Unit Plan 4 (Grade 3 PE): Flag Football Lead-Up

Focus: Develop chasing and fleeing skills, introduce simple offense and defense concepts, and help students practice safe no-contact game play through beginner flag football activities.

Grade Level: 3

Subject Area: Physical Education (Flag Football Lead-Up • Offense & Defense • Chasing, Fleeing & Teamwork)

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

I. Introduction

Students explore flag football as a lead-up invasion game that uses running, dodging, teamwork, and safe defensive play instead of contact. In this unit, students begin with jogging and change-of-direction drills without balls so they can practice moving under control, reacting quickly, and staying balanced while changing pathways. They then apply those movement skills in Flag Pull Relays and No-Contact Flag Football in small-sided games, where they learn to run to open space on offense and stay between an opponent and the goal on defense. Throughout the unit, students focus on safe flag pulling, open-space running, defensive positioning, teamwork, and positive encouragement.

Essential Questions

• How can I run and change direction safely in a flag football game?
• What does it mean to move to open space on offense?
• How can I play defense by staying between an opponent and the goal?
• What does good teamwork look like in a no-contact game?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Perform locomotor movements with control while jogging, chasing, fleeing, and changing direction.
2. Combine running, dodging, flag pulling, and simple passing/catching in modified small-sided games.
3. Use personal and general space effectively to move to open areas and avoid collisions.
4. Apply simple offensive strategies such as running to open space and supporting a teammate.
5. Apply simple defensive strategies such as staying between an opponent and a goal and attempting safe flag pulls.
6. Cooperate with classmates by taking turns, encouraging others, and helping activities run smoothly.

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

• PE:S1.3a – Locomotor Skills in Complex Pathways Perform locomotor skills (run, hop, jump, leap, slide, gallop, skip) with control, changing speed and direction in response to cues or game situations.
  • Example: Students navigate a cone course, adjusting speed and direction while avoiding others during a tag-style warm-up.
• PE:S1.3f – Combining Skills in Small-Sided Games Combine locomotor and object-control skills (run, dodge, throw, catch, strike, kick) in modified small-sided games.
  • Example: Students play 3v3 passing games where they must move to open space, receive a pass, and attempt to score in a goal zone.
• PE:S2.3a – Space Awareness & Positioning Use knowledge of personal and general space to find open areas, avoid collisions, and position appropriately during games.
  • Example: In keep-away games, students move away from defenders to create open passing lanes.
• PE:S2.3d – Basic Offensive Strategies Demonstrate simple offensive strategies such as moving to open space, passing to an open teammate, and using quick changes of direction.
  • Example: In mini-soccer, students move into open space to receive a pass then quickly dribble toward the goal.
• PE:S2.3e – Basic Defensive Strategies Demonstrate simple defensive strategies such as staying between an opponent and a goal or target and attempting to intercept passes.
  • Example: In keep-away, students position themselves between the passer and target to block or intercept the ball.
• PE:S4.3b – Cooperation, Encouragement, and Teamwork Cooperate with partners and teams, share equipment, take turns, and encourage others.
  • Example: Students rotate through stations smoothly, give positive feedback to teammates, and help reset equipment.

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can run and change direction with control.
• I can move to open space when my team has the ball.
• I can stay between my player and the goal on defense.
• I can pull a flag safely without contact.
• I can encourage teammates and take turns fairly.