What does PE look like for a five-year-old?

Students learn the building blocks of moving: running, jumping, skipping, balancing, throwing, catching, and kicking. They practice these in games and simple activities, not in formal sports. The goal is to build comfort with their own bodies and a habit of being active.

How can families support PE at home?

Give students time outside every day to run, climb, and play. Toss a soft ball back and forth, kick a ball in the yard, or play tag. Ten or fifteen minutes of active play a few times a day adds up fast at this age.

What if a student is clumsy or behind in coordination?

This is normal at five. Coordination grows with practice, not pressure. Keep activities playful: balance on a curb, hop on one foot, catch a rolled-up sock. Most students catch up quickly when they get regular chances to move.

How should the year be sequenced?

Start with locomotor skills like walking, running, jumping, and galloping in open space. Add non-locomotor moves like balancing, bending, and twisting. Bring in manipulative skills such as tossing, catching, and kicking once students can control their bodies in space.

Which skills usually need the most reteaching?

Skipping, galloping, and catching a tossed ball tend to lag behind running and jumping. Spatial awareness also needs constant practice: stopping on a signal, keeping a bubble of space, and not crashing into classmates.

How much does fitness knowledge matter at this age?

Keep it simple and physical. Students should notice when their heart beats faster, when they feel hot, and when they need water. That body awareness is the foundation for fitness vocabulary in later grades.

What social skills are part of PE?

Students practice taking turns, sharing equipment, following directions, and playing fair. They learn to cheer for classmates and handle losing a quick game without melting down. These habits matter as much as the physical skills.

How do I know a student is ready for first grade PE?

By spring, students should run, jump, hop, gallop, and skip with control, balance on one foot for a few seconds, and toss and catch a large ball. They should follow safety rules, share equipment, and join group games without constant reminders.

What does a student learn in ?

This is the year students learn that their bodies can do a lot of different things on purpose. Students practice running, jumping, hopping, skipping, balancing, and tossing or kicking a ball. They also learn to take turns, follow simple directions, and play safely near other kids. By spring, students can move through a group game without bumping into others and name one reason moving their body feels good.

Running and jumping
Throwing and catching
Balance
Following directions
Taking turns
Safe play

Source: Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Core Standards

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 safely in shared space
Students learn how to move around a gym or play area without bumping into each other. They practice starting, stopping, and following simple rules so class activities run smoothly.
2
Basic ways to move
Students practice walking, running, hopping, skipping, and jumping. They also learn to bend, stretch, and balance, building the everyday movements they use on the playground.
3
Throwing, catching, and kicking
Students try simple ball skills like rolling, tossing, catching, kicking, and bouncing. Parents may notice better hand-eye coordination during catch in the backyard.
4
Playing well with others
Students take turns, share equipment, and play simple group games. They practice listening, encouraging classmates, and handling winning and losing.
5
Why moving feels good
Students notice what their body does during activity, like a faster heartbeat or warmer skin. They start to see exercise as fun and something worth doing outside of school too.

Mastery Learning Standards

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

Physical Education

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

PA-PE.1.k

Students practice basic ways to move their bodies, like running, jumping, balancing, and throwing. Building these skills early helps them stay active as they grow.
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance

PA-PE.2.k

Students learn basic ideas about how their body moves and stays healthy, then put those ideas to use during activities. Knowing why to bend their knees when jumping or why moving fast gets their heart pumping helps them do physical activities better.
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…

PA-PE.3.k

Students practice taking turns, listening to classmates, and working together during movement activities. They learn to follow group rules and treat others with respect.
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement

PA-PE.4.k

Students practice moving their bodies every day and start to notice how activity makes them feel. This builds the habit of staying active for life.

Standard	Definition	Code
Develop a variety of motor skills, including locomotor, non-locomotor	Students practice basic ways to move their bodies, like running, jumping, balancing, and throwing. Building these skills early helps them stay active as they grow.	PA-PE.1.k
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance	Students learn basic ideas about how their body moves and stays healthy, then put those ideas to use during activities. Knowing why to bend their knees when jumping or why moving fast gets their heart pumping helps them do physical activities better.	PA-PE.2.k
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…	Students practice taking turns, listening to classmates, and working together during movement activities. They learn to follow group rules and treat others with respect.	PA-PE.3.k
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement	Students practice moving their bodies every day and start to notice how activity makes them feel. This builds the habit of staying active for life.	PA-PE.4.k

Physical Education

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

PA-PE.1.k

Students practice basic ways to move their bodies, like running, jumping, balancing, and throwing. Building these skills early helps them stay active as they grow.
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance

PA-PE.2.k

Students learn basic ideas about how their body moves and stays healthy, then put those ideas to use during activities. Knowing why to bend their knees when jumping or why moving fast gets their heart pumping helps them do physical activities better.
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…

PA-PE.3.k

Students practice taking turns, listening to classmates, and working together during movement activities. They learn to follow group rules and treat others with respect.
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement

PA-PE.4.k

Students practice moving their bodies every day and start to notice how activity makes them feel. This builds the habit of staying active for life.

Standard	Definition	Code
Develop a variety of motor skills, including locomotor, non-locomotor	Students practice basic ways to move their bodies, like running, jumping, balancing, and throwing. Building these skills early helps them stay active as they grow.	PA-PE.1.k
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance	Students learn basic ideas about how their body moves and stays healthy, then put those ideas to use during activities. Knowing why to bend their knees when jumping or why moving fast gets their heart pumping helps them do physical activities better.	PA-PE.2.k
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…	Students practice taking turns, listening to classmates, and working together during movement activities. They learn to follow group rules and treat others with respect.	PA-PE.3.k
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement	Students practice moving their bodies every day and start to notice how activity makes them feel. This builds the habit of staying active for life.	PA-PE.4.k

Common Questions

What does PE look like for a five-year-old?
Students learn the building blocks of moving: running, jumping, skipping, balancing, throwing, catching, and kicking. They practice these in games and simple activities, not in formal sports. The goal is to build comfort with their own bodies and a habit of being active.
How can families support PE at home?
Give students time outside every day to run, climb, and play. Toss a soft ball back and forth, kick a ball in the yard, or play tag. Ten or fifteen minutes of active play a few times a day adds up fast at this age.
What if a student is clumsy or behind in coordination?
This is normal at five. Coordination grows with practice, not pressure. Keep activities playful: balance on a curb, hop on one foot, catch a rolled-up sock. Most students catch up quickly when they get regular chances to move.
How should the year be sequenced?
Start with locomotor skills like walking, running, jumping, and galloping in open space. Add non-locomotor moves like balancing, bending, and twisting. Bring in manipulative skills such as tossing, catching, and kicking once students can control their bodies in space.
Which skills usually need the most reteaching?
Skipping, galloping, and catching a tossed ball tend to lag behind running and jumping. Spatial awareness also needs constant practice: stopping on a signal, keeping a bubble of space, and not crashing into classmates.
How much does fitness knowledge matter at this age?
Keep it simple and physical. Students should notice when their heart beats faster, when they feel hot, and when they need water. That body awareness is the foundation for fitness vocabulary in later grades.
What social skills are part of PE?
Students practice taking turns, sharing equipment, following directions, and playing fair. They learn to cheer for classmates and handle losing a quick game without melting down. These habits matter as much as the physical skills.
How do I know a student is ready for first grade PE?
By spring, students should run, jump, hop, gallop, and skip with control, balance on one foot for a few seconds, and toss and catch a large ball. They should follow safety rules, share equipment, and join group games without constant reminders.