What does fifth grade PE look like overall?

Students build on basic movement skills and start using them in real games and activities. They practice running, jumping, throwing, catching, dribbling, and striking with more control. They also learn about fitness, teamwork, and making active choices outside of class.

How can I help my child stay active at home?

Aim for about 60 minutes of movement most days. Walks, bike rides, backyard catch, or shooting hoops all count. Let students pick the activity sometimes so they start to see exercise as something they enjoy, not a chore.

My child says they are bad at sports. What should I do?

Skill at this age comes from repetition, not talent. Pick one small thing to practice, like catching a tennis ball off a wall or jumping rope for two minutes. Short, low-pressure practice at home builds confidence fast.

How should I sequence skills across the year?

Start with locomotor and non-locomotor review, then move into manipulative skills like throwing, catching, dribbling, and striking. Build toward small-sided games in the second half of the year so students can apply skills with strategy and teamwork.

What fitness concepts should students actually understand?

Students should know the difference between cardio, strength, and flexibility, and be able to name an activity for each. They should also understand why a warm-up matters and how to check their heart rate or notice how hard they are working.

How do I handle students with very different skill levels?

Use tiered tasks within the same activity. For dribbling, one group works on control while walking, another adds a defender, and a third plays a small-sided game. Same skill, different challenge, everyone moving.

What social skills are part of PE this year?

Students practice cooperation, fair play, encouraging teammates, and handling winning and losing well. These are taught directly, not just hoped for. Expect time spent on group roles, calling fouls honestly, and including everyone in play.

How do I know if my child is ready for sixth grade PE?

By June, students should move with control, throw and catch with accuracy, and play simple team games without falling apart over the rules. They should also be able to name a few activities they enjoy and do them on their own time.

Does PE class count toward a grade?

Yes. Effort, participation, skill growth, and behavior all factor in. Showing up dressed for activity and trying hard usually matters more than being the most athletic student in the room.

What does a student learn in ?

This is the year gym class shifts from learning the moves to using them in real games and routines. Students combine running, jumping, throwing, and catching to play team sports and try fitness activities with more confidence. They start tracking how exercise affects their bodies and learn to cooperate, settle disagreements, and include classmates during play. By spring, students can explain why staying active matters and pick activities they enjoy outside of school.

Team sports
Fitness
Throwing and catching
Sportsmanship
Healthy habits

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 with skill and control
Students sharpen the basics of running, jumping, throwing, catching, and dodging. They practice moving safely in shared space and combining steps and skills into smoother patterns.
2
Games and team sports
Students apply their skills in small-sided games and team activities. They learn rules, positions, and simple strategies for keeping possession, defending space, and passing to a teammate.
3
Fitness and healthy habits
Students learn what builds a strong heart, stronger muscles, and better flexibility. They track effort, notice how their body feels during activity, and connect daily movement to feeling well.
4
Respect, fair play, and leadership
Students practice handling wins, losses, and disagreements with respect. They take turns leading warm-ups or small groups and learn to include classmates of all skill levels.
5
Choosing an active life
Students try a wider range of activities, from dance to outdoor games, and reflect on what they enjoy. The goal is to find a few kinds of movement they want to keep doing on their own.

Mastery Learning Standards

The required skills a student should display by the end of Grade 5.

Physical Education

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

PA-PE.1.5

Students practice moving in different ways, like running, balancing, and throwing or catching a ball. These skills build the physical foundation students need to stay active now and as they get older.
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance

PA-PE.2.5

Students use what they know about how the body moves and stays fit to make smarter choices during games, exercises, and sports. They connect the idea to the action, adjusting how they move to perform better and stay healthy.
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…

PA-PE.3.5

Students practice working with classmates during movement activities, taking turns, listening to others, and making choices that keep the group running smoothly.
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement

PA-PE.4.5

Students learn to recognize what physical activity does for them personally and start choosing to move regularly, not just during class. The goal is building a habit that lasts past fifth grade.

