What does high school PE level 1 actually cover?

Students build movement skills they can use for life, like running, throwing, lifting, and stretching. They also learn how fitness works, how to play well with others, and how to build habits that keep them active outside of school.

How can I help my teen stay active at home?

Find activities they actually like, whether that is biking, dancing, lifting, hiking, or pickup basketball. Twenty to thirty minutes most days is a strong target. Joining them once or twice a week makes it stick.

My teen says they are bad at sports. Does that matter for PE?

Not really. The class covers a wide range of activities, including individual ones like yoga, walking, and strength training. The goal is finding a few things they enjoy enough to keep doing, not being the best on the team.

How should I sequence units across the year?

A common approach is to open with fitness concepts and personal goal-setting, then rotate through team activities, individual activities, and lifetime activities like hiking or strength training. Revisit fitness checkpoints each quarter so students see their progress.

Which skills usually need the most reteaching?

Pacing during cardio work, proper form on basic lifts, and reading game situations in team play. Students also need repeated practice writing a realistic personal fitness goal and tracking it over more than a week.

What does mastery look like by the end of the year?

Students can warm up on their own, perform basic skills in several activities, and explain how a workout connects to a fitness goal. They also work well with classmates, follow safety rules, and can name activities they plan to keep doing.

How do I support a teen who refuses to dress out or participate?

Ask what part feels hard, whether it is the locker room, a specific activity, or feeling watched. Talk with the teacher early about small adjustments. At home, build confidence with low-pressure activity like walking the dog or shooting hoops in the driveway.

Does PE grading include more than just playing the games?

Yes. Students are also graded on effort, working with others, safety, and showing they understand fitness concepts. A teen who tries hard and cooperates can do well even if they are not the most athletic in the class.

What does a student learn in ?

This is the year P.E. shifts from playing games to building habits students can keep after graduation. Students sharpen the movement skills used in sports, fitness routines, and everyday life, and they learn the reasoning behind a good warm-up, a steady heart rate, and a balanced workout. They also practice working with teammates, handling competition, and taking responsibility for their own effort. By spring, students can design and stick to a simple fitness plan that fits their own goals.

Fitness planning
Movement skills
Healthy habits
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 fitness basics
Students start the year by sharpening the basic moves used in sports and everyday activity, like running, jumping, throwing, and catching. They also learn how their bodies respond to exercise.
2
Playing games and team sports
Students put their skills to work in team and individual activities. They practice strategy, positioning, and the rules of common games while building confidence on the court and field.
3
Working with others
Students focus on how they treat teammates, opponents, and themselves during activity. They practice communicating on a team, handling competition, and taking responsibility for their own choices.
4
Fitness for life
Students learn how to plan their own workouts and set fitness goals they can stick with after the class ends. They look at strength, endurance, and flexibility, and pick activities they actually enjoy.

Mastery Learning Standards

The required skills a student should display by the end of Grade 10.

Physical Education

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

MD-PE.1.hs-level-1

High School Level 1

Students practice fundamental movement skills, like throwing, balancing, and running, to build a foundation for staying active throughout their lives.
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance

MD-PE.2.hs-level-1

High School Level 1

Students connect what they know about how the body moves and stays fit to make smarter choices during exercise and sport. The goal is putting that knowledge to work, not just knowing it.
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…

MD-PE.3.hs-level-1

High School Level 1

Students practice working with others during physical activities: taking turns, listening to teammates, and handling wins or losses with good sportsmanship. The focus is on how students treat people, not just how well they move.
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement

MD-PE.4.hs-level-1

High School Level 1

Students reflect on how regular exercise makes them feel and choose activities they want to keep doing long after gym class ends.

