Unit Plan 13 (Grade 3 PE): Invasion Games without Equipment

Focus: Strengthen chasing, fleeing, dodging, and simple offensive/defensive positioning through active invasion-style games that do not require equipment.

Grade Level: 3

Subject Area: Physical Education (Invasion Concepts • Movement & Positioning • Tag-Based Game Play)

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

I. Introduction

Students explore invasion-game ideas without needing balls, sticks, or other equipment so they can focus on movement, spacing, and decision-making. In this unit, students begin with change-of-direction running and dodging drills so they can practice stopping, cutting, accelerating, and moving away from pressure while staying balanced and aware of others. They then apply those skills in Endzone Games and Partner Mirror Tag, where they must run to open space on offense, avoid touches with quick changes of direction, and stay between an opponent and a scoring area on defense. Throughout the unit, students focus on safe movement, body control, offensive and defensive positioning, and understanding that many game ideas begin with how players move rather than what equipment they use.

Essential Questions

• How can I move to open space in an invasion game?
• How do direction changes, pathways, and levels help me avoid a defender?
• What does good defensive positioning look like when I am guarding another player?
• How can I chase and flee safely while still playing competitively?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Perform locomotor movements with control while chasing, fleeing, and changing direction in game situations.
2. Use personal and general space effectively to avoid collisions and move into open areas.
3. Apply pathways, levels, and direction changes to gain advantage during dodging tasks.
4. Demonstrate simple offensive strategies such as cutting to open space and changing direction to attack an endline.
5. Demonstrate simple defensive strategies such as staying between an opponent and a scoring line and using controlled two-hand touches.

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: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:S2.3b – Pathways, Levels, and Direction in Game Contexts Apply movement concepts (pathways, levels, directions) to gain advantage in chasing, fleeing, dodging, and invasion games.
  • Example: Students change direction and levels to evade a tagger during a tag game.
• 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.

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can run, stop, and change direction with control.
• I can find open space and avoid crowded areas.
• I can use pathways and level changes to dodge a defender.
• I can move to open space on offense.
• I can stay between my player and the endline on defense.