Standard	Definition	Code
Develop a variety of motor skills, including locomotor, non-locomotor	Students practice moving in different ways, like running, balancing, and throwing or catching a ball. These skills build the physical foundation students need to stay active now and as they get older.	PA-PE.1.5
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance	Students use what they know about how the body moves and stays fit to make smarter choices during games, exercises, and sports. They connect the idea to the action, adjusting how they move to perform better and stay healthy.	PA-PE.2.5
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…	Students practice working with classmates during movement activities, taking turns, listening to others, and making choices that keep the group running smoothly.	PA-PE.3.5
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement	Students learn to recognize what physical activity does for them personally and start choosing to move regularly, not just during class. The goal is building a habit that lasts past fifth grade.	PA-PE.4.5

Physical Education

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

PA-PE.1.5

Students practice moving in different ways, like running, balancing, and throwing or catching a ball. These skills build the physical foundation students need to stay active now and as they get older.
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance

PA-PE.2.5

Students use what they know about how the body moves and stays fit to make smarter choices during games, exercises, and sports. They connect the idea to the action, adjusting how they move to perform better and stay healthy.
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…

PA-PE.3.5

Students practice working with classmates during movement activities, taking turns, listening to others, and making choices that keep the group running smoothly.
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement

PA-PE.4.5

Students learn to recognize what physical activity does for them personally and start choosing to move regularly, not just during class. The goal is building a habit that lasts past fifth grade.

Standard	Definition	Code
Develop a variety of motor skills, including locomotor, non-locomotor	Students practice moving in different ways, like running, balancing, and throwing or catching a ball. These skills build the physical foundation students need to stay active now and as they get older.	PA-PE.1.5
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance	Students use what they know about how the body moves and stays fit to make smarter choices during games, exercises, and sports. They connect the idea to the action, adjusting how they move to perform better and stay healthy.	PA-PE.2.5
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…	Students practice working with classmates during movement activities, taking turns, listening to others, and making choices that keep the group running smoothly.	PA-PE.3.5
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement	Students learn to recognize what physical activity does for them personally and start choosing to move regularly, not just during class. The goal is building a habit that lasts past fifth grade.	PA-PE.4.5

Common Questions

What does fifth grade PE look like overall?
Students build on basic movement skills and start using them in real games and activities. They practice running, jumping, throwing, catching, dribbling, and striking with more control. They also learn about fitness, teamwork, and making active choices outside of class.
How can I help my child stay active at home?
Aim for about 60 minutes of movement most days. Walks, bike rides, backyard catch, or shooting hoops all count. Let students pick the activity sometimes so they start to see exercise as something they enjoy, not a chore.
My child says they are bad at sports. What should I do?
Skill at this age comes from repetition, not talent. Pick one small thing to practice, like catching a tennis ball off a wall or jumping rope for two minutes. Short, low-pressure practice at home builds confidence fast.
How should I sequence skills across the year?
Start with locomotor and non-locomotor review, then move into manipulative skills like throwing, catching, dribbling, and striking. Build toward small-sided games in the second half of the year so students can apply skills with strategy and teamwork.
What fitness concepts should students actually understand?
Students should know the difference between cardio, strength, and flexibility, and be able to name an activity for each. They should also understand why a warm-up matters and how to check their heart rate or notice how hard they are working.
How do I handle students with very different skill levels?
Use tiered tasks within the same activity. For dribbling, one group works on control while walking, another adds a defender, and a third plays a small-sided game. Same skill, different challenge, everyone moving.
What social skills are part of PE this year?
Students practice cooperation, fair play, encouraging teammates, and handling winning and losing well. These are taught directly, not just hoped for. Expect time spent on group roles, calling fouls honestly, and including everyone in play.
How do I know if my child is ready for sixth grade PE?
By June, students should move with control, throw and catch with accuracy, and play simple team games without falling apart over the rules. They should also be able to name a few activities they enjoy and do them on their own time.
Does PE class count toward a grade?
Yes. Effort, participation, skill growth, and behavior all factor in. Showing up dressed for activity and trying hard usually matters more than being the most athletic student in the room.