Unit Plan 33 (Grade 3 PE): Choice Day — Favorite Sports & Games

Focus: Help students identify preferred physical activities, stay actively engaged through student choice, and recognize ways to be active in and out of school.

Grade Level: 3

Subject Area: Physical Education (Choice Day • Favorite Sports & Games • Lifelong Activity & Active Opportunities)

Total Unit Duration: 1 core session + 2 optional sessions (1–3 weeks), 50–60 minutes per session

I. Introduction

Students explore choice-based physical activity as a way to reflect on what they enjoy, stay active for extended periods, and connect school-based movement to healthy habits outside PE. In this unit, students begin with a student-choice warm-up menu that may include tag, dynamic stretches, or dance, so they can select a warm-up style that feels enjoyable and motivating. They then participate in choice stations such as mini-soccer, basketball shooting, jump rope, dance, and Frisbee, where they rotate through favorite activities, think about what kinds of movement they enjoy most, and consider where they could continue those activities at home, at recess, in parks, or in the community. Throughout the unit, students focus on active participation, positive enjoyment, self-awareness, and the idea that physical activity can be something they choose and enjoy for many years.

Essential Questions

• What kinds of physical activities do I enjoy most?
• How can I stay active during choice-based PE time?
• Which activities could I continue doing outside school?
• Where are some places and times I can choose to be active?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Participate actively in station-based physical activities for most of class time.
2. Express enjoyment and a positive attitude while engaging in favorite sports and games.
3. Identify physical activities they enjoy and might continue doing outside school and as they grow older.
4. Recognize places and times where they can be physically active at school, at home, and in the community.

Standards Alignment — 3rd Grade (SHAPE America-based custom)

• PE:S3.3a – Participation in Moderate-to-Vigorous Activity Participate actively in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity for most of the PE class time.
  • Example: Students remain engaged in continuous movement activities such as running games, circuits, or relays with minimal idle time.
• PE:S5.3a – Enjoyment and Positive Attitude Express enjoyment and a positive attitude toward participating in a variety of physical activities and games.
  • Example: Students state which activities they enjoyed and show enthusiasm by actively participating.
• PE:S5.3c – Preference for Lifelong Physical Activities Identify types of physical activities they enjoy and might continue doing outside of school and as they grow older (e.g., biking, swimming, running, dance, sports).
  • Example: Students name activities they like in PE and connect them to community or home opportunities.
• PE:S5.3d – Seeking Activity Opportunities Recognize times and places where they can be physically active at school and at home (recess, after-school clubs, parks, backyard, community centers).
  • Example: Students identify recess, PE, neighborhood parks, or sports teams as chances to be active.

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can stay active during my chosen PE stations.
• I can show a positive attitude while doing activities I enjoy.
• I can name activities I would like to keep doing outside school.
• I can identify places where I can be active at school, at home, or in my community.