Standard	Definition	Code
Develop a variety of motor skills, including locomotor, non-locomotor High School Level 1	Students practice fundamental movement skills, like throwing, balancing, and running, to build a foundation for staying active throughout their lives.	MD-PE.1.hs-level-1
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance High School Level 1	Students connect what they know about how the body moves and stays fit to make smarter choices during exercise and sport. The goal is putting that knowledge to work, not just knowing it.	MD-PE.2.hs-level-1
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others… High School Level 1	Students practice working with others during physical activities: taking turns, listening to teammates, and handling wins or losses with good sportsmanship. The focus is on how students treat people, not just how well they move.	MD-PE.3.hs-level-1
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement High School Level 1	Students reflect on how regular exercise makes them feel and choose activities they want to keep doing long after gym class ends.	MD-PE.4.hs-level-1

Physical Education

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

MD-PE.1.hs-level-1

High School Level 1

Students practice fundamental movement skills, like throwing, balancing, and running, to build a foundation for staying active throughout their lives.
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance

MD-PE.2.hs-level-1

High School Level 1

Students connect what they know about how the body moves and stays fit to make smarter choices during exercise and sport. The goal is putting that knowledge to work, not just knowing it.
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…

MD-PE.3.hs-level-1

High School Level 1

Students practice working with others during physical activities: taking turns, listening to teammates, and handling wins or losses with good sportsmanship. The focus is on how students treat people, not just how well they move.
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement

MD-PE.4.hs-level-1

High School Level 1

Students reflect on how regular exercise makes them feel and choose activities they want to keep doing long after gym class ends.

Standard	Definition	Code
Develop a variety of motor skills, including locomotor, non-locomotor High School Level 1	Students practice fundamental movement skills, like throwing, balancing, and running, to build a foundation for staying active throughout their lives.	MD-PE.1.hs-level-1
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance High School Level 1	Students connect what they know about how the body moves and stays fit to make smarter choices during exercise and sport. The goal is putting that knowledge to work, not just knowing it.	MD-PE.2.hs-level-1
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others… High School Level 1	Students practice working with others during physical activities: taking turns, listening to teammates, and handling wins or losses with good sportsmanship. The focus is on how students treat people, not just how well they move.	MD-PE.3.hs-level-1
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement High School Level 1	Students reflect on how regular exercise makes them feel and choose activities they want to keep doing long after gym class ends.	MD-PE.4.hs-level-1

Common Questions

What does high school PE level 1 actually cover?
Students build movement skills they can use for life, like running, throwing, lifting, and stretching. They also learn how fitness works, how to play well with others, and how to build habits that keep them active outside of school.
How can I help my teen stay active at home?
Find activities they actually like, whether that is biking, dancing, lifting, hiking, or pickup basketball. Twenty to thirty minutes most days is a strong target. Joining them once or twice a week makes it stick.
My teen says they are bad at sports. Does that matter for PE?
Not really. The class covers a wide range of activities, including individual ones like yoga, walking, and strength training. The goal is finding a few things they enjoy enough to keep doing, not being the best on the team.
How should I sequence units across the year?
A common approach is to open with fitness concepts and personal goal-setting, then rotate through team activities, individual activities, and lifetime activities like hiking or strength training. Revisit fitness checkpoints each quarter so students see their progress.
Which skills usually need the most reteaching?
Pacing during cardio work, proper form on basic lifts, and reading game situations in team play. Students also need repeated practice writing a realistic personal fitness goal and tracking it over more than a week.
What does mastery look like by the end of the year?
Students can warm up on their own, perform basic skills in several activities, and explain how a workout connects to a fitness goal. They also work well with classmates, follow safety rules, and can name activities they plan to keep doing.
How do I support a teen who refuses to dress out or participate?
Ask what part feels hard, whether it is the locker room, a specific activity, or feeling watched. Talk with the teacher early about small adjustments. At home, build confidence with low-pressure activity like walking the dog or shooting hoops in the driveway.
Does PE grading include more than just playing the games?
Yes. Students are also graded on effort, working with others, safety, and showing they understand fitness concepts. A teen who tries hard and cooperates can do well even if they are not the most athletic in the class.