Second - Physical Education

Second-grade students in SFUSD engage in 100 minutes of weekly physical education instruction provided by a credentialed teacher.  This may look like an average of three 35-minute classes per week.  While lesson structures vary, the overall design of the units remains consistent.

SFUSD Physical Education focuses on cardio fitness, social-emotional learning, and overall health by teaching units that prioritize maximum student engagement, motor skill and movement pattern development, creativity and exploration of movement, positive social interactions with peers, growth mindset skills, and development of physical literacy.

Demonstrating knowledge of concepts and motor skills by engaging in meaningful movement experiences - participating in activities that are developmentally and age-appropriate, challenging, socially engaging, personally relevant, and enjoyable.

• Roll a ball for distance using proper form
• Jump a turned rope repeatedly
• Catch a thrown ball above and below the waist

Going beyond demonstrating knowledge of concepts and motor skills by identifying specific cues, understanding the “why” of movement or concepts, and reflecting on their movement experiences. 

• Demonstrate proper form for stretching specific muscle groups
• Explain how to reduce the impact force of an oncoming object
• Compare and contrasts changes in heart rate before, during, and after physical activity

Developing social and emotional well-being by experiencing meaningful and culturally affirming learning opportunities - managing emotions, exhibiting empathy and kindness for others, fostering and maintaining positive relationships, and developing social skills to manage various situations and problem-solve.

• Accept responsibility for one’s own behavior
• Encourage others by using verbal and nonverbal communication
• Demonstrate respect for self, others, and equipment
• Demonstrate how to solve a problem with another person

It’s vital for 2nd graders to build on the foundational skills acquired in previous grade levels. Skill acquisition becomes more challenging and higher leverage through the introduction of skill combinations and more advanced movement, especially during a major growth spurt. Students build on basic skills like catching a self-tossed ball to more the complex concept of reducing the impact force of a thrown object. Such progressions help develop their physical literacy and confidence allowing for more skillful movement and gameplay as they move through the upper grades.

2nd graders will experience Physical Education lessons that embed growth mindset strategies and language. Students will experience successes and failures guiding them to make meaning that we learn through failures and mistakes. Students will experience language through positive self-talk, exhibiting kind words toward others, and using the power of “yet”. 

SFUSD Physical Education Department has partnered with San Francisco Y-Bikes and SFMTA to introduce biking to 2nd graders. The Bike Experience fosters bike safety, basic riding skills, and a hands-on opportunity to learn to ride or better their pre-existing skills. Skill progression includes balancing, stopping and starting, riding in a straight line, and turning. The program welcomes students of all skill levels and focuses on getting students more comfortable and confident on a bike.