Grade 3 Physical Education

Course Description

In Third Grade Physical Education, students learn to build strong manipulative and movement skills while learning to use equipment safely and responsibly. Students explore a variety of tools—such as scarves, scooters, parachutes, and jump ropes—to develop coordination, balance, control, and creativity in games and activities. Through consistent practice, they improve skills like throwing, catching, kicking, rolling, juggling, and jumping rope, using correct form to enhance accuracy and performance. Lessons emphasize the importance of regular physical activity, the F.I.T.T. principle, and safe use of space. Students also strengthen teamwork by communicating, cooperating, problem-solving, and demonstrating good sportsmanship to make activities fair, fun, and successful for everyone.

Course Big Ideas

Students develop competency in a variety of motor skills, including mature patterns of locomotor movements and non-locomotor skills (balance, stability). They also work on manipulating objects through striking, throwing, catching, kicking, and bouncing activities.
The idea that participation in physical activity impacts wellness throughout a lifetime is central. Students begin to learn the components of fitness: cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, and flexibility.
Students learn and exhibit correct safety precautions related to various activities and understand how to work safely and productively in a physical environment.
Key concepts include developing perseverance when faced with challenges, explaining how practice builds confidence, and learning to accept and provide constructive feedback respectfully. They also learn self-management skills to control impulses and emotions during play.
In simple game settings, students begin to understand and apply basic offensive and defensive positioning and strategies. They also learn how to modify movements based on the task or environment.

Course Essential Questions

Why is it important to work together to solve a problem?
How does manipulating objects with my body and different equipment help me in games, sports, and other activities?
How can creating strategies help your team play better?
How do the F.I.T.T. principles help me plan my exercises and get stronger or faster?
Why is it important to play games?

Course Competencies

Students work together and solve problems by communicating, cooperating, showing respect, and using effort and perseverance in games.
Students build fitness and health by practicing strength, flexibility, cardio, and skill-related exercises and understanding how exercise, nutrition, and sleep affect the body.
Students perform movement and manipulative skills safely and accurately while using equipment correctly and practicing to improve coordination and control.

Course Assessments

Teacher observation
Class discussion
Student reflection
Juggling test
Heart Smart challenge

Course Units

Unit 1: Physical Fitness

Standards

PA Health, Safety & Physical Education

10.3.3.D Identify and use safe practices in physical activity settings (e.g.,proper equipment, knowledge of rules, sun safety, guidelines of safe play, warm-up, cool-down).
10.4.3.A Identify and engage in physical activities that promote physical fitness and health.
10.4.3.B Know the positive and negative effects of regular participation in moderate to vigorous physical activities.
10.4.3.C Know and recognize changes in body responses during moderate to vigorous physical activity (heart rate, breathing rate).
10.4.3.D Identify likes and dislikes related to participation in physical activities.
10.4.3.E Identify reasons why regular participation in physical activities improves motor skills.
10.5.3.A Recognize and use basic movement skills and concepts, locomotor movements (e.g., run,leap, hop), non-locomotor movements (e.g.,bend, stretch, twist), manipulative movements (e.g.,throw, catch, kick), relationships (e.g., over, under,beside), combination movements (e.g.,locomotor, non-locomotor,manipulative), space awareness (e.g., self-space,levels, pathways, directions), effort (e.g., speed, force).
10.5.3.B Recognize and describe the concepts of motor skill development using appropriate vocabulary (form, developmental differences, critical elements, feedback).
10.5.3.C Know the function of practice.
10.5.3.D Identify and use principles of exercise to improve movement and fitness Activities (frequency/how often to exercise, intensity/how hard to exercise, time/how long to exercise, type/what kind of exercise).
10.5.3.F Recognize and describe game strategies using appropriate vocabulary (faking/dodging, passing/receiving, moving to be open, defending space, following rules of play).

Know

Health-related Components of Fitness:
- Flexibility- being able to bend, stretch, or move easily without getting hurt.
- Strength- having the power to lift, move, or do things that take effort.
- Muscular endurance- your muscles can keep working for a long time without getting too tired.
- Cardiovascular endurance- how long you can exercise without getting tired.
Skill-related Components of Fitness:
- Balance- being steady without falling over.
- Coordination- body parts working together to move smoothly.
- Speed- how fast your body can move.
- Reaction time- how fast your body moves after something happens.
- Power- strength and speed together to do something strong or fast.
- Agility- the ability to move quickly and easily, changing direction without losing control.
F.I.T.T. principle- The frequency, intensity, time, and type of exercise.
The size of your heart is the size of your fist.
Pace running vs. Sprint running- Pace running is running at a speed that allows you to keep going and not get tired. Pace running is for longer distances and longer amounts of time. Sprint running is running as fast as you can. Sprinting is for short distances and a short amount of time.
Adequate exercise, nutrition, and sleep to keep our bodies healthy.
Your pulse gets faster as you exercise.

