://www.kidsninjafitness.com for elective-based fitness testing (for elementary PE) and it’s been fantastic! It’s also free which is fabulous for my budget 🙂

April 28, 2020 at 10:41 am

That’s awesome! Would love to do something like this, unfortunately fitness testing is mandatory in our state. I can see kids being way more excited about a program like this.

February 25, 2020 at 11:36 am

Would you recommend the same suggestion, to just add in more activities or would you make the units less weeks, if seeing classes 3x a week all year.

March 2, 2020 at 6:47 pm

If I saw kids 3x a week (assuming also for 50 minute periods) I would probably switch to 2 week units, go a little deeper into content and cover more units.

For example, I don’t have enough time to cover Baseball/Softball and Tennis/Paddles, so normally we end up rotating every other year.

I would love to get to cover all the subjects I think are relevant to my kids and also have some time to play a few fun games in between units (that can act as a review of previous learning, or just an opportunity to practice teamwork and cooperation)

February 3, 2020 at 10:49 am

thank you that was really helpful

February 3, 2020 at 4:58 pm

Sure thing, glad to hear that!

January 5, 2020 at 5:04 pm

We just changed our specials schedule, as we added Project Lead The Way as a special, therefore our grade levels that have 4 sections won’t have to divide a class (30-35 students in K-2 per each special) and have adapted to an A, B, C, D rotation calendar in place of our Red, White, Blue rotation. So in any given week I will only see one of my groups twice. Any suggestions on how to plan for how to adapt lesson plans for those groups that I might see more often?

January 6, 2020 at 6:23 pm

I would just plan additional activities around the “core” unit that you’re teaching. I’ve had a couple classes that I got to see 2x a week and just planned extra activities around the same content that the rest of the school was working on. I viewed it as an “enrichment” day and got to dive a little deeper with those classes into the unit that we were working on.

August 20, 2019 at 3:02 pm

How often do you see your students?

August 20, 2019 at 8:16 pm

50 minutes – once a week

July 16, 2019 at 2:40 pm

What is Body Mangement?

July 30, 2019 at 12:30 pm

June 15, 2019 at 3:28 pm

Great ideas! I am looking forward to using your strategy and being more organzied.

June 20, 2019 at 9:19 pm

Hope it helps!

May 12, 2019 at 1:21 pm

Great resources for a European PE teacher like me that will soon start to teach in the U.S ????????????

May 16, 2019 at 6:55 am

Awesome! Glad it’s helpful

February 17, 2019 at 11:10 pm

Hi Ben! Thank you for posting this article. I will be starting my first year teaching soon. I think your article provides many great tips that will help me become organized with my teaching. Thank you for sharing and thank you for everything you do for physical education.

February 19, 2019 at 7:59 pm

Sure thing – glad it was helpful!

January 5, 2019 at 12:04 am

Can’t afford to be a member but fixing to purchase the Jump Rope Unit…. I was wondering if you have a Field Day unit available for purchase? Thanks!

January 9, 2019 at 5:19 pm

Sure thing, check out our Field Day Resource Pack here: https://www.thepespecialist.com/fieldday/

November 10, 2018 at 8:00 pm

Great Video! Much appreciated! I teach a curriculum models class and the models we cover are Adventure Ed/Team Building; Frisbee skills mixed with Social Responsibility; TGFU; Sport Ed; Cultural Competence. It is based on Lund and Tannehill’s book about Standards Based PE. The part we are adding in is Block Planning so this is very helpful since we really don’t have enough time to cover everything adequately in one semester. Cheers!

November 15, 2018 at 3:25 pm

Sure thing – definitely a struggle to fit everything in.

November 27, 2017 at 2:08 pm

Hey quick question- I am in a similar situation where i only see my classes once a week for 45 minutes.. How long are your units at that point? and do you do a lot of station work or different skill each week and a mini game about that skill?

