Creating a dynamic and developmentally appropriate physical education program for elementary students can feel overwhelming—especially when you’re trying to balance fun, skill-building, and long-term planning. That’s where a well-structured set of PE units for elementary can make all the difference.
In this article, we’ll break down 13 different PE units perfect for elementary students. From foundational movement skills to cooperative games and sport-based activities, each unit is designed to engage young learners and promote lifelong physical literacy and physical activity.
Challenges Finding PE Units For Elementary
One of the biggest hurdles elementary PE teachers face is simply finding quality, age-appropriate units to teach throughout the year. Unlike core subjects that often come with built-in curricula, physical education lesson plans are frequently left up to the teacher to piece together. That usually leaves three main options: make pe lesson plans from scratch, search for free resources online, or pay for pre-made materials.
While creating your own PE units allows for customization, it’s time-consuming and can be overwhelming—especially for newer teachers or those juggling multiple responsibilities.
Searching online can help, but the results are hit or miss. Some free resources lack depth, structure, or consistency. Platforms like Teachers Pay Teachers offer a wide variety of PE content, but much of it comes with a price tag. While helpful, these materials often require teachers to pay out of pocket. That’s not always realistic.
Even when schools do invest in curriculum resources, what’s provided may feel too generic or not tailored to the energy, developmental needs, or attention span of younger students. The result? PE teachers are left cobbling together lessons from multiple places, trying to keep things fresh and fun without always having the right tools at their disposal.
Get Free Sample Lessons!
Explore our K-5 Curriculum with these select Lesson Plans from some of our most popular Units. Each lesson includes a one page lesson overview, equipment checklist, game setup, teaching cues, standard alignment and more!
A Better Way: PLT4M’s Complete PE Curriculum for Elementary
Instead of starting from scratch or PE teachers paying out of pocket, schools can turn to PLT4M—a comprehensive and affordable curriculum solution that gives elementary PE teachers access to a wide range of high-quality units and lessons.
For years, PLT4M has been a leader in secondary physical education, supporting over 1,000 school districts with its innovative curriculum and technology-driven approach.
As interest grew in expanding to younger students, one question kept surfacing: When would PLT4M introduce a K-5 program?
PLT4M & Mike Graham
To ensure elementary PE teachers received the same high-quality resources as their secondary counterparts, PLT4M sought a partner who shared their passion for engaging and effective physical education.
The obvious choice? Mike Graham, a dedicated PE teacher and founder of PE 4 Every Kid. Together, this partnership marks a major step in bringing a comprehensive, developmentally appropriate elementary PE curriculum to schools nationwide.
With the help of Mike Graham, PLT4M now has 13 PE units for elementary physical education programs that are loaded with fun activities and lesson plans. Let’s take a closer look.
13 PE Units For Elementary Physical Education Programs
PLT4M’s elementary curriculum features over 125 ready-to-use lessons, all packed with resources to make planning and teaching easier than ever.
Each lesson includes instructional slides, activity sheets, student handouts, and modifications for different skill levels. Together, these give PE teachers everything they need to lead engaging and effective classes.
Here are the 13 core PE units for elementary currently available through PLT4M:
Batting
Cooperative Activities
Floor Hockey
General Movement
Instant Activities
Jump Rope
Scooter Activities
These units are designed to meet the developmental needs of elementary students while keeping lessons active, inclusive, and fun. Whether you’re teaching fundamental motor skills, introducing sport-specific movements, or promoting teamwork and cooperation, there’s a unit for every part of the school year.
Better yet, while these 13 units give PE teachers a ton of awesome resources all in one place, with the help of Mike Graham, PLT4M plans to continue adding more new content, lessons, and resources as they continue to grow and expand their PE units for elementary.
Samples From PLT4M’s PE Units For Elementary
Curious what a lesson actually looks like? Here’s a sample straight from PLT4M’s library of PE units for elementary. Each lesson is designed to be easy to follow and packed with helpful resources like teacher instructions, student visuals, and printable activity sheets.
Whether you’re leading a large class in the gym or adapting for a smaller space, these lessons are built for real-world teaching.
This sample is just one of over 125 lessons available in the PLT4M curriculum. Want to explore more before diving in? Teachers can download a free 4-lesson sample pack to get a broader look at how PLT4M supports high-quality elementary physical education.
With these samples, you can see firsthand how PLT4M makes planning easier, teaching more effective, and learning more fun for students.
Get Free Sample Lessons!
Explore our K-5 Curriculum with these select Lesson Plans from some of our most popular Units. Each lesson includes a one page lesson overview, equipment checklist, game setup, teaching cues, standard alignment and more!
Key Takeaways on PE Units for Elementary
Finding the right PE units for elementary can be a challenge—but it doesn’t have to be. With PLT4M, PE teachers get access to high-quality, ready-to-use resources all in one place. These lessons and units are designed by PE teachers, for PE teachers—meaning they’re practical, age-appropriate, and physical education classroom-tested.
Even better, PLT4M offers a school-wide solution. Instead of relying on individual teachers to pay out of pocket for curriculum or materials, schools can invest through curriculum, technology, or wellness budgets—ensuring every PE teacher has what they need to deliver an engaging and effective program.
With a growing library of lessons and a commitment to continuous improvement, PLT4M is helping reshape what elementary physical education can look like—one unit at a time.
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