The goal of grade three P.E. is to encourage a lifelong appreciation for physical fitness, health, and sport. Students continue the developmental sequence for movement, exploration, cooperation, cardiovascular fitness, and sportsmanship. Teachers assess each student and give an effort grade every two weeks, which is based upon each child’s daily level of effort and attentiveness.
Students change into proper physical education attire at the beginning of each class. They begin with warm-ups and stretching exercises, where they practice basic motor skills such as running, skipping, hopping, jumping, sliding, galloping, throwing, catching, striking, and kicking. Students learn about team sports, in which teamwork, cooperation, sportsmanship, and skill development are an important part of the program. Games and activities in this grade are more structured and competitive by the end of the year to prepare students for fourth grade P.E. There is a strong emphasis placed on the rules, skills, strategies, and expectations of all sports.