Thank you!! Stephanie

November 28, 2017 at 9:10 pm

I usually do 3-4 week units and do majority station work with K-1 and majority modified games with 2-5. That’s an over generalization, but it’s kind of my formula.

You can see my Gymnastics and Jump Rope unit overviews in the links above to get an idea of what a unit might look like

November 5, 2017 at 6:29 pm

Hello 🙂 This is a great video on Units but how do you organize PE lessons?

November 7, 2017 at 7:17 pm

Check out the links at the bottom of the post to the Jumprope and Gymnastics Unit

October 10, 2017 at 1:59 pm

This is so great! I was wondering what your “Body Management” section is?

October 18, 2017 at 4:15 pm

Gymnastics/Parkour – more info here: https://www.thepespecialist.com/gymnastics/

August 30, 2017 at 1:24 am

In one of your posts, you mentioned that when planning units you use the SHAPE outcomes. Could you briefly describe the process? As I understand, you use a specific outcome as a starting point; and then you pick and choose activities to teach the concept/skill? If so, how would you teach your students that an overhand-throw movement pattern is used in many sports/activities, such as baseball, dodgeball, volleyball, etc? Would you play all the activities in one unit?

September 4, 2017 at 8:34 pm

Yep, you’re right on. Throwing is a little different for me since it’s not a sport itself, I usually just play throwing games for about 4 weeks and then we review it throughout the year during other units (baseball/striking with implements) or other throwing games that we might play in between units.

Most of the other units I do are more content/sport specific – although almost every skill transfers across plenty of different sports and applications

September 4, 2017 at 9:07 pm

August 21, 2017 at 3:52 am

Great job….

August 21, 2017 at 3:43 am

August 20, 2017 at 1:59 pm

Hi Ben. Your content is really helpful for me, a first year (P.E.) teacher. I really appreciate the thoughtfulness you put into this blog to help others.

I was wondering if you have state standards you keep in mind when lesson planning. For instance, I’m in Texas and we must teach according to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). If you do have state standards, how do you incorporate that into planning out your year?

August 23, 2017 at 8:53 pm

I use the SHAPE America Grade Level Outcomes when planning units and they just give me a basic starting point.

It’s impossible to fit everything in (at least for most people who see kids once a week), so you just have to choose what you think is most relevant to your students and do the best you can.

Here are the SHAPE GLO’s if you want to check them out: http://www.shapeamerica.org/standards/pe/upload/Grade-Level-Outcomes-for-K-12-Physical-Education.pdf

August 24, 2017 at 12:36 pm

Thanks, Ben! I truly appreciate the help.

August 9, 2017 at 5:58 pm

Thank you for all and any info you are sharing. I know my students will benefit from me becoming more organized and your sharing of material. Thank you from my heart. (Down here by the border in AZ).

August 8, 2017 at 3:10 am

Hello Ben Landers! Your work is so inspiring and positive! I love what you offer your students and appreciate what you share! You are amazing, truly! Best wishes for a smooth beginning of the school year! Sincerely, LBell

August 14, 2017 at 3:58 pm

Hope you have a good one as well – thanks for the words of encouragement!

July 24, 2017 at 5:29 am

Events for national sports day,parents sports day…?

July 4, 2017 at 11:35 pm

Any suggestions on where to even begin I am a first year PE teacher, thanks!

July 8, 2017 at 11:08 am

Nice – Congrats on your first PhysEd Job!

Management is going to be first priority – I would check out THIS LINK for an overview of my management and philosophy for my PE Program.

Also, you could ask your school to purchase a PE Specialist Membership to get some great resources that I think would be helpful for any first year teacher.

Get on Twitter and connect with people when you have questions using #physed and start to bookmark PE blogs and sites that you find helpful.

Lastly – remember that “It’s a Marathon not a Sprint” – you are at the beginning of a long journey of learning and getting better at your craft. Don’t get discouraged when you teach a crap lesson, that’s part of getting better – just figure out why it sucked and make it better next time. Have Fun and Teach On! 🙂

January 10, 2017 at 7:24 am

Hi I want to know, if you teach Physical Education to a school which doesn’t participate in any sport. How would you draft your yearly plan and also your lesson plans. In terms of fitness activities which can one carry-out to keep learners interest in your lessons. Thank you!

