Unit Plan 6 (Grade 1 PE): High, Low, Wide, Narrow

Focus: Help students explore body levels and body shapes by creating high, low, wide, and narrow positions while using strong body control and safe personal space.

Grade Level: 1

Subject Area: Physical Education (Non-Locomotor Movement • Movement Concepts • Space Awareness)

Total Unit Duration: 1 core session + 3 optional sessions (1–2 weeks), 20–30 minutes per session

I. Introduction

Students continue building body control by exploring how their bodies can make different shapes and move at different levels. In Grade 1 PE, students benefit from learning that movement is not always about traveling fast across the floor. Sometimes movement means freezing in place, stretching tall, crouching low, making the body wide, or pulling it in narrow. Through a playful Shape Walk warm-up and fun Level & Shape Stations, students practice using personal space, changing body position, and controlling their movement while staying safe around others. The goal is to help students become more aware of how their bodies move and how shape and level can make PE fun and creative.

Essential Questions

• What does it mean to make my body high, low, wide, or narrow?
• How can I control my body while making different shapes?
• How do levels and shapes help me move in PE?
• How can I stay in my own space while exploring body shapes?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Perform non-locomotor movements such as balancing, bending, twisting, stretching, and swaying with improving control.
2. Create body shapes at different levels such as high and low.
3. Explore body shapes such as wide and narrow while staying in personal space.
4. Demonstrate awareness of personal and general space during movement and station activities.

Standards Alignment — 1st Grade (SHAPE America-based custom)

• PE:S1.1b Perform non-locomotor movements (balance, bend, twist, stretch, sway) while maintaining body control.
  • Example: Students hold a balance pose or perform stretching movements during warm-up activities.
• PE:S2.1a Apply movement concepts such as speed, direction, levels, and pathways during activities.
  • Example: Students move quickly in straight pathways and slowly in curved pathways during a game.
• PE:S2.1b Demonstrate awareness of personal and general space while moving.
  • Example: Students avoid collisions while moving around classmates during locomotor games.

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can make my body high and low.
• I can make my body wide and narrow.
• I can balance, bend, stretch, twist, and sway with control.
• I can stay in my own space while I move and freeze.