Movement skills and games
Students sharpen the basic moves behind sports and dance, like throwing, catching, dribbling, jumping, and balancing. Parents may hear about practicing footwork or trying new game-like activities in class.
What does a student learn in
This is the year P.E. shifts from playing games to training like an athlete. Students learn the why behind warm-ups, heart rate, and practice, and they start building their own fitness plans around strength, endurance, and flexibility. They also work on teamwork, fair play, and handling pressure during competition. By spring, students can track their own fitness progress and explain how a workout improves it.
- Fitness planning
- Team sports
- Movement skills
- Heart rate
- Teamwork and sportsmanship
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
- 2
How the body moves
Students learn the thinking behind the moves: where to stand, how to read an opponent, and how small changes in form make a big difference. Class starts to feel a bit like a coaching session.
- 3
Building personal fitness
Students check their own fitness in areas like running, strength, and stretching, then set goals to improve over time. Parents may see students tracking workouts or talking about a personal best.
- 4
Healthy habits for life
Students learn what makes a workout work: warm-ups, heart rate, rest, and how exercise affects the body long term. The goal is for students to build routines they can actually keep up at home.
- 5
Teamwork and confidence
Students practice working with others, handling pressure, and sticking with hard things. Parents may notice more talk about sportsmanship, effort, and how it feels to keep trying after a rough day.
Mastery Learning Standards
The required skills a student should display by the end of Grade 7.
Physical Education
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Moving your body through different activities | Students practice the basic moves behind different physical activities, like throwing, balancing, or changing direction. Getting these movement patterns right makes it easier to join in and keep up across sports and exercise. | CA-PE.1.7 |
| Movement strategies for better athletic performance | Students explain how to improve a skill, like adjusting their stance in basketball or pacing themselves in a race. They apply those ideas when practicing and playing. | CA-PE.2.7 |
| Tracking fitness to stay healthy and perform better | Students track their own fitness level, such as how fast they run or how many push-ups they can do, then use that information to set goals and stay active enough to feel and perform better. | CA-PE.3.7 |
| How fitness training improves your health | Students learn how the body responds to exercise and use that knowledge to plan workouts that build strength, endurance, or flexibility. The focus is on understanding why certain training choices work, not just following a routine. | CA-PE.4.7 |
| How mindset shapes athletic performance | Students learn how mindset, stress, and teamwork affect how well they move and perform. They use that understanding to push through challenges and work better with others in physical activity. | CA-PE.5.7 |
Assessments
The state tests students at this grade and subject take.
Physical Fitness Test (PFT)
California's fitness assessment for grades 5, 7, and 9. Administration was paused in spring 2022 while the program is redesigned to drop body-composition components; districts continue to receive guidance but do not currently submit student-level results.
- When given:
- Historically February-May (currently paused)
- Frequency:
- Annual at grades 5, 7, and 9 (currently paused)
Common Questions
What does physical education look like this year?
Students move beyond basic skills and start using them in real games and activities. They learn how to warm up, build fitness, and work with teammates. They also start tracking their own fitness and setting goals to improve.
How can families support fitness at home?
Aim for about 60 minutes of activity most days. A walk after dinner, a bike ride on the weekend, or shooting hoops in the driveway all count. Let students pick activities they enjoy so the habit sticks.
Does my child need to be good at sports to do well?
No. The focus is on effort, improvement, and understanding how the body moves. A student who tries hard, follows directions, and tracks personal fitness goals can do very well even without strong sports experience.
How should the year be sequenced across units?
Most teachers open with fitness testing and goal setting, then rotate through invasion games, net games, target activities, and individual fitness. Revisit fitness checkpoints two or three times so students can see growth and adjust their goals.
What usually needs the most reteaching?
Pacing during running, proper form on strength work, and applying strategy during game play. Many students also need repeated practice setting realistic fitness goals and reading their own heart rate.
How can families help if a child feels self-conscious in PE?
Talk about effort instead of skill. Practice a few basics together at a park so the activity feels familiar. Ask the teacher about modifications if a specific unit feels overwhelming.
What does mastery look like by the end of the year?
Students can perform skills in real game situations, explain why a strategy works, and describe how exercise affects the heart and muscles. They can also design a simple personal fitness plan and stick with it for a few weeks.
How do grades work when ability levels vary so much?
Most grades come from participation, personal fitness growth, written work on concepts, and skill checks against a rubric. Compare students to their own starting point rather than to classmates so effort and progress are rewarded.