What should students be able to do in PE by the end of this year?

Students should move with control in a range of activities, from team sports to fitness routines and lifetime activities like hiking or cycling. They should also explain how their choices affect their health and work well with classmates during games and group work.

How can families support physical activity at home?

Aim for about 60 minutes of active time most days. That can be a walk after dinner, shooting hoops in the driveway, a bike ride, or helping with yard work. The activity matters more than the sport, so pick something students actually enjoy.

My child says they are bad at sports and hates PE. What can I do?

Middle school PE covers more than team sports. Try activities at home where skill is less visible, such as yoga videos, dance, climbing, or strength routines. Building fitness and confidence in private often makes class feel less stressful.

How should the year be sequenced across units?

A common pattern is fitness testing and goal setting early, then rotating units that mix invasion games, net and wall games, fitness activities, and lifetime sports. Revisit cooperation and personal responsibility in every unit rather than treating them as a separate block.

Which skills usually need the most reteaching at this grade?

Striking with an implement, defensive positioning in invasion games, and pacing during fitness work are the usual sticking points. Students also need repeated practice reading a workout plan and adjusting effort based on heart rate or perceived exertion.

What does health-related fitness mean at this age?

Students learn the five parts of fitness: heart and lung endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and body composition. They should be able to name an activity that builds each one and track their own progress over a unit.

How much does effort count compared to athletic ability?

Grades at this level lean heavily on participation, effort, fitness growth, and how students treat classmates. A student who shows up ready, tries hard, and supports teammates can earn strong marks without being the best athlete in the gym.

How do teachers know students are ready for high school PE?

Readiness shows up when students can set a fitness goal, pick activities to reach it, and stick with a plan for several weeks. They should also handle disagreements in a game without needing an adult to step in every time.

What does a student learn in ?

This is the year students start treating fitness as a personal choice, not a class requirement. Students sharpen the movement skills they use in sports and games, and they learn the reasoning behind a good workout: why warmups matter, how to read their heart rate, what builds strength over time. Teamwork gets more honest too, with real talk about communication and respect. By spring, students can plan their own simple fitness routine and explain why it works.

Fitness planning
Movement skills
Heart rate
Teamwork
Lifelong wellness

Source: Maryland Maryland College and Career-Ready Standards

Year at a glance

How the year usually goes. Every school and district set their own curriculum, so treat this as a guide, not official pacing.

1
Movement skills and warm-ups
Students start the year by sharpening the basics: running, jumping, throwing, catching, and dribbling. They learn warm-up routines and how to move safely in shared space.
2
Fitness concepts and personal goals
Students learn how exercise affects the heart, muscles, and breathing. They set personal fitness goals and track how their effort changes over the season.
3
Teamwork and game play
Students put skills together in team games and group activities. They practice cooperating with teammates, communicating during play, and handling wins and losses with respect.
4
Strategy and skilled performance
Students apply what they know to sports and movement activities that take real strategy. They read the game, position themselves well, and adjust based on what the other team or partner is doing.
5
Lifelong activity and wellness
Students explore activities they can carry into adult life, such as walking, biking, yoga, or recreational sports. They reflect on what they enjoy and how regular activity fits into a healthy routine.

Mastery Learning Standards

The required skills a student should display by the end of Grade 8.

Physical Education

Develop a variety of motor skills, including locomotor, non-locomotor

MD-PE.1.8

Students practice moving their bodies in different ways, from running and jumping to throwing and catching, building the physical skills that make sports and active hobbies easier to join and stick with.
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance

MD-PE.2.8

Students connect what they know about how the body moves and stays fit to make smarter choices during physical activity. That means adjusting effort, form, or pacing based on what the activity actually demands.
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…

MD-PE.3.8

Students practice working with others during physical activity, taking turns, listening, and handling wins and losses with respect. The focus is on how they treat teammates and opponents, not just how they move.
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement

MD-PE.4.8

Students practice setting personal fitness goals and choosing activities they actually enjoy. The focus is building habits that carry into adult life, not just getting through class.

