Unit Plan 3 (Grade 4 PE): Locomotor Agility & Space Awareness
Boost Grade 4 agility with locomotor pathways, levels, and tag games that build space awareness, safe movement, and active participation.
Focus: Develop locomotor agility by using varied pathways and levels, improve space awareness, and help students move safely and efficiently around others in dynamic tag games.
Grade Level: 4
Subject Area: Physical Education (Locomotor Skills • Agility & Tag Games • Space Awareness)
Total Unit Duration: 1 core session + 2 optional sessions (1–3 weeks), 50–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
Students build agility and movement confidence by practicing how to travel through space in different ways while staying aware of others. In this unit, students begin with locomotor patterns such as run, skip, gallop, and slide through cone pathways arranged in straight, curved, and zig-zag designs. They then apply those movement patterns in Zone Tag and Level Tag, where students must read open space, choose smart routes, and use high, medium, or low body levels to avoid being tagged. Throughout the unit, students focus on moving with control, changing direction quickly, avoiding crowded areas, and staying active while making safe decisions in a fast-moving game environment.
Essential Questions
- How can different pathways help me move more effectively in a game?
- How do levels and direction changes help me avoid being tagged?
- What does good space awareness look like in a busy activity area?
- How can I move quickly and still stay safe around others?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Perform locomotor skills with control while changing speed and direction in agility activities and tag games.
- Use personal and general space effectively by avoiding crowding and moving toward open areas.
- Apply straight, curved, and zig-zag pathways, along with high, medium, and low levels, during chasing and fleeing games.
- Stay actively engaged in warm-ups and tag games for most of class time.
Standards Alignment — 4th Grade (SHAPE America-based custom)
- PE:S1.4a – Locomotor Skills in Dynamic Games Perform locomotor skills (run, hop, jump, leap, slide, gallop, skip) with control and efficiency while changing speed and direction in game situations.
- Example: Students use controlled sprinting, stopping, and quick changes of direction during tag, invasion games, or chasing/fleeing activities.
- PE:S2.4a – Space Awareness & Positioning Use personal and general space effectively by moving to open areas, avoiding overcrowded zones, and maintaining safe distances in games.
- Example: In small-sided games, students spread out instead of clustering around the ball, making it easier to receive passes.
- PE:S2.4b – Pathways, Levels, and Agility in Play Apply pathways (straight, curved, zigzag), levels (high, medium, low), and quick changes of direction to gain advantage in chasing, fleeing, and invasion games.
- Example: Students use zigzag runs and quick stops/starts to evade defenders in flag games or tag activities.
- PE:S3.4a – Active Participation in MVPA Participate actively in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) for most of the class, minimizing off-task time.
- Example: During fitness circuits, stations, or games, students remain engaged and moving rather than standing and watching others.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can move using different pathways like straight, curved, and zig-zag.
- I can change my body level and direction to help avoid getting tagged.
- I can find open space and stay away from crowded spots.
- I can stay active and keep moving safely during the whole lesson.