Understanding/Key Learning

Do

Perform strength exercises such as push-ups, curl-ups, sit-ups, planks, and mountain climbers.
Participate in flexibility exercises such as stretching and yoga poses.
Engage in cardiovascular exercises such as walking, jogging, and running.
Describe how exercise affects the heart.
Perform skill-related exercises such as using duck walkers and balance beams.
Discuss the F.I.T.T. principle.
Discuss how exercise, nutrition, and sleep affect your body.
Find and check their pulse on the wrist or neck.

10.3.3.D Identify and use safe practices in physical activity settings (e.g.,proper equipment, knowledge of rules, sun safety, guidelines of safe play, warm-up, cool-down).
10.4.3.F Recognize positive and negative interactions of small group activities (roles- leader/follower, cooperation/sharing, on task participation).
10.5.3.E Know and describe scientific principles that affect movement and skills using appropriate vocabulary (gravity, force production/absorption, balance, rotation).
10.5.3.F Recognize and describe game strategies using appropriate vocabulary (faking/dodging, passing/receiving, moving to be open, defending space, following rules of play).

Know

The components of teamwork:
- Communication- using words and actions to share ideas and listen to others.
- Cooperation- working together to get something done.
- Kindness- being nice and helping others to feel good.
- Respect- treating people, places, and things the right way.
- Sharing- letting others use or take turns with something.
- Sportsmanship- being fair, kind, and a good sport in games.
- Trust- believing that someone will do the right thing.
- Participation- joining in and trying your best in every activity.
The components of problem solving:
- Strategy- a smart plan for how to do something or win a game.
- Perseverance- keep trying, even when something is hard.
- Effort- using your energy and doing your best.

10.3.3.D Identify and use safe practices in physical activity settings (e.g., proper equipment, knowledge of rules, sun safety, guidelines of safe play, warm-up, cool-down).
10.4.3.A Identify and engage in physical activities that promote physical fitness and health.
10.4.3.D Identify likes and dislikes related to participation in physical activities.
10.4.3.E Identify reasons why regular participation in physical activities improves motor skills.
10.5.3.A Recognize and use basic movement, skills and concepts. ( locomotor movements (e.g., run, leap, hop), non-locomotor movements (e.g., bend, stretch, twist), manipulative movements (e.g., throw, catch, kick), relationships (e.g., over, under, beside), combination movements (e.g., locomotor, non-locomotor, manipulative), space awareness (e.g., self-space, levels, pathways, directions), effort (e.g., speed, force).
10.5.3.B Recognize and describe the concepts of motor skill development using appropriate vocabulary. (form, developmental, differences, critical elements, feedback).
10.5.3.F Recognize and describe game strategies using appropriate vocabulary.(faking/dodging, passing/receiving, moving to be open, defending space, following rules of play).

Know

Space Awareness- The knowledge of when to stop to prevent knocking into other students when participating in activities and/or games (General Space and Personal Space).
Importance of following rules- Rules need to be followed to prevent injury, stay organized, and have fun.
Locomotor Movements- Moving your body from one place to another.
Strategies- a plan or way to help you play a game better and help your team win.
Sportsmanship- Being kind, fair, and respectful to everyone when you play games, whether you win or lose.

Understanding/Key Learning

How to keep myself and others safe by using space wisely and following rules.
How to move my body using big muscles to chase and flee during games.
How to recognize and use different movement skills like chasing, fleeing, and tagging in games.
How regular physical activity helps improve my body’s skills and overall health.
Practicing different locomotor skills helps me become stronger, faster, and more coordinated.
Using strategies and good sportsmanship makes games more fun and fair for everyone.

