Unit Plan 32 (Grade 1 PE): Fitness Stations & Self-Challenge
Grade 1 PE fitness stations build active participation and self-challenge as students stay moving, recognize body changes like faster breathing and warmth, and develop confidence in exercise.
Focus: Help students build sustained participation in fitness activities while noticing simple body changes such as faster breathing, warmth, and a quicker heartbeat.
Grade Level: 1
Subject Area: Physical Education (Fitness Participation • Body Awareness • Self-Challenge)
Total Unit Duration: 2 core sessions + 2 optional sessions (1–2 weeks), 20–30 minutes per session
I. Introduction
Students begin learning that fitness can feel active, fun, and personal. In Grade 1 PE, students can start to notice that exercise affects the body in simple ways, such as making breathing faster, making the body feel warmer, and making the heart work harder. This unit uses a whole-group Copy the Coach warm-up and then moves into playful Fitness Stations with movements such as jumping jacks, step-ups, curl-ups, and animal walks. The goal is to help students stay active, keep trying through short station rounds, and recognize how their bodies respond during exercise.
Essential Questions
- How can I stay active during fitness activities?
- What happens to my body when I exercise?
- How can I challenge myself and keep trying?
- How do I know when my body is working harder?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Participate actively in moderate-to-vigorous fitness activities for much of class time.
- Identify simple body responses to exercise, such as faster breathing, warmth, and a quicker heartbeat.
- Move through fitness stations with growing confidence, effort, and independence.
- Practice age-appropriate self-challenge by continuing to move and trying to improve effort during station rounds.
Standards Alignment — 1st Grade (SHAPE America-based custom)
- PE:S3.1a Participate actively in moderate-to-vigorous physical activities during class.
- Example: Students engage in running, jumping, and movement games for sustained periods.
- PE:S3.1b Identify simple body responses to exercise such as increased heart rate, breathing, and warmth.
- Example: Students discuss how their breathing changes after running.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can stay active during fitness stations.
- I can keep trying even when I get tired.
- I can notice when my breathing gets faster or my body feels warm.
- I can challenge myself to keep moving safely.