K-2 Physical Education

Physical education is a school-based instructional opportunity that provides students with a planned, sequential, K-12 standards-based program of curricula designed to develop motor skills, knowledge and behaviors for active living, physical fitness, sportsmanship, self-efficacy and emotional intelligence. The outcome of a quality physical education program is a physically literate individual who has the knowledge, skills, and confidence to enjoy a lifetime of healthy physical activity.  

“Physical literacy is the ability to move with competence and confidence in a wide variety of physical activities in multiple environments that benefit the healthy development of the whole person.” – SHAPE America

Grade Level(s): K-2

Related Priority Standards (State &/or National): 

• Missouri Physical Education Grade Level Expectations (GLEs)
• National Standards for K-12 Physical Education

K-5 physical education curricula are built around the five standards for K-12 physical education, common essential questions, and a shared enduring understanding.

• Standard 1: The physically literate individual demonstrates competency in a variety of motor skills and movement patterns.
• Standard 2: The physically literate individual applies knowledge of concepts, principles, strategies and tactics related to movement and performance.
• Standard 3: The physically literate individual demonstrates the knowledge and skills to achieve and maintain a health-enhancing level of physical activity and fitness.
• Standard 4: The physically literate individual exhibits responsible personal and social behavior that respects self and others.
• Standard 5: The physically literate individual recognizes the value of physical activity for health, enjoyment, challenge, self-expression and/or social interaction.

Essential Questions

• What concepts, principles, strategies, and tactics are related to movement and performance?
• How can I achieve and maintain health-enhancing levels of physical activity and fitness?
• How can I demonstrate responsible personal and social behavior that respects self and others?
• What is the value of physical activity?

Enduring Understanding/Big Idea

The ability, confidence, and desire to be physically active throughout life is essential to the healthy development of the whole person.

Course-Level Scope & Sequence (Units &/or Skills)

Unit 1 - Safety

• Safety concepts are introduced at the beginning of each year, with instruction spiraled over the course of units, as appropriate.  Topics include effective use of recess and PE equipment, spatial awareness, injury prevention (warm ups/cool down),  school safety drills, and special events such as bike rodeo, fishing, and other field trips.

Unit 2 - Movement Concepts 1: Locomotor & Non-locomotor

• Locomotor concepts include self-space, pathways and levels.
• Non-locomotor concepts include stretching, transfer of weight on different bases, and rolling

Unit 3 - Movement Concepts 2: Gymnastics, Tumbling, Rhythm, and Dance

• Jumping skills include star, tuck, pike, turns, and straddle.
• Landing skills include single/double support and landing concepts (i.e. bent knees, arms for balance, land soft).
• Balance/stability skills include those with and without an apparatus (i.e. single/double support, front, right, left, back, double-knee balance, v-sit).
• Weight transfer skills include rolls, inversions, bridge, and back bend.
• Rhythm, dance, and movement may include the use of lummi sticks, tinikling, jump rope, ribbon wands, cardio drumming, and clapping patterns.

Unit 4 - Fitness & Fitness Testing

• Fitness concepts include the importance of warm up and cool down, heart rate and breathing, use of fitness stations, and goal-setting/progress monitoring around FitnessGram assessments.

Unit 5 - Skill Development

• Manipulative skill development in K-2 focuses on students' use of hands and feet.
  • Use of hands includes throwing (overhand, underhand, passing), catching, dribbling, volleying, and striking (short and long implement).
  • Use of feet includes dribbling, kicking/passing, and receiving
  • Jump rope skills include foundational skills of short and long rope, building stamina, and jumping for fitness.

Unit 6 - Lifetime Activities

• Lifetime activies to be developed across K-5 include swimming, fishing, archery, biking, orienteering, ropes course, roller skating, rock climbing, bowling, yard games (ie. bean bag toss, washers, ladder golf, SpikeBall, Can Jam), golf, disc golf, tennis/racquet sports, and mindfulness/stretching.

Course Resources & Materials: A range of PE equipment is available to students and teachers at each elementary school.  Teachers may also use YouTube videos and/or apps to support teaching of skills and videos (i.e. GoNoodle) to promote physical activity.

Date Last Revised/Approved: 2019