What does PE look like at this grade?

Students practice running, skipping, jumping, throwing, catching, kicking, and striking with more control than last year. They start using these skills in small games and group activities. The focus shifts from learning each skill on its own to using several skills together while playing.

How can families support physical activity at home?

Aim for 60 minutes of active play most days. Backyard catch, bike rides, dance, family walks, and shooting hoops at the park all count. Let students pick the activity sometimes so they build the habit of choosing to move.

How should the year be sequenced?

Start the fall with locomotor and non-locomotor skill refreshers, then build into throwing, catching, and striking units. Winter is a good window for fitness concepts and cooperative games indoors. Spring works well for applying skills in small-sided games and net or invasion activities.

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

Students throw and catch with a partner at a steady distance, dribble with hands and feet while moving, and strike a ball with a paddle or bat. They can explain why warm-ups matter and name a few ways to raise their heart rate. They cooperate in small groups without constant adult prompting.

What if a child says they are bad at sports?

Skill grows with reps, not talent. Find one activity students enjoy, whether that is biking, swimming, dancing, or hiking, and build from there. Praise effort and small improvements rather than winning or comparing students to siblings or classmates.

Which skills usually need the most reteaching?

Overhand throwing form, catching with hands away from the body, and striking with a swing rather than a push tend to slip. Teamwork skills like passing to someone who is open, taking turns, and resolving disagreements during games also need repeated practice across units.

How is fitness taught at this age?

Students learn the basic ideas of heart rate, muscle strength, flexibility, and endurance, and try activities that build each one. The goal is understanding why these matter, not hitting fitness test numbers. Short fitness warm-ups at the start of class work well.

How do students show readiness for fifth grade PE?

They use throwing, catching, dribbling, and striking skills inside actual games rather than just drills. They follow rules, accept calls from peers, and recover from losing a point. They can also name one or two activities they would choose for fitness outside of school.

What does a student learn in ?

This is the year movement skills start working together in real games and activities. Students combine running, jumping, throwing, and catching with more control, and they begin to see how exercise connects to a healthy heart and body. They also practice cooperating with teammates and handling wins and losses without drama. By spring, students can join a group activity, follow the rules, and explain one way staying active helps them.

Movement skills
Teamwork
Fitness basics
Healthy habits
Sportsmanship

Source: Ohio Ohio's Learning 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
Moving with control
Students sharpen the basics of running, skipping, jumping, and balancing. The focus is steadier footwork and better body control during warm-ups, tag games, and fitness stations.
2
Throwing, catching, and kicking
Students practice sending and receiving a ball with hands, feet, and small equipment. Parents may notice steadier throws, softer catches, and more accuracy when aiming at a target.
3
Fitness and healthy habits
Students learn how the heart, lungs, and muscles respond to activity. They track effort during runs and exercises and start to explain why warm-ups, water, and rest matter.
4
Teamwork in small games
Students use their skills inside short games with rules. The work shifts to playing fair, sharing space, encouraging teammates, and handling wins and losses without drama.
5
Choosing to stay active
Students try a wider mix of activities and pick ones they enjoy outside of school. They set a small personal goal and notice how regular movement makes them feel.

Mastery Learning Standards

The required skills a student should display by the end of Grade 4.

Physical Education

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

OH-PE.1.4

Students practice moving their bodies in different ways, such as jumping, balancing, and throwing or catching a ball. Building these skills gives students more ways to stay active now and as they grow.
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance

OH-PE.2.4

Students use what they know about how their bodies move and stay healthy to make better choices during activities and exercise.
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…

OH-PE.3.4

Students practice working with classmates during physical activities: taking turns, listening, and handling disagreements without giving up on the group.
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement

OH-PE.4.4

Students practice setting goals around movement and start recognizing how regular activity makes them feel better, sleep better, and stay healthier over time.

Standard	Definition	Code
Develop a variety of motor skills, including locomotor, non-locomotor	Students practice moving their bodies in different ways, such as jumping, balancing, and throwing or catching a ball. Building these skills gives students more ways to stay active now and as they grow.	OH-PE.1.4
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance	Students use what they know about how their bodies move and stay healthy to make better choices during activities and exercise.	OH-PE.2.4
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…	Students practice working with classmates during physical activities: taking turns, listening, and handling disagreements without giving up on the group.	OH-PE.3.4
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement	Students practice setting goals around movement and start recognizing how regular activity makes them feel better, sleep better, and stay healthier over time.	OH-PE.4.4

Physical Education

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

OH-PE.1.4

Students practice moving their bodies in different ways, such as jumping, balancing, and throwing or catching a ball. Building these skills gives students more ways to stay active now and as they grow.
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance

OH-PE.2.4

Students use what they know about how their bodies move and stay healthy to make better choices during activities and exercise.
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…

OH-PE.3.4

Students practice working with classmates during physical activities: taking turns, listening, and handling disagreements without giving up on the group.
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement

OH-PE.4.4

Students practice setting goals around movement and start recognizing how regular activity makes them feel better, sleep better, and stay healthier over time.

Standard	Definition	Code
Develop a variety of motor skills, including locomotor, non-locomotor	Students practice moving their bodies in different ways, such as jumping, balancing, and throwing or catching a ball. Building these skills gives students more ways to stay active now and as they grow.	OH-PE.1.4
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance	Students use what they know about how their bodies move and stay healthy to make better choices during activities and exercise.	OH-PE.2.4
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…	Students practice working with classmates during physical activities: taking turns, listening, and handling disagreements without giving up on the group.	OH-PE.3.4
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement	Students practice setting goals around movement and start recognizing how regular activity makes them feel better, sleep better, and stay healthier over time.	OH-PE.4.4

Common Questions

What does PE look like at this grade?
Students practice running, skipping, jumping, throwing, catching, kicking, and striking with more control than last year. They start using these skills in small games and group activities. The focus shifts from learning each skill on its own to using several skills together while playing.
How can families support physical activity at home?
Aim for 60 minutes of active play most days. Backyard catch, bike rides, dance, family walks, and shooting hoops at the park all count. Let students pick the activity sometimes so they build the habit of choosing to move.
How should the year be sequenced?
Start the fall with locomotor and non-locomotor skill refreshers, then build into throwing, catching, and striking units. Winter is a good window for fitness concepts and cooperative games indoors. Spring works well for applying skills in small-sided games and net or invasion activities.
What does mastery look like by the end of the year?
Students throw and catch with a partner at a steady distance, dribble with hands and feet while moving, and strike a ball with a paddle or bat. They can explain why warm-ups matter and name a few ways to raise their heart rate. They cooperate in small groups without constant adult prompting.
What if a child says they are bad at sports?
Skill grows with reps, not talent. Find one activity students enjoy, whether that is biking, swimming, dancing, or hiking, and build from there. Praise effort and small improvements rather than winning or comparing students to siblings or classmates.
Which skills usually need the most reteaching?
Overhand throwing form, catching with hands away from the body, and striking with a swing rather than a push tend to slip. Teamwork skills like passing to someone who is open, taking turns, and resolving disagreements during games also need repeated practice across units.
How is fitness taught at this age?
Students learn the basic ideas of heart rate, muscle strength, flexibility, and endurance, and try activities that build each one. The goal is understanding why these matter, not hitting fitness test numbers. Short fitness warm-ups at the start of class work well.
How do students show readiness for fifth grade PE?
They use throwing, catching, dribbling, and striking skills inside actual games rather than just drills. They follow rules, accept calls from peers, and recover from losing a point. They can also name one or two activities they would choose for fitness outside of school.