Unit Plan 24 (Grade 3 PE): Fitness Stations & Goal Setting

Focus: Build endurance, support self-improvement through simple goal setting, and help students understand intensity and body responses during station-based fitness activities.

Grade Level: 3

Subject Area: Physical Education (Fitness Stations • Goal Setting • Intensity & Self-Improvement)

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

I. Introduction

Students explore fitness as a way to strengthen the body, build endurance, and practice improving over time through effort and focus. In this unit, students begin with a short jog and a heart rate check so they can notice how movement changes breathing, heartbeat, and overall energy level. They then participate in Timed Fitness Stations such as jump rope, line jumps, curl-ups, and wall sit, where they practice sustained effort and set simple personal “beat your score” goals based on their own previous performance. Throughout the unit, students focus on active participation, recognizing body responses, understanding basic fitness ideas, and learning that improvement comes from steady effort rather than comparing themselves to others.

Essential Questions

• How can I tell when my body is working harder?
• What does it mean to improve my own score instead of competing against someone else?
• How do fitness stations help build endurance and strength?
• Why are effort and responsibility important during fitness activities?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Participate actively in timed fitness stations for most of class time.
2. Describe body responses such as faster heartbeat, quicker breathing, sweating, or tired muscles during activity.
3. Identify basic fitness components in simple terms, such as endurance, strength, and flexibility.
4. Set and work toward simple personal “beat your score” goals.
5. Show effort, responsibility, and on-task behavior during station work, transitions, and cleanup.

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:S3.3b – Recognizing Body Responses & Intensity Describe how their body responds to different levels of physical activity (heart rate, breathing, sweating, tiredness) and recognize signs of moderate vs vigorous effort.
  • Example: After a jogging vs sprinting activity, students compare how their breathing and heart rate feel during each.
• PE:S3.3c – Components of Fitness (Basic Awareness) Identify basic components of fitness in simple terms, such as muscular strength, endurance, and flexibility.
  • Example: Students label curl-ups as strengthening activities and stretching as flexibility work.
• PE:S4.3e – Effort, Responsibility, and On-Task Behavior Show consistent effort, stay on task, and take responsibility for participation (e.g., being prepared, returning equipment, helping with cleanup).
  • Example: Students quickly transition to new activities, continue trying challenging skills, and help collect equipment at the end of class.

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can stay active during fitness stations.
• I can notice how my heart, breathing, or muscles feel during exercise.
• I can name simple fitness parts like endurance, strength, and flexibility.
• I can try to beat my own score in a safe and positive way.
• I can stay on task and act responsibly during station work.