Standard	Definition	Code
Develop a variety of motor skills, including locomotor, non-locomotor	Students practice moving their bodies in different ways, from running and jumping to throwing and catching, building the physical skills that make sports and active hobbies easier to join and stick with.	MD-PE.1.8
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance	Students connect what they know about how the body moves and stays fit to make smarter choices during physical activity. That means adjusting effort, form, or pacing based on what the activity actually demands.	MD-PE.2.8
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…	Students practice working with others during physical activity, taking turns, listening, and handling wins and losses with respect. The focus is on how they treat teammates and opponents, not just how they move.	MD-PE.3.8
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement	Students practice setting personal fitness goals and choosing activities they actually enjoy. The focus is building habits that carry into adult life, not just getting through class.	MD-PE.4.8

Physical Education

Develop a variety of motor skills, including locomotor, non-locomotor

MD-PE.1.8

Students practice moving their bodies in different ways, from running and jumping to throwing and catching, building the physical skills that make sports and active hobbies easier to join and stick with.
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance

MD-PE.2.8

Students connect what they know about how the body moves and stays fit to make smarter choices during physical activity. That means adjusting effort, form, or pacing based on what the activity actually demands.
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…

MD-PE.3.8

Students practice working with others during physical activity, taking turns, listening, and handling wins and losses with respect. The focus is on how they treat teammates and opponents, not just how they move.
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement

MD-PE.4.8

Students practice setting personal fitness goals and choosing activities they actually enjoy. The focus is building habits that carry into adult life, not just getting through class.

Standard	Definition	Code
Develop a variety of motor skills, including locomotor, non-locomotor	Students practice moving their bodies in different ways, from running and jumping to throwing and catching, building the physical skills that make sports and active hobbies easier to join and stick with.	MD-PE.1.8
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance	Students connect what they know about how the body moves and stays fit to make smarter choices during physical activity. That means adjusting effort, form, or pacing based on what the activity actually demands.	MD-PE.2.8
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…	Students practice working with others during physical activity, taking turns, listening, and handling wins and losses with respect. The focus is on how they treat teammates and opponents, not just how they move.	MD-PE.3.8
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement	Students practice setting personal fitness goals and choosing activities they actually enjoy. The focus is building habits that carry into adult life, not just getting through class.	MD-PE.4.8

Common Questions

What should students be able to do in PE by the end of this year?
Students should move with control in a range of activities, from team sports to fitness routines and lifetime activities like hiking or cycling. They should also explain how their choices affect their health and work well with classmates during games and group work.
How can families support physical activity at home?
Aim for about 60 minutes of active time most days. That can be a walk after dinner, shooting hoops in the driveway, a bike ride, or helping with yard work. The activity matters more than the sport, so pick something students actually enjoy.
My child says they are bad at sports and hates PE. What can I do?
Middle school PE covers more than team sports. Try activities at home where skill is less visible, such as yoga videos, dance, climbing, or strength routines. Building fitness and confidence in private often makes class feel less stressful.
How should the year be sequenced across units?
A common pattern is fitness testing and goal setting early, then rotating units that mix invasion games, net and wall games, fitness activities, and lifetime sports. Revisit cooperation and personal responsibility in every unit rather than treating them as a separate block.
Which skills usually need the most reteaching at this grade?
Striking with an implement, defensive positioning in invasion games, and pacing during fitness work are the usual sticking points. Students also need repeated practice reading a workout plan and adjusting effort based on heart rate or perceived exertion.
What does health-related fitness mean at this age?
Students learn the five parts of fitness: heart and lung endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and body composition. They should be able to name an activity that builds each one and track their own progress over a unit.
How much does effort count compared to athletic ability?
Grades at this level lean heavily on participation, effort, fitness growth, and how students treat classmates. A student who shows up ready, tries hard, and supports teammates can earn strong marks without being the best athlete in the gym.
How do teachers know students are ready for high school PE?
Readiness shows up when students can set a fitness goal, pick activities to reach it, and stick with a plan for several weeks. They should also handle disagreements in a game without needing an adult to step in every time.