What does sixth grade PE look like over the year?

Students move from learning single skills to using them in real games and activities. Expect a mix of team sports, fitness work, and individual challenges like jump rope or fitness circuits. Students also start tracking their own activity and setting personal goals.

My child says they are bad at sports. How do I help?

Focus on effort and small wins, not winning. Go for a walk together, toss a ball in the yard, or try a bike ride a few times a week. Sixth graders care a lot about looking foolish in front of peers, so practice at home builds quiet confidence.

How much physical activity should students get outside of school?

Aim for about 60 minutes a day, spread across the week. It does not have to be a sport. Walking the dog, raking leaves, biking to a friend's house, or dancing in the kitchen all count.

How should fitness and skill work be balanced across the year?

Plan units that braid the two together rather than separating them. A basketball unit can include short fitness blocks on agility and endurance, and a fitness unit can borrow movements from sports students already know. This keeps fitness from feeling like punishment.

What social skills should sixth graders be working on in PE?

Cooperating with teammates they did not choose, settling small disputes without a teacher stepping in, and encouraging peers who are still learning a skill. Sixth grade is when cliques get louder, so structured partner and group rotations matter more than they did in fifth grade.

Which areas usually need the most reteaching at this age?

Throwing and catching with accuracy under pressure, pacing during longer runs, and the rules of invasion games like soccer or basketball. Many students also need help reading a heart rate or recognizing when they are working hard versus coasting.

How do I know a student is ready for seventh grade PE?

Students should be able to join an unfamiliar game, follow the rules, and contribute on a team without constant adult prompting. They should also be able to name one or two physical activities they enjoy and explain why those activities are good for their health.

Does my child need special gear or clothes for PE?

Sneakers that tie, clothes they can move in, and a water bottle cover most days. If the school asks for anything specific, like a mouthguard for a hockey unit, it will come home in a note. Long hair is easier with a hair tie in the bag.

What does a student learn in ?

This is the year gym class starts feeling like training for a sport. Students move beyond basic skills and learn to use them in real games and fitness routines, with attention to how the body works and stays healthy. They also practice teamwork, fair play, and handling themselves well when a game gets competitive. By spring, students can warm up on their own, play a team game with the right skills, and explain why staying active matters.

Motor skills
Team games
Fitness concepts
Teamwork and fair play
Healthy habits

Source: New Hampshire New Hampshire 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 sharpening basic moves like running, jumping, throwing, and catching. Parents may hear about warm-up routines and drills that get the whole class moving before each activity.
2
Games, teamwork, and fair play
Students move into team games where they practice passing, defending, and rotating positions. They learn to communicate with teammates, follow rules, and handle wins and losses without drama.
3
Fitness and how the body works
Students learn what makes a workout build strength, stamina, or flexibility. They try activities that raise their heart rate and start tracking simple goals like push-ups, laps, or stretches.
4
Lifelong activity and personal choice
Students explore activities they might keep doing outside of school, from biking to hiking to dance. They reflect on what they enjoy and how regular movement fits into a healthy week.

Mastery Learning Standards

The required skills a student should display by the end of Grade 6.

Physical Education

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

NH-PE.1.6

Students practice moving skills like running, jumping, throwing, and catching. Building a solid base of these skills makes it easier to stay active in sports, gym class, and everyday life.
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance

NH-PE.2.6

Students connect what they know about how the body moves and stays fit to make smarter choices during physical activity. They use that understanding to perform better and keep themselves healthy.
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…

NH-PE.3.6

Students practice working with classmates during physical activities, taking turns, listening, and making choices that keep the activity fair and safe for everyone.
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement

NH-PE.4.6

Students practice setting personal fitness goals and learn why regular movement matters for their health. The focus is on building habits students can carry into adult life, not just doing well in gym class.

Standard	Definition	Code
Develop a variety of motor skills, including locomotor, non-locomotor	Students practice moving skills like running, jumping, throwing, and catching. Building a solid base of these skills makes it easier to stay active in sports, gym class, and everyday life.	NH-PE.1.6
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. They use that understanding to perform better and keep themselves healthy.	NH-PE.2.6
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…	Students practice working with classmates during physical activities, taking turns, listening, and making choices that keep the activity fair and safe for everyone.	NH-PE.3.6
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement	Students practice setting personal fitness goals and learn why regular movement matters for their health. The focus is on building habits students can carry into adult life, not just doing well in gym class.	NH-PE.4.6

Physical Education

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

NH-PE.1.6

Students practice moving skills like running, jumping, throwing, and catching. Building a solid base of these skills makes it easier to stay active in sports, gym class, and everyday life.
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance

NH-PE.2.6

Students connect what they know about how the body moves and stays fit to make smarter choices during physical activity. They use that understanding to perform better and keep themselves healthy.
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…

NH-PE.3.6

Students practice working with classmates during physical activities, taking turns, listening, and making choices that keep the activity fair and safe for everyone.
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement

NH-PE.4.6

Students practice setting personal fitness goals and learn why regular movement matters for their health. The focus is on building habits students can carry into adult life, not just doing well in gym class.

Standard	Definition	Code
Develop a variety of motor skills, including locomotor, non-locomotor	Students practice moving skills like running, jumping, throwing, and catching. Building a solid base of these skills makes it easier to stay active in sports, gym class, and everyday life.	NH-PE.1.6
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. They use that understanding to perform better and keep themselves healthy.	NH-PE.2.6
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…	Students practice working with classmates during physical activities, taking turns, listening, and making choices that keep the activity fair and safe for everyone.	NH-PE.3.6
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement	Students practice setting personal fitness goals and learn why regular movement matters for their health. The focus is on building habits students can carry into adult life, not just doing well in gym class.	NH-PE.4.6

Common Questions

What does sixth grade PE look like over the year?
Students move from learning single skills to using them in real games and activities. Expect a mix of team sports, fitness work, and individual challenges like jump rope or fitness circuits. Students also start tracking their own activity and setting personal goals.
My child says they are bad at sports. How do I help?
Focus on effort and small wins, not winning. Go for a walk together, toss a ball in the yard, or try a bike ride a few times a week. Sixth graders care a lot about looking foolish in front of peers, so practice at home builds quiet confidence.
How much physical activity should students get outside of school?
Aim for about 60 minutes a day, spread across the week. It does not have to be a sport. Walking the dog, raking leaves, biking to a friend's house, or dancing in the kitchen all count.
How should fitness and skill work be balanced across the year?
Plan units that braid the two together rather than separating them. A basketball unit can include short fitness blocks on agility and endurance, and a fitness unit can borrow movements from sports students already know. This keeps fitness from feeling like punishment.
What social skills should sixth graders be working on in PE?
Cooperating with teammates they did not choose, settling small disputes without a teacher stepping in, and encouraging peers who are still learning a skill. Sixth grade is when cliques get louder, so structured partner and group rotations matter more than they did in fifth grade.
Which areas usually need the most reteaching at this age?
Throwing and catching with accuracy under pressure, pacing during longer runs, and the rules of invasion games like soccer or basketball. Many students also need help reading a heart rate or recognizing when they are working hard versus coasting.
How do I know a student is ready for seventh grade PE?
Students should be able to join an unfamiliar game, follow the rules, and contribute on a team without constant adult prompting. They should also be able to name one or two physical activities they enjoy and explain why those activities are good for their health.
Does my child need special gear or clothes for PE?
Sneakers that tie, clothes they can move in, and a water bottle cover most days. If the school asks for anything specific, like a mouthguard for a hockey unit, it will come home in a note. Long hair is easier with a hair tie in the bag.