Building movement skills
Students sharpen the basic moves used in sports and everyday activity, like running, jumping, throwing, catching, and dribbling. They practice these in games and drills so the motions feel steady and controlled.
What does a student learn in
This is the year physical education shifts from learning the games to building a personal fitness routine students can keep after high school. Students sharpen movement skills in sports and activities, then connect that work to ideas like heart rate, strength, and flexibility. They practice teamwork and fair play in real games. By spring, students can explain why they chose a workout or sport and stick with it on their own.
- Movement skills
- Fitness concepts
- Teamwork
- Lifelong wellness
- Personal goals
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
Fitness and how the body works
Students learn what happens to the body during exercise and why warm-ups, heart rate, and rest matter. They use this to plan workouts and play games with better technique.
- 3
Teamwork and fair play
Students work together in team activities and individual challenges. They practice communicating with teammates, handling wins and losses, and treating classmates with respect.
- 4
Active habits for life
Students try different activities to find ones they enjoy, from weight training to hiking to recreational sports. They set personal fitness goals and think about how to stay active after high school.
Mastery Learning Standards
The required skills a student should display by the end of Grade 9.
Physical Education
Physical Education
- High School Level 1
Develop a variety of motor skills, including locomotor, non-locomotor
Students practice fundamental movement skills, like throwing, catching, and balancing, that make it easier to stay active for life. The goal is building a base wide enough to join in on sports, workouts, or outdoor activities with confidence.
- High School Level 1
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance
Students use what they know about how the body moves and stays fit to make better decisions during exercise and sports. Think choosing the right warm-up, adjusting form, or pacing through a workout.
- High School Level 1
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…
Students practice working with others during physical activities, taking turns, listening, and making choices that keep the group moving safely and fairly.
- High School Level 1
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement
Students practice setting personal fitness goals and figure out which activities they actually enjoy. The goal is building habits they will keep after graduation, not just meeting a class requirement.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Develop a variety of motor skills, including locomotor, non-locomotor High School Level 1 | Students practice fundamental movement skills, like throwing, catching, and balancing, that make it easier to stay active for life. The goal is building a base wide enough to join in on sports, workouts, or outdoor activities with confidence. | OH-PE.1.hs-level-1 |
| Apply knowledge related to movement, performance High School Level 1 | Students use what they know about how the body moves and stays fit to make better decisions during exercise and sports. Think choosing the right warm-up, adjusting form, or pacing through a workout. | OH-PE.2.hs-level-1 |
| Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others… High School Level 1 | Students practice working with others during physical activities, taking turns, listening, and making choices that keep the group moving safely and fairly. | OH-PE.3.hs-level-1 |
| Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement High School Level 1 | Students practice setting personal fitness goals and figure out which activities they actually enjoy. The goal is building habits they will keep after graduation, not just meeting a class requirement. | OH-PE.4.hs-level-1 |
Common Questions
What does Level 1 physical education actually cover?
Students build movement skills they can use for life, like throwing, striking, jogging, stretching, and balancing. They also learn how exercise affects the body, how to work with a team, and how to set goals for staying active. The focus is on building habits, not just playing games.
How can a parent support physical activity at home?
Find 30 minutes most days for something active together. A walk after dinner, a bike ride on the weekend, or shooting hoops in the driveway all count. Ask what activities feel fun, then make those easier to do at home.
What if a student is not athletic or dislikes team sports?
Level 1 is broader than team sports. Hiking, yoga, dance, lifting, swimming, and skateboarding all build the same skills and fitness. Helping students find one activity they actually enjoy is the goal.
How should units be sequenced across the year?
A common pattern is fitness concepts and skill review early, then rotate through team activities, individual activities, and lifetime activities like yoga or strength training. Revisit fitness testing twice so students can see growth. Save personal wellness planning for the final unit.
What does mastery look like by the end of the year?
Students can move with control in several activities, explain how warm-ups, heart rate, and rest affect performance, and work respectfully with classmates. They can also describe a personal plan for staying active outside of school.
What gets the most reteaching at this level?
Fitness vocabulary and how to use it: target heart rate, sets and reps, FITT, and the difference between strength and endurance. Social skills around losing gracefully and including others also need steady reinforcement.
Does physical education affect academic grades or eligibility?
Yes. It is a graded class on the transcript, so effort, participation, and written work all matter. Skipping dress-out or written assignments can pull the grade down even for strong athletes.
How is a student graded if they are not the fastest or strongest?
Grades are based on effort, skill growth, knowledge of fitness concepts, and how students treat others, not on raw athletic talent. A student who shows up, tries, and improves their own numbers usually does well.