Moving and warming up
Students get back into the habit of running, jumping, skipping, and stretching safely. They learn the routines of class, like spacing out from classmates and listening for signals to start and stop.
What does a student learn in
This is the year movement starts to look like real games and routines. Students mix running, jumping, throwing, and catching into smoother patterns, and they begin to notice how their bodies warm up, breathe harder, and recover. Working with classmates means taking turns, following rules, and handling wins and losses with grace. By spring, students can play a simple team game, explain one fitness habit they enjoy, and stick with it.
- Motor skills
- Throwing and catching
- Fitness habits
- Teamwork
- Following rules
- Healthy choices
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
Throwing, catching, and kicking
Students practice the basics of handling a ball. They work on throwing to a target, catching with two hands, and kicking with control, building the skills that show up in most playground games.
- 3
Games, teamwork, and fair play
Students play small group games that need cooperation and quick decisions. They practice taking turns, encouraging teammates, and handling wins and losses without drama.
- 4
Fitness and healthy habits
Students learn what their body does during exercise, like why their heart beats faster and why they breathe harder. They try activities that build strength, stamina, and flexibility, and talk about why moving every day matters.
- 5
Choosing to stay active
Students set small personal goals and pick activities they enjoy outside of class. They reflect on what feels good about moving and how to keep it going at home and on weekends.
Mastery Learning Standards
The required skills a student should display by the end of Grade 3.
Physical Education
Physical Education
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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 skills gives students more ways to play, stay active, and join in games as they grow.
-
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance
Students use what they know about how the body moves and stays healthy to take part in activities with more skill and purpose.
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Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…
Students practice getting along while they move. In games and group activities, they take turns, listen to teammates, and make choices that are fair to everyone around them.
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Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement
Students practice skills like balancing, throwing, or jumping, then explain why moving regularly makes them feel better. The goal is building habits they'll want to keep, not just activities they do for a grade.
| 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 skills gives students more ways to play, stay active, and join in games as they grow. | OH-PE.1.3 |
| Apply knowledge related to movement, performance | Students use what they know about how the body moves and stays healthy to take part in activities with more skill and purpose. | OH-PE.2.3 |
| Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others… | Students practice getting along while they move. In games and group activities, they take turns, listen to teammates, and make choices that are fair to everyone around them. | OH-PE.3.3 |
| Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement | Students practice skills like balancing, throwing, or jumping, then explain why moving regularly makes them feel better. The goal is building habits they'll want to keep, not just activities they do for a grade. | OH-PE.4.3 |
Common Questions
What does third grade physical education actually cover?
Students keep working on running, skipping, jumping, throwing, catching, and kicking, but with more control and accuracy. They also start connecting movement to fitness ideas like getting your heart rate up, and they practice working with partners and small groups.
How can families support physical activity at home?
Aim for 60 minutes of active play most days. Catch with a tennis ball in the yard, ride bikes, jump rope, or set up a quick obstacle course. The goal is varied movement, not athletic training.
Does a child need to be good at sports to do well in PE?
No. PE at this age is about building a wide base of skills and a habit of moving, not picking out athletes. Effort, willingness to try new movements, and working well with classmates matter more than scoring goals.
How should skills be sequenced across the year?
Start with locomotor skills and basic body control, then layer in manipulative skills like throwing, catching, dribbling, and striking. Save more complex combinations and small-sided games for later in the year, once students can manage equipment and space safely.
What does mastery look like by the end of third grade?
Students can run, skip, gallop, and hop with smooth form, throw and catch with a partner at a short distance, and dribble a ball with hands or feet under control. They can also follow rules, share equipment, and stay on task in a group activity.
How can a parent help a child who feels behind in PE?
Pick one skill at a time and practice for five or ten minutes. Tossing a ball against a wall builds catching. A jump rope or sidewalk chalk hopscotch builds coordination. Short, low-pressure practice beats long sessions.
How do social skills fit into PE at this grade?
A big part of third grade PE is taking turns, following directions quickly, encouraging classmates, and handling losing a point or a game without melting down. Building routines for partner work and group cool-downs pays off all year.
How will a child know they are ready for fourth grade PE?
Students should be able to handle a ball with hands and feet, jump rope for a stretch of time, and join a group game without needing constant reminders about rules or safety. Comfort with sustained activity, like several minutes of running games, is a good sign.