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

Students should run, skip, hop, and gallop without tripping over their own feet. They should be able to toss and catch a soft ball, kick a rolling ball, and balance on one foot for a few seconds. They should also play simple group games and take turns without melting down.

How can families practice movement skills at home?

Play catch with a soft ball in the yard or hallway. Set up small obstacle courses with pillows to hop over and chairs to crawl under. Ten minutes of skipping, jumping, or playing tag counts and builds the same skills used in class.

Does PE at this age involve real sports like soccer or basketball?

Not really. The focus is on the building blocks: running, jumping, throwing, catching, kicking, and balancing. Students play simple games that use these skills, but full sports with positions and rules come later.

How should the year be sequenced across the four big areas?

Start with locomotor skills like running and skipping in the fall, then move into throwing, catching, and kicking through winter. Build in cooperation games and fitness concepts steadily across the year. Save partner and small-group challenges for later units once basic skills are solid.

What usually needs the most reteaching at this grade?

Skipping, galloping, and catching are the skills that trip students up most often. Throwing with the opposite foot forward also takes repeated practice. Build short skill stations into warm-ups so students get many short reps instead of one long lesson.

My child says they are bad at PE. How can I help?

Skills at this age vary a lot, and confidence matters more than coordination right now. Practice one skill at a time at home, like tossing a rolled-up sock into a laundry basket. Celebrate effort and small wins rather than comparing to siblings or classmates.

How are social skills taught in PE?

Through partner games, sharing equipment, and taking turns. Students practice cheering for classmates, following game rules, and handling small disagreements about whose turn it is. These habits get reinforced every class, not taught as a separate lesson.

How do I know a student is ready for next year's PE?

They can perform basic locomotor skills smoothly, toss and catch a ball at short distances, and follow directions in a group game. They can also name one or two reasons exercise is good for the body and choose to join in active play.

What does a student learn in ?

This is the year movement gets more deliberate. Students practice running, skipping, and hopping with better control, and they start throwing, catching, and kicking with real aim. They learn to take turns, follow simple rules, and notice how their bodies feel after activity. By spring, students can join a group game, follow directions, and play fairly with classmates.

Running and skipping
Throwing and catching
Kicking
Following rules
Taking turns
Active play

Source: Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Core 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 safely together
Students learn how to move around the gym without bumping into classmates. They practice listening for signals, taking turns, and following directions during games.
2
Running, hopping, and skipping
Students practice the basic ways the body moves. They run, hop, skip, jump, and gallop, and start to notice which moves feel strong and which need more practice.
3
Throwing, catching, and kicking
Students work with balls, beanbags, and other equipment. They practice tossing to a target, catching with two hands, and kicking a ball where they want it to go.
4
Playing fair with classmates
Students learn how to share space and equipment during partner and small group games. They practice taking turns, encouraging others, and handling wins and losses with respect.
5
Staying active and healthy
Students notice how their body feels after moving, like a faster heartbeat and warmer skin. They talk about why being active matters and pick activities they enjoy outside of class.

Mastery Learning Standards

The required skills a student should display by the end of Grade 1.

Physical Education

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

PA-PE.1.1

Students practice moving their bodies in different ways: running, jumping, balancing, throwing, and catching. Building these basic skills early helps kids stay active as they grow.
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance

PA-PE.2.1

Students learn basic ideas about how the body moves and stays healthy, then put those ideas to work during physical activities like running, jumping, and playing games.
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…

PA-PE.3.1

Students practice getting along while moving. They take turns, listen to classmates, and follow group rules during games and activities.
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement

PA-PE.4.1

Students practice basic movement skills and start to recognize how staying active makes them feel better. They begin making simple choices to keep moving, building habits that can last a lifetime.

Standard	Definition	Code
Develop a variety of motor skills, including locomotor, non-locomotor	Students practice moving their bodies in different ways: running, jumping, balancing, throwing, and catching. Building these basic skills early helps kids stay active as they grow.	PA-PE.1.1
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance	Students learn basic ideas about how the body moves and stays healthy, then put those ideas to work during physical activities like running, jumping, and playing games.	PA-PE.2.1
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…	Students practice getting along while moving. They take turns, listen to classmates, and follow group rules during games and activities.	PA-PE.3.1
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement	Students practice basic movement skills and start to recognize how staying active makes them feel better. They begin making simple choices to keep moving, building habits that can last a lifetime.	PA-PE.4.1

Physical Education

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

PA-PE.1.1

Students practice moving their bodies in different ways: running, jumping, balancing, throwing, and catching. Building these basic skills early helps kids stay active as they grow.
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance

PA-PE.2.1

Students learn basic ideas about how the body moves and stays healthy, then put those ideas to work during physical activities like running, jumping, and playing games.
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…

PA-PE.3.1

Students practice getting along while moving. They take turns, listen to classmates, and follow group rules during games and activities.
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement

PA-PE.4.1

Students practice basic movement skills and start to recognize how staying active makes them feel better. They begin making simple choices to keep moving, building habits that can last a lifetime.

Standard	Definition	Code
Develop a variety of motor skills, including locomotor, non-locomotor	Students practice moving their bodies in different ways: running, jumping, balancing, throwing, and catching. Building these basic skills early helps kids stay active as they grow.	PA-PE.1.1
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance	Students learn basic ideas about how the body moves and stays healthy, then put those ideas to work during physical activities like running, jumping, and playing games.	PA-PE.2.1
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…	Students practice getting along while moving. They take turns, listen to classmates, and follow group rules during games and activities.	PA-PE.3.1
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement	Students practice basic movement skills and start to recognize how staying active makes them feel better. They begin making simple choices to keep moving, building habits that can last a lifetime.	PA-PE.4.1

Common Questions

What should students be able to do in PE by the end of the year?
Students should run, skip, hop, and gallop without tripping over their own feet. They should be able to toss and catch a soft ball, kick a rolling ball, and balance on one foot for a few seconds. They should also play simple group games and take turns without melting down.
How can families practice movement skills at home?
Play catch with a soft ball in the yard or hallway. Set up small obstacle courses with pillows to hop over and chairs to crawl under. Ten minutes of skipping, jumping, or playing tag counts and builds the same skills used in class.
Does PE at this age involve real sports like soccer or basketball?
Not really. The focus is on the building blocks: running, jumping, throwing, catching, kicking, and balancing. Students play simple games that use these skills, but full sports with positions and rules come later.
How should the year be sequenced across the four big areas?
Start with locomotor skills like running and skipping in the fall, then move into throwing, catching, and kicking through winter. Build in cooperation games and fitness concepts steadily across the year. Save partner and small-group challenges for later units once basic skills are solid.
What usually needs the most reteaching at this grade?
Skipping, galloping, and catching are the skills that trip students up most often. Throwing with the opposite foot forward also takes repeated practice. Build short skill stations into warm-ups so students get many short reps instead of one long lesson.
My child says they are bad at PE. How can I help?
Skills at this age vary a lot, and confidence matters more than coordination right now. Practice one skill at a time at home, like tossing a rolled-up sock into a laundry basket. Celebrate effort and small wins rather than comparing to siblings or classmates.
How are social skills taught in PE?
Through partner games, sharing equipment, and taking turns. Students practice cheering for classmates, following game rules, and handling small disagreements about whose turn it is. These habits get reinforced every class, not taught as a separate lesson.
How do I know a student is ready for next year's PE?
They can perform basic locomotor skills smoothly, toss and catch a ball at short distances, and follow directions in a group game. They can also name one or two reasons exercise is good for the body and choose to join in active play.