Physical Education

Introduction

PE helps kids grow healthy and strong.
Kids learn to work together.
Kids learn to think hard.
Kids try many fun activities.
This helps them stay healthy for life.

Moving our bodies helps us feel good.
It builds confidence.
It builds fitness.
Kids who move a lot are healthier.
They feel sure of themselves.
They learn better.
They miss less school.

Moving helps kids think better too.
This helps them do well later in school.
Kids learn life skills by playing.
They play alone and with friends.

Good PE time fits each child.
Kids try sports, dance, and outdoor play.
Kids also work on fitness.
Everyone should feel happy and do well.
Kids need time to play.
They need big-muscle play.
They need small-muscle play too.

Words to Know

Motor skills means moving your muscles.
There are two kinds.

Gross motor skills use big muscles.
This means walking, kicking, hopping.
It also means galloping, running, sliding.
It means skipping, leaping, and jumping too.
These are the base for all movement.

Fine motor skills use small muscles.
This means using your fingers to pinch.
It means holding small objects.
This helps kids learn to write later.

Locomotor skills move you from place to place.
This means walking, hopping, running.
It means jumping, galloping, leaping, sliding.

Non-locomotor skills don't move you around.
This means balancing on one foot.
It means moving one body part alone.
It means bending, twisting, and turning.

How Adults Can Help

Adults help kids grow strong and skilled.

Adults can teach and show kids how to:

• Run, gallop, throw, and catch
• Hop, kick, dance, and jump
• Climb, pull, carry, and stretch
• Bend, twist, and move one body part

Adults can help kids practice with:

• Big and small blocks
• Clay
• Scissors or tongs
• Beads on a string
• Pegs and holes
• Puzzles
• A computer mouse
• Pencils, crayons, and markers
• Paint, stamps, and clay

Adults should play along with kids.
Adults should teach safety rules.
Adults should show safety rules too.
Adults should let kids have free play.
Adults should also plan some games.

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For 3-Year-Olds

Strand 1: Moving Our Bodies

We use big muscles and small muscles.
Big muscles help us walk, kick, and hop.
Big muscles help us gallop and run.
Big muscles help us slide, skip, leap, and jump.

Small muscles are in our hands and wrists.
Small muscles help us learn to write.

Gross Motor Skills

Fun Ideas:

• Make an obstacle course to practice moving
• Line up and name an animal
• Show how that animal moves
• Other kids copy the movement
• Use balls to catch, throw, and kick
• Use toys and tools for big-muscle play

What Kids Should Learn:

Moving from place to place:
Kids should walk in a straight line.
Kids should hop and run.
Kids should stop and change direction.
Kids should jump over low things.

Try these ideas:

• Play games where kids move around
• Use colored cones
• Show kids how to move to each cone

Moving in one spot:
Kids should balance on one foot.
Kids should move body parts alone.

Try these ideas:

• Play copy games in groups
• Practice standing on one foot
• Practice bending at the waist
• Practice stretching up on tiptoes

Using big muscles with objects:
Kids should throw and catch a ball.
Kids should hit a ball with a club.
Kids should ride toys with wheels.

Try these ideas:

• Use music with scarves or streamers
• Use hoops as targets on the ground
• Practice riding toys with wheels safely

Fine Motor Skills

Fun Ideas:

• Give kids beads to string
• Give kids blocks to stack
• Give kids puzzles to solve
• Let kids put on their own clothes
• Give kids paint, crayons, and markers
• Let kids cross the middle of their body
• This means using both hands together

What Kids Should Learn:

Using small objects:
Kids should use puzzle pieces.
Kids should use small blocks.
Kids should use tongs.

Try these ideas:

• Give many kinds of blocks
• Practice zipping backpacks or jackets
• Practice snipping paper with scissors
• Practice cutting playdough

Making marks with tools:
Kids should make lines and circles.
Kids should scribble with tools.
This means chalk, crayons, paint, or markers.

Try these ideas:

• Let kids write in sand or shaving cream
• Let kids finger paint
• Give tools for pouring or digging
• Give tongs to pick up small objects
• This makes hands strong

Strand 2: Moving Well and Safely

Kids learn to control their body.
Kids learn about personal space.

What Kids Should Learn:

Kids should know they have their own space.

Try these ideas:

• Use hula hoops to show personal space
• Have kids stretch arms out for space
• Talk about how our moves affect others
• Use music to practice keeping space

Strand 3: Moving to Feel Good

Kids learn that moving feels good.
Kids think about how exercise helps them.

What Kids Should Learn:

Kids should notice how exercise feels.
This means faster breathing.
This means a faster heartbeat.
Exercise helps our muscles and body.

Try these ideas:

• Let kids play hard and move a lot
• Talk about how their heart feels before and after
• Plan time each day just for moving
• Talk about why moving is important
• Share books about being active
• Give tools so kids can exercise

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For 4-Year-Olds

Strand 1: Moving Our Bodies

We use big muscles and small muscles.
Big muscles help us walk, kick, and hop.
Big muscles help us gallop and run.
Big muscles help us slide, skip, leap, and jump.

Small muscles are in our hands and wrists.
Small muscles help us learn to write.

Gross Motor Skills

Fun Ideas:

• Make an obstacle course to practice moving
• Take turns naming an animal
• Show how that animal moves
• Other kids copy the movement
• Use balls to catch, throw, and kick
• Use tools for big-muscle play

What Kids Should Learn:

Moving from place to place:
Kids should walk in a straight line.
Kids should hop and run.
Kids should stop and change direction.
Kids should jump over low things.

Try these ideas:

• Play games where kids move around
• Use colored cones to mark paths
• Kids use different moves between colors
• Make an obstacle course
• Play copy games in groups
• Play simple relay races
• Kids take turns using different moves

Moving in one spot:
Kids should balance on one foot.
Kids should move body parts alone.

Try these ideas:

• Practice standing on one foot
• Practice bending at the waist
• Practice stretching up on tiptoes
• Play copy games in groups

Using big muscles with objects:
Kids should throw and catch a ball.
Kids should hit a ball with a club.
Kids should ride toys with wheels.

Try these ideas:

• Use music with scarves or streamers
• Use balls to catch, throw, and kick
• Use hoops as targets on the ground
• Practice riding toys with wheels

Fine Motor Skills

Fun Ideas:

• More activities help kids grow strong hands.