Do

Tagging- learning how to tag gently and appropriately (avoid the face) to keep students safe.
Chasing- running after someone or something to try to catch them.
Fleeing-Running away fast.
Demonstrate gross motor skills- big movements that we make with our arms, legs, and whole body (running, jumping, throwing a ball).
Demonstrate moving from one place to another (Walk, Run, March, Hop, Jump, Skip, Gallop, Slide, Leap).
Creating strategies- plan how to be successful at trying to help your team win
Showing sportsmanship skills (ex. shaking hands, saying something nice)

10.3.3.D Identify and use safe practices in physical activity settings (e.g.,proper equipment, knowledge of rules, sun safety, guidelines of safe play, warm-up, cool-down).
10.4.3.A Identify and engage in physical activities that promote physical fitness and health.
10.4.3.D Identify likes and dislikes related to participation in physical activities.
10.4.3.E Identify reasons why regular participation in physical activities improves motor skills.
10.4.3.F Recognize positive and negative interactions of small group activities (roles- leader/follower, cooperation/sharing, on task participation).
10.5.3.A Recognize and use basic movement skills and concepts, locomotor movements (e.g., run,leap, hop), non-locomotor movements (e.g.,bend, stretch, twist), manipulative movements (e.g.,throw, catch, kick), relationships (e.g., over, under,beside), combination movements (e.g.,locomotor, non-locomotor,manipulative), space awareness (e.g., self-space,levels, pathways, directions), effort (e.g., speed, force).
10.5.3.C Know the function of practice.
10.5.3.E Know and describe scientific principles that affect movement and skills using appropriate vocabulary (gravity, force production/absorption, balance, rotation).
10.5.3.F Recognize and describe game strategies using appropriate vocabulary (faking/dodging, passing/receiving, moving to be open, defending space, following rules of play).

Know

Equipment can be used in a variety of ways to challenge skills, explore movement, and play creatively.
Each type of equipment (e.g., juggling scarves, scooters, parachutes, jump ropes) has specific safety rules that must be followed.
Each type of equipment can be used in a variety of ways.
Regular practice is important to improve coordination, control, and overall skill performance.
Perseverance and effort are essential for skill development and mastering new challenges.

Understanding/Key Learning

Each type of manipulative equipment (e.g., scarves, scooters, parachutes, jump ropes) has specific safety rules that must be followed to prevent injury and ensure fair play.
Equipment can be used in many ways to develop different skills, allowing students to explore movement, coordination, and control in creative activities and games.
Practicing consistently helps improve throwing, catching, kicking, rolling, juggling, jumping rope, and other manipulative skills.
Learning new skills takes time and persistence; perseverance is essential for mastering challenging movements like juggling or scooter control.
Using correct form (e.g., overhand throw mechanics, soft hands when catching, body control while kicking or rolling, proper scooter movement) enhances accuracy, control, and overall performance.

Do

Juggle 2-3 items such as scarves and balls while crossing the body’s midline.
Demonstrate juggling patterns such as: criss-cross applesauce, cascade, reverse cascade, and columns.
Throw overhand with correct form (Step with opposite foot, high elbow, and follow through).
Catch a ball at different levels (chest, overhead, below waist) using soft hands and eyes on the ball.
Kick a stationary and a moving ball with control and accuracy.
Trap and control a ball that’s rolling toward them.
Perform basic and advanced jump rope skills (Individual tricks, partner tricks, and group jumping).
Demonstrate correct rolling form while rolling a ball toward a target.
Use large muscles to move the scooter (Sitting, lying on belly, kneeling).
Demonstrate safe starting, stopping, and turning techniques on a scooter.
Independently use timing and teamwork to achieve goals (Parachute popcorn challenge).
Understand and apply force and motion concepts while moving the parachute (how fast or high to lift).

Unit Essential Questions

Lesson Essential Questions

How can we use our hands and feet to control different objects?
Why do we need to practice skills like throwing, catching, rolling and kicking?
What makes a throw, catch, roll and/or kick accurate?
Why is timing important when you jump rope? What happens if you jump too early or too late?
How do we use our arms, wrists, and feet together to make the rope turn and clear the ground?
How does practicing with easier objects (like scarves) help you get ready to juggle balls?
How does working together with your classmates make our parachute activities successful?
How can I move on my scooter while staying safe and in control?

Materials/Resources

Physical Education Equipment (Ex.Hula Hoops, Scooters, Jump Ropes, Parachute, Balls(Yarn Balls, Gator Balls, and Bowling balls), and Scarves.
Elementary Physical Education staff.
Online Professional learning community.
Games and activities (Battleship, Take a Risk, Juggling, Jump Rope activities, QB MVP, Jailbreak, Scooter activities and games, and Parachute activities/games.