Our Curriculum › PE & Health › 3rd Grade
PE & Health 3
A third-grade year of movement skills (combining running, skipping and rolling into sequences, dance, jump rope, throwing, catching and kicking, offense and defense), plus health topics from food labels and dental care to screen safety, feelings and speaking up for health.
180 lessons
One a day for a school year
10 units
Each opens to its lessons
A year-long health goal
Set, tracked, adjusted and reviewed
Standards
SHAPE America PE & health standards
What's taught, unit by unit
Health goal and hygieneDays 1–9
What it means to be healthy (physical, emotional and social), choosing a personal health goal for the year with a tracking sheet, using personal strengths, and why handwashing and daily hygiene habits matter, with a closing quiz.
- 1 · What Does It Mean to Be Healthy?
- 2 · How Your Three Kinds of Wellness Work Together
- 3 · Setting a Health Goal for the Year
- 4 · Your Goal-Tracking Sheet
- 5 · Using Your Strengths to Reach Your Goal
- 6 · Why Hygiene Habits Matter
- 7 · Germs, Up Close
- 8 · Your Daily Hygiene Checklist
- 9 · Hygiene Habits Review
Movement combinations, sequences and fire escapeDays 10–30
Combining running, skipping, galloping and sliding, designing an obstacle path, weight transfer, bear crawls and log rolls, planning a jump-land-balance sequence, why people enjoy moving, and planning and practicing a home fire escape route.
- 10 · Combining Running and Skipping
- 11 · Galloping and Sliding Combos
- 12 · Mixing Locomotor Skills in a Pattern
- 13 · Plan Your Locomotor Obstacle Path
- 14 · Locomotor Skills Review
- 15 · From Feet to Hands: Weight Transfer Basics
- 16 · The Bear Crawl to Stand
- 17 · Log Rolls: Rolling Safely
- 18 · Forward Roll Prep
- 19 · Weight Transfer and Rolling Review
- 20 · Building a Movement Sequence
- 21 · Plan Your Jump-Land-Balance Sequence
- 22 · