What does sixth grade PE look like overall?

Students move from learning basic skills to using them in real games and activities. They practice running, throwing, catching, dribbling, and striking in sports like soccer, basketball, and volleyball. They also learn how fitness, teamwork, and fair play fit together.

How can I help my child stay active outside of school?

Aim for about 60 minutes of movement a day. Walks after dinner, bike rides, shooting hoops in the driveway, or a pickup game at the park all count. Let students pick the activity so it feels like fun, not a chore.

What if my child says they are bad at sports?

Skills at this age improve fast with practice and a little coaching. Pick one skill they want to work on, like dribbling or serving, and spend ten minutes on it a few times a week. Praise the effort and the small wins.

How should I sequence skills across the year?

Start with movement basics and fitness routines in the fall, then move into team sports where students apply those skills. Save individual and lifetime activities like yoga, dance, or fitness circuits for later units once students are working well together.

Which skills usually need the most reteaching?

Striking with an implement, like a bat or racket, and overhand throwing tend to lag behind. Defensive positioning in team games also needs steady practice. Short skill stations at the start of class help more than long demonstrations.

How do grades work in PE this year?

Grades reflect effort, skill growth, knowledge of rules and fitness concepts, and how students treat classmates. A student who tries hard and plays fairly can earn a strong grade even if they are not the most athletic in the class.

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

By June, students should move with control in several sports, follow the rules of a game without constant reminders, work with any partner assigned, and explain why exercise matters for health. Consistent participation is the clearest sign of readiness.

How do I build a positive class culture in middle school PE?

Set clear routines for changing, warming up, and forming teams so students know what to expect. Rotate captains, mix groupings often, and address put-downs the first time they happen. A predictable, respectful room is what gets quiet students to try.

What if my child does not like team sports?

Team sports are only part of the year. Students also try fitness activities, dance, yoga, and individual challenges. Help them find one form of movement they enjoy at home, whether that is hiking, swimming, biking, or martial arts, and lean into it.

What does a student learn in ?

This is the year gym class starts feeling like training for a sport students might actually keep playing. Students move past basic skills and learn how their bodies respond to exercise, including heart rate, strength, and stamina. They also practice working with teammates, handling losses, and giving real effort. By spring, students can join a game with rules, play their position, and explain one fitness habit they want to stick with.

Team sports
Fitness
Heart health
Sportsmanship
Healthy habits

Source: New Jersey New Jersey Student Learning 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
Movement skills and fitness basics
Students refresh running, jumping, throwing, and catching, and learn how to warm up safely. They start tracking how their bodies feel during activity, like heart rate and breathing.
2
Team games and fair play
Students join team activities and practice passing, dodging, and defending. They work on listening to teammates, taking turns, and handling wins and losses without losing their cool.
3
Health-related fitness
Students learn what makes a body stronger, more flexible, and able to keep going longer. They try activities that build each piece and notice which ones feel hardest.
4
Personal wellness and lifelong activity
Students set small fitness goals and pick activities they actually enjoy, from biking to dancing. They think about how sleep, food, and movement fit together outside of school.

Mastery Learning Standards

The required skills a student should display by the end of Grade 6.

Physical Education

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

NJ-PE.1.6

Students practice moving skills like running, jumping, throwing, and balancing. Building these skills gives students a foundation for sports, games, and staying active outside of school.
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance

NJ-PE.2.6

Students connect what they know about how the body moves and stays fit to make better choices during games, exercise, and physical activity.
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…

NJ-PE.3.6

Students practice working with others during physical activities: taking turns, listening, and adjusting their behavior so the whole group can participate safely and fairly.
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement

NJ-PE.4.6

Students set personal fitness goals, track their progress, and practice choosing activities they actually enjoy. The focus is on building habits that make regular movement a normal part of life, not just something that happens in gym class.

