Unit Plan 31 (Grade 5 PE): Walking/Jogging Club & Personal Pacing

Focus: Build sustained MVPA, help students use simple intensity tools such as the talk test and perceived exertion, and support personal endurance goal setting through walking/jogging challenges and pacing practice.

Grade Level: 5

Subject Area: Physical Education (Cardiorespiratory Endurance • Personal Pacing • Goal Setting & Wellness)

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

I. Introduction

Students explore walking and jogging as practical, lifelong activities that can improve endurance, mood, and overall health. In this unit, students begin with a gentle walk that gradually progresses into a comfortable jog, while also learning how to notice whether their pace feels light, moderate, or challenging. They then move into lap challenges, tempo runs, and optional run/walk interval patterns that help them practice pacing instead of simply starting too fast and fading out. Throughout the unit, students learn that endurance improves when people choose a realistic pace, pay attention to body signals, and set short-term goals they can work toward over time.

Essential Questions

• How can I find a pace that I can maintain instead of starting too fast?
• How do tools like the talk test and perceived exertion help me understand my effort level?
• How can walking, jogging, and interval work help me build endurance over time?
• What healthy lifestyle choices support better energy and performance during endurance activities?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Participate actively in sustained walking, jogging, or interval-based activities for significant portions of class.
2. Use simple intensity-monitoring tools such as the talk test, effort scales, or pulse/heart-rate checks to describe and adjust pacing.
3. Set a realistic short-term endurance goal, track progress, and reflect on what helps improve pacing and consistency.
4. Identify healthy choices such as hydration, sleep, and regular activity that support endurance and recovery.
5. Explain how walking and jogging can support physical, mental, and social well-being.

Standards Alignment — 5th Grade (SHAPE America-based custom)

• PE:S3.5a – Sustained Participation in Moderate-to-Vigorous Activity Participate actively and continuously in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) for significant portions of class without frequent off-task behavior.
  • Example: During fitness circuits or small-sided games, students remain engaged and moving, minimizing standing time between turns.
• PE:S3.5b – Monitoring Intensity with Simple Fitness Tools Use simple tools and methods (heart rate checks, perceived exertion scales, talk test, step counts) to monitor and adjust activity intensity.
  • Example: After intervals of running, students check their pulse or use a 1–5 exertion scale to describe effort, then adjust pace to stay in a “target zone.”
• PE:S3.5d – Setting, Tracking, and Reflecting on Personal Fitness Goals Set short-term, realistic fitness or activity goals, track progress over time, and reflect on factors that helped or hindered improvement.
  • Example: Students record the number of curl-ups or laps they can do at the start and end of a unit and write a brief reflection about their progress.
• PE:S3.5e – Applying Healthy Lifestyle Choices Identify and describe specific choices that support a healthy lifestyle, including regular activity, good nutrition, hydration, sleep, and balanced screen time.
  • Example: Students discuss how choosing to be active after school, limiting sugary drinks, and getting enough sleep help them feel better and perform better in PE.
• PE:S5.5b – Recognizing Physical, Mental, and Social Benefits Describe how regular physical activity positively affects physical health (fitness, strength), mental health (mood, stress), and social connections (friendships, teamwork).
  • Example: Students explain that playing games helps them feel energized, reduces stress, and allows them to spend time with friends.

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can choose a walking or jogging pace that I can keep for a longer time.
• I can use the talk test or an effort scale to tell how hard I am working.
• I can set a personal endurance goal and track my progress honestly.
• I can explain how healthy choices like water, sleep, and regular activity help my endurance.
• I can explain how walking and jogging can help my body, mood, and overall health.