Moving with purpose
Students sharpen the basic moves used in most games and sports, like running, jumping, throwing, catching, and dribbling. Parents may notice better balance, control, and confidence in active play.
What does a student learn in
Sixth grade is the year gym class shifts from learning the basic moves to using them in real games and workouts. Students build the running, jumping, and throwing skills they already have into actual sports and fitness routines. They also start thinking about why they move, including how exercise affects their heart, mood, and energy. By spring, students can warm up on their own, play a team game while cooperating with classmates, and explain one fitness habit they want to keep.
- Motor skills
- Team games
- Fitness habits
- Sportsmanship
- Healthy choices
Year at a glance
How the year usually goes. Every school and district set their own curriculum, so treat this as a guide, not official pacing.
- 1
- 2
How the body works in activity
Students learn what a warm-up is for, why heart rate goes up, and how practice makes a skill stick. They start using this thinking to play smarter in games and stay safer during activity.
- 3
Teamwork and fair play
Students practice working with classmates in group games, following rules, and handling wins and losses. Parents may hear more about cooperating with teammates and including others.
- 4
Building habits for lifelong fitness
Students try a range of activities to find ones they enjoy, set small fitness goals, and reflect on what regular movement does for energy, mood, and sleep. The aim is a habit that lasts beyond gym class.
Mastery Learning Standards
The required skills a student should display by the end of Grade 6.
Physical Education
Physical Education
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Develop a variety of motor skills, including locomotor, non-locomotor
Students practice moving their body in different ways, such as balancing, throwing, and changing direction. These skills build the physical confidence to stay active in sports, games, and everyday life.
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Apply knowledge related to movement, performance
Students use what they know about their body, movement, and fitness to make better choices during physical activity. That means pacing themselves, using proper form, and understanding why exercise affects how they feel and perform.
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Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others…
Students practice working with others during physical activities: taking turns, listening, handling disagreement without giving up, and following through on their role in a group.
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Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement
Students practice setting their own fitness goals and explain why staying active matters to them personally. The focus is on building habits that hold up outside of gym class, not just for a grade.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Develop a variety of motor skills, including locomotor, non-locomotor | Students practice moving their body in different ways, such as balancing, throwing, and changing direction. These skills build the physical confidence to stay active in sports, games, and everyday life. | MD-PE.1.6 |
| Apply knowledge related to movement, performance | Students use what they know about their body, movement, and fitness to make better choices during physical activity. That means pacing themselves, using proper form, and understanding why exercise affects how they feel and perform. | MD-PE.2.6 |
| Develop social skills through movement, including respect for self and others… | Students practice working with others during physical activities: taking turns, listening, handling disagreement without giving up, and following through on their role in a group. | MD-PE.3.6 |
| Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement | Students practice setting their own fitness goals and explain why staying active matters to them personally. The focus is on building habits that hold up outside of gym class, not just for a grade. | MD-PE.4.6 |