Unit Plan 17 (Grade K PE): Active Games
Kindergarten students build endurance and active participation through fun tag games that promote continuous movement, quick re-entry, safe play, and joyful physical activity in PE.
Focus: Help students participate in continuous physical activity for short sustained periods through fun, simple tag games that keep bodies moving safely and joyfully.
Grade Level: K
Subject Area: Physical Education (Active Participation • Movement Endurance • Game Play)
Total Unit Duration: 2 core sessions + 2 optional sessions (1–2 weeks), 20–30 minutes per session
I. Introduction
Students continue building Kindergarten PE success by learning how to stay active for a short period of time without stopping too often. In early elementary PE, this means using simple, exciting games that encourage lots of movement, quick starts and stops, and positive energy. This unit uses jogging around the gym as a warm-up and then moves into playful tag games that keep students traveling, changing direction, and rejoining the action quickly. The goal is to help students experience sustained movement in a fun way while learning that active play can feel exciting, healthy, and enjoyable.
Essential Questions
- How can I keep my body moving in PE?
- What helps me stay active during a game?
- How do tag games help me practice active movement?
- How can I move a lot and still stay safe?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Participate actively in physical activity for a short sustained period of time.
- Stay engaged during simple tag games with minimal stopping.
- Use locomotor movement such as jogging, running, and changing direction during active game play.
- Demonstrate positive effort and energy during movement games.
Standards Alignment — Kindergarten (SHAPE America-based custom)
- PE:S3.Ka Participate actively in physical activity for a sustained short period of time.
- Example: Students engage in tag or relay games for several minutes without stopping.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can keep moving during the game.
- I can stay active for a short time without giving up.
- I can rejoin the game quickly when I need to.
- I can use safe movement while playing tag.