At Pepper Ridge Elementary School in Illinois, PE is on a time crunch. PE teacher Josh Gross gets 25 minutes with each PE class before a new group walks in.
The faces change all day long. From kindergarten through 5th grade, different groups cycle through the gymnasium for PE classes.
Even with a tight time crunch, Josh keeps one basic goal in mind. “My goal is to help every student discover that physical activity can be enjoyable, meaningful, and something they can carry with them for a lifetime,” he says.
Here is how Josh maximizes every class period with planning, purpose, and a passion for physical education.
Building and Planning Within a Tight Time Window
Twenty-five minutes doesn’t leave room for wasted setup time. Every activity has to be planned tightly, explained quickly, and ready to run without delay. And regardless of time, Josh always want it to be the total experience for students.
“I strive to create an inclusive environment where all students feel successful, regardless of their skill level,” Josh says, “while building competence, confidence, and positive relationships through movement.”
To meet that challenge, Josh uses PLT4M’s Elementary PE curriculum. “I would describe PLT4M as a top-tier curriculum resource in the field of physical education,” he explains. “The website is well organized, easy to navigate, and packed with high-quality content for educators.”
What stands out most to him is how ready the content is to use. “One of my favorite features is the large collection of ready-to-use activities that include step-by-step directions and are aligned with national standards,” he says.
“I like PLT4M because of its accessibility and the organization of its detailed lesson plans,” Josh adds. “It saves me valuable planning time while helping me deliver engaging and meaningful learning experiences for my students.”
Check out a sample PE lesson plan and all the different content that goes into them!
Open to What Works
Josh has always been open to finding new things that fit his classroom, rather than sticking with whatever he’s always done. PLT4M has been one of those additions.
“PLT4M has helped me introduce new activities, improve lesson delivery, and create more meaningful physical education experiences for all students,” he says.
Once something proves itself, Josh sticks with it. That same openness carries over into how he connects with other teachers, too.
He trades ideas online and shouts out what’s working in gyms outside his own.
It’s a small window into how Josh approaches teaching: stay open to new approaches and build on things that work.
This week we played “Shoot Pucks, Get Bucks” from @PLT4M & @pe4everykid🏒
— Josh Gross (@PE_with_Mr_G) March 6, 2026
Students shot at 3 targets:
Hockey net = $1
Bowling pin = $2
Taped square = $3
At the end, SS counted their money and finished with a turn & talk about which target was the most challenging. #PhysEd pic.twitter.com/GYgHUsa0AX
Visuals That Do the Heavy Lifting
At the elementary level, a lot of instruction has to happen without much verbal explanation. Young students learn faster when they can see what’s expected of them.
“The visuals are especially helpful for understanding activity setup, gym organization, and gameplay, making lesson preparation more efficient,” Josh explains.
Josh uses PLT4M’s Class Mode to bring that visual instruction into the room directly. “Students can view videos and GIFs that help reinforce skills and concepts as they learn,” he says.
Even after the activity is set, Josh finds more value built into each lesson. “Another feature I appreciate is the ‘Best Practices’ section at the bottom of each lesson, which provides practical teaching tips and ideas that can elevate instruction and enhance the student experience,” he says.
Planning From Anywhere
Elementary PE teachers rarely plan from behind a desk. Between classes, during lunch, and moving between spaces, there isn’t always time to sit down with a laptop.
That’s where the PLT4M app comes in. “Throughout the year, I am able to quickly access lesson plans and resources from my phone whenever I don’t have my laptop nearby,” Josh says.
“Having that level of accessibility makes it easy to review activities, plan ahead, and stay organized no matter where I am,” he adds.
Key Takeaways on Pepper Ridge’s PE Program
Twenty-five minutes a day isn’t much time. But Josh treats every one of those minutes like it matters, because to a student, it does.
“The biggest impact PLT4M has had on my program is the quality and consistency of instruction I am able to provide to my students,” he says.
That drive to keep improving, one class period and one new activity at a time, is what sets the tone at Pepper Ridge.
Josh’s aim stays simple: he wants students to leave his program “with the knowledge, skills, and motivation to lead active, healthy lives both inside and outside of school.”
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