What does fourth grade PE look like over the year?

Students build on running, jumping, throwing, catching, kicking, and striking, and start using those skills in small games. They also learn about fitness, fair play, and how exercise keeps the body healthy. By spring, students should move with more control and work better in teams.

How can I help my child stay active at home?

Aim for about 60 minutes of active play a day. Walks, bike rides, playing catch in the yard, jumping rope, or family games at the park all count. The goal is regular movement, not a perfect workout.

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

Focus on practice, not talent. Pick one skill at a time, like catching or dribbling, and play short games together for ten minutes a few times a week. Praise effort and small wins so students keep trying.

How should I sequence skills across the year?

Start with movement basics and fitness routines, then layer in throwing, catching, kicking, and striking through partner drills. Move into small-sided games once skills are steady. Save larger team games for later in the year when cooperation and rules can hold up.

Which skills usually need the most reteaching?

Catching moving objects, striking with a bat or racket, and pacing during longer runs tend to lag. Build in short practice stations every few weeks rather than waiting for a full unit. Quick feedback during play helps more than long demonstrations.

How do I handle students with very different skill levels?

Use the same activity with different sized balls, distances, or targets so every student gets honest practice. Group flexibly and change groups often. Track progress against each student's starting point, not against the class.

Does my child need special gear or a sport sign-up?

No. A ball, a jump rope, and open space cover most fourth grade skills. Organized sports are great if a student wants them, but daily play at home does the same job.

How do I know students are ready for fifth grade PE?

By June, students should run, jump, throw, catch, and strike with steady control, and use those skills in simple games without falling apart. They should also follow rules, take turns, and name a few reasons exercise is good for the body.

What does a student learn in ?

This is the year movement starts to feel like a plan instead of a game. Students sharpen running, jumping, throwing, and catching, then use those skills in real activities like tag, jump rope, and team games. They learn to warm up, cool down, and notice how their body feels when their heart rate climbs. By spring, students can join a group activity, follow the rules, and explain one habit that keeps them healthy.

Motor skills
Fitness habits
Teamwork
Healthy choices
Active games

Source: Texas Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills

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 well on the playground
Students sharpen the basics of running, skipping, jumping, balancing, and changing direction. Parents may notice steadier footwork at recess and more confidence trying new games at the park.
2
Throwing, catching, and kicking
Students practice sending and receiving balls with hands and feet. Aim and timing get better, so games of catch in the yard feel less like chasing the ball and more like playing it.
3
Playing fair and working together
Students learn to share equipment, take turns, listen to teammates, and handle winning and losing. Parents may hear more talk about fairness and helping the team.
4
Fitness and healthy habits
Students learn how exercise affects the heart, muscles, and energy levels. They start to notice when they are out of breath and pick activities they actually want to keep doing outside of school.

Mastery Learning Standards

The required skills a student should display by the end of Grade 4.

Physical Education

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

TX-PE.1.4

Students practice moving skills like running, jumping, throwing, and catching. Building a mix of these skills helps them stay active and take part in more sports and games as they grow.
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance

TX-PE.2.4

Students connect what they know about how the body moves and stays fit to make smarter choices during games, exercises, and activities. It's the difference between just playing and understanding why certain movements help.
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…

TX-PE.3.4

Students practice working with classmates during physical activities: taking turns, communicating clearly, and respecting others' space and effort. The focus is on how students treat each other, not just how they move.
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement

TX-PE.4.4

Students practice setting simple movement goals and start to notice how regular activity affects how they feel. The focus is on building habits now that carry into adult life.

Standard	Definition	Code
Develop a variety of motor skills, including locomotor, non-locomotor	Students practice moving skills like running, jumping, throwing, and catching. Building a mix of these skills helps them stay active and take part in more sports and games as they grow.	TX-PE.1.4
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance	Students connect what they know about how the body moves and stays fit to make smarter choices during games, exercises, and activities. It's the difference between just playing and understanding why certain movements help.	TX-PE.2.4
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…	Students practice working with classmates during physical activities: taking turns, communicating clearly, and respecting others' space and effort. The focus is on how students treat each other, not just how they move.	TX-PE.3.4
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement	Students practice setting simple movement goals and start to notice how regular activity affects how they feel. The focus is on building habits now that carry into adult life.	TX-PE.4.4

Physical Education

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

TX-PE.1.4

Students practice moving skills like running, jumping, throwing, and catching. Building a mix of these skills helps them stay active and take part in more sports and games as they grow.
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance

TX-PE.2.4

Students connect what they know about how the body moves and stays fit to make smarter choices during games, exercises, and activities. It's the difference between just playing and understanding why certain movements help.
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…

TX-PE.3.4

Students practice working with classmates during physical activities: taking turns, communicating clearly, and respecting others' space and effort. The focus is on how students treat each other, not just how they move.
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement

TX-PE.4.4

Students practice setting simple movement goals and start to notice how regular activity affects how they feel. The focus is on building habits now that carry into adult life.

Standard	Definition	Code
Develop a variety of motor skills, including locomotor, non-locomotor	Students practice moving skills like running, jumping, throwing, and catching. Building a mix of these skills helps them stay active and take part in more sports and games as they grow.	TX-PE.1.4
Apply knowledge related to movement, performance	Students connect what they know about how the body moves and stays fit to make smarter choices during games, exercises, and activities. It's the difference between just playing and understanding why certain movements help.	TX-PE.2.4
Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…	Students practice working with classmates during physical activities: taking turns, communicating clearly, and respecting others' space and effort. The focus is on how students treat each other, not just how they move.	TX-PE.3.4
Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement	Students practice setting simple movement goals and start to notice how regular activity affects how they feel. The focus is on building habits now that carry into adult life.	TX-PE.4.4

Common Questions

What does fourth grade PE look like over the year?
Students build on running, jumping, throwing, catching, kicking, and striking, and start using those skills in small games. They also learn about fitness, fair play, and how exercise keeps the body healthy. By spring, students should move with more control and work better in teams.
How can I help my child stay active at home?
Aim for about 60 minutes of active play a day. Walks, bike rides, playing catch in the yard, jumping rope, or family games at the park all count. The goal is regular movement, not a perfect workout.
My child says they are bad at sports. What should I do?
Focus on practice, not talent. Pick one skill at a time, like catching or dribbling, and play short games together for ten minutes a few times a week. Praise effort and small wins so students keep trying.
How should I sequence skills across the year?
Start with movement basics and fitness routines, then layer in throwing, catching, kicking, and striking through partner drills. Move into small-sided games once skills are steady. Save larger team games for later in the year when cooperation and rules can hold up.
Which skills usually need the most reteaching?
Catching moving objects, striking with a bat or racket, and pacing during longer runs tend to lag. Build in short practice stations every few weeks rather than waiting for a full unit. Quick feedback during play helps more than long demonstrations.
How do I handle students with very different skill levels?
Use the same activity with different sized balls, distances, or targets so every student gets honest practice. Group flexibly and change groups often. Track progress against each student's starting point, not against the class.
Does my child need special gear or a sport sign-up?
No. A ball, a jump rope, and open space cover most fourth grade skills. Organized sports are great if a student wants them, but daily play at home does the same job.
How do I know students are ready for fifth grade PE?
By June, students should run, jump, throw, catch, and strike with steady control, and use those skills in simple games without falling apart. They should also follow rules, take turns, and name a few reasons exercise is good for the body.