January 10, 2017 at 4:06 pm

I assume that you mean you guys don’t play team sports? I would just develop my Units around whatever concepts you are trying to teach. Maybe you want to do skill theme approach, so kicking, throwing, catching, locomotors, invasion games etc. A good strategy is to work backwards, what outcome do you want to accomplish? What activities can you do to accomplish that outcome? How can those activities fit together in units?

I don’t do a lot of strictly fitness activities, other than some quick interval training workouts, most of the activities I do are games with fitness built into them – in my experience, my students have responded better to that method.

September 2, 2016 at 2:25 am

What is “fitnessgram”? I have been looking for some kind of fitness program of fitness tracking reward plan to implement with my kids but I haven’t found any good ones. Just wondering if that is what “fitnessgram” is.

September 2, 2016 at 2:10 pm

Fitnessgram is a common Fitness Assessment system that teachers use to help kids assess their fitness levels and set goals for improvement – you can google around to find more info about it if your interested.

August 9, 2017 at 6:11 pm

This is my 3rd year teaching P.E. and I love it! When it comes to the Fitness Gram, I have absolutely no idea where to begin. Do I purchase a software of some sort? Do I need to print out paperwork for each student so I can write down things during their tests? This is all brand new, so I am trying to figure out where to start with it all. Thank you for your time and sharing all of your valuable information!!

August 14, 2017 at 4:02 pm

First of all – if your district/state doesn’t require Fitness Testing, then you might want to consider doing your own thing that’s more fun for your students, or doing some other type of fitness instruction like an American Ninja Warrior Unit or something.

If you are required to do it then yes, you can get all the cadences/audio tracks on iTunes or from the Fitnessgram Website (just google it). They have all the standards and assessment protocols on their site as well I believe.

Also check out this post: https://www.thepespecialist.com/pacertest/

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Mud, Dirt, and Rocks Theme- With the weather changing and cooking down, this is the perfect time for exploring outside. Start with some fun and simple activities to get students in the groove of welcoming the new month. With fun images of school supplies, they’ll learn literacy and math concepts through simple activities.

Apples Theme – Did you know October 21st is National Apple Day? If you weren’t aware, now you are and you can be ready to have a ball with these delicious fruits. There is so much to teach in regard to apples and using them for educational purposes is so fun- think colors, counting, sorting, and more! Picking apples at an apple festival, coloring apples, even planting seeds for these crispy treats is all something you can work on with your littles

Fire Safety and Prevention Theme- Fire Prevention Week is October 6th-12th. It is critical we teach them the importance of the precautions they can/need to take in a possibly dangerous situation. Learning about smoke detectors, fire alarms, fire extinguishers and other helpful items will give them a head start on protecting themselves. Dive into these awesome activities and spend the week preparing your littles on being helpers in their community and keeping themselves safe.

Emotions and Five Senses Theme – October 10th is national mental health day. Take this day or find a day in the month to talk about emotions using this Emotions and Five Senses Theme lesson. It will be a fun and open way to teach your littles about how their body and brain work together. From identifying different sounds and smells to exploring textures and colors, they’ll develop a deeper connection with their surroundings, while also building skills like sorting, letter and number recognition, discussions, and so much more!

Weather Theme – Weather activities for preschoolers are hands-on learning experiences that introduce young children to the concepts of weather, seasons, and atmospheric phenomena. A new season comes with weather changes that your littles may have a questions about. These activities are designed to be interactive, engaging, and age-appropriate, allowing children to explore and understand different aspects of weather playfully.

Ultimate Halloween Activities- Incorporate literacy activities into the “All About Me” theme by encouraging preschoolers to explore their personal stories. Through storytelling and creative expression, kids can develop a love for reading and writing while celebrating what makes them special. Simple projects like making “About Me” posters, creating sensory bins related to their favorite things, or making personalized puppets can help kids explore their interests and unique traits.

