Fifth - Physical Education

Fifth-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 or two 50-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. 

Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of concepts and motor skills by engaging in meaningful movement experiences. Students will have opportunities to develop competence and confidence by participating in activities that are age and developmentally appropriate, challenging, socially engaging, personally relevant, and enjoyable.

• Strikes a ball from a side orientation
• Passes using a bounce and chest pass
• Dribbles an object and shoots at a goal while being guarded

Students will be able to go beyond demonstrating knowledge of concepts and motor skills by being able to identify specific cues, understanding the “why” of movement or concepts, and reflecting on their movement experiences.  

• Develops short and long-term fitness goals
• Describe components of Health-Related Fitness
• Compares target heart rate and perceived exertion during physical activity

Students will be able to develop their social and emotional well-being by experiencing meaningful and culturally affirming learning opportunities. Students learn to manage emotions, exhibit empathy and kindness for others, foster and maintain positive relationships, and develop social skills to manage various situations and problem-solve.  

• Contributes ideas and listen to the ideas of others in cooperative problem-solving activities
• Verbally acknowledges the contributions and strengths of others
• Act in a safe and healthy manner when confronted with pressure or stressors

Fifth-grade students will be introduced to the 5 components of Health-Related Fitness. By familiarizing themselves with these components and learning how the components work together, students will be able to identify essential areas of physical fitness and health. This knowledge and understanding will help students to promote and protect their own health and fitness throughout their lives.   

Integral to students’ experiences in Physical Education is the work they will do in developing a Growth Mindset. Fifth graders will participate in lessons embedded with growth mindset concepts and strategies. Students will learn to use positive self-talk, constructive feedback, and the power of “yet,” to build determination and resilience when experiencing challenges both in and out of PE class.

Fifth-grade students will have the opportunity to learn golf skills through a partnership with The First Tee of San Francisco. Our unique golf curriculum teaches core values such as honesty and integrity, while also preparing students’ skills to participate in a lifelong physical activity. We host an annual golf field trip (rotating schools each year), where students get to put their skills to the test with a hands-on experience at Harding Park’s First Tee facility.