Unit Plan 19 (Grade K PE): Heart & Exercise
Kindergarten students explore how exercise affects their bodies through fun running and movement games, learning to notice faster breathing, heartbeat, and body warmth during activity.
Focus: Help students notice simple body responses to exercise by moving actively, then pausing to recognize changes such as faster breathing, a quicker heartbeat, and feeling warm.
Grade Level: K
Subject Area: Physical Education (Fitness Awareness • Body Responses • Active Movement)
Total Unit Duration: 2 core sessions + 2 optional sessions (1–2 weeks), 20–30 minutes per session
I. Introduction
Students continue building Kindergarten PE understanding by learning that exercise changes how the body feels. In these lessons, students move through jogging, jumping, and track-style games, then pause to notice simple body signals such as breathing faster, feeling warmer, and feeling the heart beat more strongly. This unit uses jogging and jumping as a warm-up and then moves into a playful Run the Track activity that keeps students moving in a clear pathway. The goal is to help students connect active movement with body awareness in a way that feels fun, safe, and easy to understand.
Essential Questions
- What happens to my body when I exercise?
- How can I tell when my heart is working harder?
- How does running and jumping change my breathing?
- Why is moving my body good for me?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Recognize simple body responses to physical activity such as faster breathing, warmth, and a quicker heartbeat.
- Participate in active movement games that raise body energy in a safe and developmentally appropriate way.
- Pause after movement and describe how the body feels.
- Build early understanding that exercise makes the heart and lungs work harder.
Standards Alignment — Kindergarten (SHAPE America-based custom)
- PE:S3.Kb Recognize body responses to physical activity (breathing faster, sweating, heart beating).
- Example: Students notice their breathing changes after running laps.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can move my body during exercise.
- I can notice when I am breathing faster.
- I can notice when my heart is beating faster.
- I can tell how my body feels after I move.