Community Helpers Theme – Whether your preschooler is fascinated by firefighters, police officers, construction workers, or any other helpers they see around their community we have a variety of activities to spark their imagination and foster a love of helping others. Simple projects like making sensory bins, creating snacks into fire trucks, or assembling-themed puppets can teach kids about different professions and their unique benefits to the community.

Spiders Theme- To fit in with the spooky season, teach your littles about the spiders who help our environment. This lesson plan will not only fit in perfectly with the month of October but it will teach them in a creepy crawly way that will have them learning numbers, letters, and all about different spiders.

On the Farm Theme – Worksheets and crafts centered around On the Farm can instill a sense of awareness and knowledge. By engaging in these activities, children can develop a deeper understanding of what is found On the Farm and what they eat. Additionally, creating art related to their favorite animals can build a personal connection, fostering empathy and a desire to protect wildlife as they grow older.

Pumpkin Theme- Get PUMPed-kined up to implement these pumpkin themed activities. Fall and pumpkins go together like spaghetti and meatballs! Soak up all of the fall season and items during the month of October. After all, the season truly flies by. Pumpkins can be decorated, dissected, deseeded (and bake the seeds for a treat, YUM!) Check these activities out for even more ideas.

Fall and Leaves Theme – Welcoming October, your students will have already started to notice the leaves changing color and the weather getting cooler. This is a great time to teach about the change of the seasons, what happens to the leaves, and common activities we do in the fall.

Squirrel and Acorns- Add a spin to your month by learning about squirrels and acorns during October. Preschoolers being shown these interesting creatures will open up their curiosity to the small creatures we sometimes see.

Moon/Moon Cycle Theme- The moon is interesting every day but having some fun with it during October is a great idea. Learning the cycles, creating physical examples and building crafts will be another excellent engaging activity that can be discussed every day with your littles! The moon is out every night so don’t forget to have fun conversations around it.

Bats Theme- Hanging around this October has never been so fun. Grab these bat themed activities to ease your way into Halloween week. Spooky, creepy, educational, fun and even delicious are all thoughts that will enter your mind while using this lesson.

Scarecrow Theme – Building scarecrows, singing songs and learning about fields and corn in October? Let’s do it! Your preschooler will have such a ball with these Fall activities.

October offers some awesome days. From working on your littles emotional/mental health, learning about weather, pumpkins or bats, to building delicious snacks based off your theme- you are sure to have a fun filled month using these activities.

However you choose to celebrate October, making memories should be at the top of your list. Don’t forget to get messy with your children during these fun activities. October offers some important and festive dates so why not ring them in with quality time.

Enjoy decorating, learning, and communicating with your littles. You will be sure to have a blast no matter what theme or direction you go!

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Physical Education (PE) Lesson Plan Template (fully editable)

Description

FREE Editable PE Lesson Plan Template (Grades PreK-12)

Say goodbye to staring at a blank lesson plan template! This time-saving resource is designed specifically for busy physical education teachers like you.

Here's what makes it awesome:

• Practical Focus: Forget generic templates! This one is built with clear sections for practical activities, assessments, and asessment notes – the things that matter most in PE class
• Fully Customizable: Every section is editable, so you can tailor the plan to your specific grade level, learning objectives, and equipment availability.
• Streamlined & Easy-to-Use: Focus on creating engaging lessons, not paperwork. This template is organised and clear, making it a breeze to use week after week.

This editable PE lesson plan template is perfect for:

• New PE teachers who want a solid foundation for their lesson planning.
• Experienced teachers who are tired of reinventing the wheel.
• Anyone who wants to save precious time while creating effective PE lessons.

Get yours today and reclaim your planning time!

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Physical Theatre Drama

Subject: Drama

Age range: 14-16

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25 September 2024

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** Devising - (5 Full Lessons)**

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