Standard	Definition	Code
Develop a variety of motor skills, including locomotor, non-locomotor	Students practice moving skills like running, jumping, throwing, and balancing. Building these skills gives students a foundation for sports, games, and staying active outside of school.	NJ-PE.1.6
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance	Students connect what they know about how the body moves and stays fit to make better choices during games, exercise, and physical activity.	NJ-PE.2.6
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…	Students practice working with others during physical activities: taking turns, listening, and adjusting their behavior so the whole group can participate safely and fairly.	NJ-PE.3.6
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement	Students set personal fitness goals, track their progress, and practice choosing activities they actually enjoy. The focus is on building habits that make regular movement a normal part of life, not just something that happens in gym class.	NJ-PE.4.6

Physical Education

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

NJ-PE.1.6

Students practice moving skills like running, jumping, throwing, and balancing. Building these skills gives students a foundation for sports, games, and staying active outside of school.
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance

NJ-PE.2.6

Students connect what they know about how the body moves and stays fit to make better choices during games, exercise, and physical activity.
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…

NJ-PE.3.6

Students practice working with others during physical activities: taking turns, listening, and adjusting their behavior so the whole group can participate safely and fairly.
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement

NJ-PE.4.6

Students set personal fitness goals, track their progress, and practice choosing activities they actually enjoy. The focus is on building habits that make regular movement a normal part of life, not just something that happens in gym class.

Standard	Definition	Code
Develop a variety of motor skills, including locomotor, non-locomotor	Students practice moving skills like running, jumping, throwing, and balancing. Building these skills gives students a foundation for sports, games, and staying active outside of school.	NJ-PE.1.6
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance	Students connect what they know about how the body moves and stays fit to make better choices during games, exercise, and physical activity.	NJ-PE.2.6
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…	Students practice working with others during physical activities: taking turns, listening, and adjusting their behavior so the whole group can participate safely and fairly.	NJ-PE.3.6
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement	Students set personal fitness goals, track their progress, and practice choosing activities they actually enjoy. The focus is on building habits that make regular movement a normal part of life, not just something that happens in gym class.	NJ-PE.4.6

Common Questions

What does sixth grade PE look like overall?
Students move from learning basic skills to using them in real games and activities. They practice running, throwing, catching, dribbling, and striking in sports like soccer, basketball, and volleyball. They also learn how fitness, teamwork, and fair play fit together.
How can I help my child stay active outside of school?
Aim for about 60 minutes of movement a day. Walks after dinner, bike rides, shooting hoops in the driveway, or a pickup game at the park all count. Let students pick the activity so it feels like fun, not a chore.
What if my child says they are bad at sports?
Skills at this age improve fast with practice and a little coaching. Pick one skill they want to work on, like dribbling or serving, and spend ten minutes on it a few times a week. Praise the effort and the small wins.
How should I sequence skills across the year?
Start with movement basics and fitness routines in the fall, then move into team sports where students apply those skills. Save individual and lifetime activities like yoga, dance, or fitness circuits for later units once students are working well together.
Which skills usually need the most reteaching?
Striking with an implement, like a bat or racket, and overhand throwing tend to lag behind. Defensive positioning in team games also needs steady practice. Short skill stations at the start of class help more than long demonstrations.
How do grades work in PE this year?
Grades reflect effort, skill growth, knowledge of rules and fitness concepts, and how students treat classmates. A student who tries hard and plays fairly can earn a strong grade even if they are not the most athletic in the class.
How do I know if a student is ready for seventh grade PE?
By June, students should move with control in several sports, follow the rules of a game without constant reminders, work with any partner assigned, and explain why exercise matters for health. Consistent participation is the clearest sign of readiness.
How do I build a positive class culture in middle school PE?
Set clear routines for changing, warming up, and forming teams so students know what to expect. Rotate captains, mix groupings often, and address put-downs the first time they happen. A predictable, respectful room is what gets quiet students to try.
What if my child does not like team sports?
Team sports are only part of the year. Students also try fitness activities, dance, yoga, and individual challenges. Help them find one form of movement they enjoy at home, whether that is hiking, swimming, biking, or martial arts, and lean into it.