What does physical education look like this year?

Students build on running, jumping, skipping, throwing, catching, kicking, and balancing. They start combining those moves into games and routines, learn basic rules of fair play, and begin to notice how their body feels during activity.

How can I help my child stay active at home?

Aim for about 60 minutes of active play a day, broken into short bursts. Play catch in the yard, ride bikes, dance in the kitchen, or walk to the park. The activity matters more than the sport.

My child says they are bad at sports. What should I do?

Skills at this age are still developing, so keep it low pressure. Practice one skill at a time, such as catching a soft ball from a few feet away, then back up as it gets easier. Praise effort and steady practice, not winning.

How should I sequence skills across the year?

Start with locomotor moves like running, skipping, and galloping, then layer in non-locomotor moves such as bending, twisting, and balancing. Bring in throwing, catching, kicking, and striking by midyear, then combine skills into small-sided games in the spring.

Which skills usually need the most reteaching?

Catching with hands only, striking a moving object, and skipping with opposite arm and leg tend to lag. Plan short warm-ups that revisit these every few weeks rather than teaching them once and moving on.

How do I handle students with very different skill levels?

Use stations with the same skill at two or three difficulty levels, such as catching a beach ball, a foam ball, or a tennis ball. Let students pick their starting point and move up when ready. This keeps everyone working without singling anyone out.

What does cooperation look like in PE this year?

Students take turns, share equipment, follow game rules, and encourage classmates. They practice settling small disagreements without an adult stepping in every time. These habits carry into recess and group work in the classroom.

How do I know my child is ready for fourth grade PE?

By spring, students should jog without stopping for several minutes, throw and catch with a partner, jump rope a few times in a row, and follow the rules of a simple game. They should also name one or two activities they enjoy and want to keep doing.

What does a student learn in ?

This is the year movement gets more deliberate. Students sharpen running, jumping, throwing, and catching, and start noticing how their body feels during exercise. They learn to share space, take turns, and play fairly with classmates in games. By spring, students can join a group activity, follow the rules, and explain why staying active keeps them healthy.

Movement skills
Throwing and catching
Fitness habits
Teamwork
Fair play
Healthy choices

Source: Texas Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills

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. Movements get smoother and more controlled, so students can keep up in games without bumping into classmates or losing their footing.
2
Throwing, catching, and kicking
Students practice handling balls and other equipment with more accuracy. Parents may notice better aim when tossing a ball in the yard and steadier catches with two hands.
3
Fitness and healthy habits
Students learn why their heart beats faster during activity and how exercise keeps the body strong. They start to recognize warm-ups, stretching, and the difference between hard work and rest.
4
Teamwork and fair play
Students play group games that call for taking turns, following rules, and cheering on classmates. They practice handling wins, losses, and disagreements without losing their cool.
5
Active choices for life
Students try a wider mix of activities and notice which ones they enjoy. The goal is for each student to find a few ways to stay active outside of school, from biking to dancing to playing tag.

Mastery Learning Standards

The required skills a student should display by the end of Grade 3.

Physical Education

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

TX-PE.1.3

Students practice movements like running, jumping, throwing, and balancing. Building these skills gives students the physical foundation to stay active in sports, games, and everyday life.
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance

TX-PE.2.3

Students use what they know about how their body moves and stays healthy to make better choices during physical activity, like pacing themselves when running or adjusting how they throw a ball.
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…

TX-PE.3.3

Students practice working with others during games and movement activities. They take turns, follow group rules, and treat classmates with respect.
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement

TX-PE.4.3

Students practice physical skills like jumping or throwing, recognize how moving regularly makes them feel better, and start choosing to stay active on their own.

Standard	Definition	Code
Develop a variety of motor skills, including locomotor, non-locomotor	Students practice movements like running, jumping, throwing, and balancing. Building these skills gives students the physical foundation to stay active in sports, games, and everyday life.	TX-PE.1.3
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance	Students use what they know about how their body moves and stays healthy to make better choices during physical activity, like pacing themselves when running or adjusting how they throw a ball.	TX-PE.2.3
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…	Students practice working with others during games and movement activities. They take turns, follow group rules, and treat classmates with respect.	TX-PE.3.3
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement	Students practice physical skills like jumping or throwing, recognize how moving regularly makes them feel better, and start choosing to stay active on their own.	TX-PE.4.3

Physical Education

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

TX-PE.1.3

Students practice movements like running, jumping, throwing, and balancing. Building these skills gives students the physical foundation to stay active in sports, games, and everyday life.
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance

TX-PE.2.3

Students use what they know about how their body moves and stays healthy to make better choices during physical activity, like pacing themselves when running or adjusting how they throw a ball.
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…

TX-PE.3.3

Students practice working with others during games and movement activities. They take turns, follow group rules, and treat classmates with respect.
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement

TX-PE.4.3

Students practice physical skills like jumping or throwing, recognize how moving regularly makes them feel better, and start choosing to stay active on their own.

Standard	Definition	Code
Develop a variety of motor skills, including locomotor, non-locomotor	Students practice movements like running, jumping, throwing, and balancing. Building these skills gives students the physical foundation to stay active in sports, games, and everyday life.	TX-PE.1.3
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance	Students use what they know about how their body moves and stays healthy to make better choices during physical activity, like pacing themselves when running or adjusting how they throw a ball.	TX-PE.2.3
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…	Students practice working with others during games and movement activities. They take turns, follow group rules, and treat classmates with respect.	TX-PE.3.3
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement	Students practice physical skills like jumping or throwing, recognize how moving regularly makes them feel better, and start choosing to stay active on their own.	TX-PE.4.3

Common Questions

What does physical education look like this year?
Students build on running, jumping, skipping, throwing, catching, kicking, and balancing. They start combining those moves into games and routines, learn basic rules of fair play, and begin to notice how their body feels during activity.
How can I help my child stay active at home?
Aim for about 60 minutes of active play a day, broken into short bursts. Play catch in the yard, ride bikes, dance in the kitchen, or walk to the park. The activity matters more than the sport.
My child says they are bad at sports. What should I do?
Skills at this age are still developing, so keep it low pressure. Practice one skill at a time, such as catching a soft ball from a few feet away, then back up as it gets easier. Praise effort and steady practice, not winning.
How should I sequence skills across the year?
Start with locomotor moves like running, skipping, and galloping, then layer in non-locomotor moves such as bending, twisting, and balancing. Bring in throwing, catching, kicking, and striking by midyear, then combine skills into small-sided games in the spring.
Which skills usually need the most reteaching?
Catching with hands only, striking a moving object, and skipping with opposite arm and leg tend to lag. Plan short warm-ups that revisit these every few weeks rather than teaching them once and moving on.
How do I handle students with very different skill levels?
Use stations with the same skill at two or three difficulty levels, such as catching a beach ball, a foam ball, or a tennis ball. Let students pick their starting point and move up when ready. This keeps everyone working without singling anyone out.
What does cooperation look like in PE this year?
Students take turns, share equipment, follow game rules, and encourage classmates. They practice settling small disagreements without an adult stepping in every time. These habits carry into recess and group work in the classroom.
How do I know my child is ready for fourth grade PE?
By spring, students should jog without stopping for several minutes, throw and catch with a partner, jump rope a few times in a row, and follow the rules of a simple game. They should also name one or two activities they enjoy and want to keep doing.