What does PE look like in kindergarten?

Students practice basic moves like running, hopping, skipping, and jumping. They also learn to throw, catch, kick, and balance. Most of the year is spent playing simple games that build these skills and teach students to share space safely.

How can I help my child build these skills at home?

Spend ten minutes a day on active play. Roll or toss a soft ball back and forth, jump over a line of tape, balance on one foot while brushing teeth, or play tag in the yard. Repetition matters more than fancy equipment.

My child seems clumsy compared to other kids. Should I be worried?

Five-year-olds develop coordination at very different rates, and a child who looks behind in September often catches up by spring. Keep play low-pressure and frequent. If a child still struggles to run, jump, or catch a large ball by year's end, mention it at a check-up.

How should I sequence motor skills across the year?

Start with locomotor skills like walking, running, and jumping in open space, since students need to move safely before anything else. Add balance and non-locomotor moves next, then layer in throwing, catching, and kicking once students can control their bodies. Save partner and small-group games for the second half of the year.

Which skills usually need the most reteaching?

Skipping, galloping, and catching a tossed ball are the trickiest at this age. Plan to revisit them in short bursts across many weeks rather than teaching them once. Underhand throwing to a target also tends to need more practice than expected.

How do I handle students who won't follow directions or share space?

Spend real time the first month on stop and go signals, personal space, and taking turns with equipment. Cooperation is part of the year's goals, not a prerequisite. Short games with clear rules teach more than long lectures about behavior.

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

By spring, students should run and stop under control, jump with two feet, hop on one foot, and toss and catch a large ball at close range. They should also be able to play a simple group game, follow safety rules, and name one reason exercise is good for them.

Does my child need to play a sport to get good at this?

No. Regular active play at a park, in the yard, or on a walk builds the same skills. The goal at this age is for students to enjoy moving and want to do it often, not to specialize in any one sport.

What does a student learn in ?

This is the year students learn how their bodies move on purpose. Students practice the basics like running, skipping, jumping, balancing, and tossing a ball, and they start to follow simple rules during games. They also learn to take turns, share space safely, and listen to a teacher's directions. By spring, students can move through an obstacle course, catch a large ball, and play alongside classmates without bumping or pushing.

Running and skipping
Throwing and catching
Balance
Taking turns
Following directions
Active play

Source: Maine Maine Learning Results

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 together
Students learn how to move around a shared space without bumping into classmates. They practice starting, stopping, and listening for signals so the gym feels safe and orderly.
2
Running, jumping, and hopping
Students try out the big ways a body can travel. They run, jump, hop, skip, and gallop, building the basic movements they will use in games and on the playground.
3
Balancing and body control
Students work on holding still in different shapes and moving without falling over. They twist, bend, and balance on one foot, getting a feel for how their body works.
4
Throwing, catching, and kicking
Students start handling balls and other equipment. They roll, toss, catch, and kick, learning to track an object with their eyes and use their hands and feet with more control.
5
Playing fair with classmates
Students take turns, share equipment, and follow simple game rules. They practice cheering on a partner and using kind words, even when a game does not go their way.
6
Why moving feels good
Students notice what active play does for their bodies, like a faster heartbeat and warmer skin. They talk about activities they enjoy outside of school and why moving every day matters.

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

ME-PE.1.k

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

ME-PE.2.k

Students learn basic ideas about how their bodies move and stay healthy, then use those ideas during games and activities. Think of it as the "why" behind skipping, stretching, and running.
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…

ME-PE.3.k

Students practice getting along with others during movement activities. That means taking turns, listening, and treating classmates well while playing or working as a group.
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement

ME-PE.4.k

Students learn basic movement skills and start to notice how moving their body feels good. They practice choosing to be active on their own, building habits that can last a lifetime.

Standard	Definition	Code
Develop a variety of motor skills, including locomotor, non-locomotor	Students practice basic ways to move their bodies: running, jumping, balancing, throwing, and catching. Building these skills early helps students stay active as they grow.	ME-PE.1.k
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance	Students learn basic ideas about how their bodies move and stay healthy, then use those ideas during games and activities. Think of it as the "why" behind skipping, stretching, and running.	ME-PE.2.k
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…	Students practice getting along with others during movement activities. That means taking turns, listening, and treating classmates well while playing or working as a group.	ME-PE.3.k
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement	Students learn basic movement skills and start to notice how moving their body feels good. They practice choosing to be active on their own, building habits that can last a lifetime.	ME-PE.4.k

Physical Education

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

ME-PE.1.k

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

ME-PE.2.k

Students learn basic ideas about how their bodies move and stay healthy, then use those ideas during games and activities. Think of it as the "why" behind skipping, stretching, and running.
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…

ME-PE.3.k

Students practice getting along with others during movement activities. That means taking turns, listening, and treating classmates well while playing or working as a group.
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement

ME-PE.4.k

Students learn basic movement skills and start to notice how moving their body feels good. They practice choosing to be active on their own, building habits that can last a lifetime.

Standard	Definition	Code
Develop a variety of motor skills, including locomotor, non-locomotor	Students practice basic ways to move their bodies: running, jumping, balancing, throwing, and catching. Building these skills early helps students stay active as they grow.	ME-PE.1.k
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance	Students learn basic ideas about how their bodies move and stay healthy, then use those ideas during games and activities. Think of it as the "why" behind skipping, stretching, and running.	ME-PE.2.k
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…	Students practice getting along with others during movement activities. That means taking turns, listening, and treating classmates well while playing or working as a group.	ME-PE.3.k
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement	Students learn basic movement skills and start to notice how moving their body feels good. They practice choosing to be active on their own, building habits that can last a lifetime.	ME-PE.4.k

Common Questions

What does PE look like in kindergarten?
Students practice basic moves like running, hopping, skipping, and jumping. They also learn to throw, catch, kick, and balance. Most of the year is spent playing simple games that build these skills and teach students to share space safely.
How can I help my child build these skills at home?
Spend ten minutes a day on active play. Roll or toss a soft ball back and forth, jump over a line of tape, balance on one foot while brushing teeth, or play tag in the yard. Repetition matters more than fancy equipment.
My child seems clumsy compared to other kids. Should I be worried?
Five-year-olds develop coordination at very different rates, and a child who looks behind in September often catches up by spring. Keep play low-pressure and frequent. If a child still struggles to run, jump, or catch a large ball by year's end, mention it at a check-up.
How should I sequence motor skills across the year?
Start with locomotor skills like walking, running, and jumping in open space, since students need to move safely before anything else. Add balance and non-locomotor moves next, then layer in throwing, catching, and kicking once students can control their bodies. Save partner and small-group games for the second half of the year.
Which skills usually need the most reteaching?
Skipping, galloping, and catching a tossed ball are the trickiest at this age. Plan to revisit them in short bursts across many weeks rather than teaching them once. Underhand throwing to a target also tends to need more practice than expected.
How do I handle students who won't follow directions or share space?
Spend real time the first month on stop and go signals, personal space, and taking turns with equipment. Cooperation is part of the year's goals, not a prerequisite. Short games with clear rules teach more than long lectures about behavior.
How do I know a child is ready for first grade PE?
By spring, students should run and stop under control, jump with two feet, hop on one foot, and toss and catch a large ball at close range. They should also be able to play a simple group game, follow safety rules, and name one reason exercise is good for them.
Does my child need to play a sport to get good at this?
No. Regular active play at a park, in the yard, or on a walk builds the same skills. The goal at this age is for students to enjoy moving and want to do it often, not to specialize in any one sport.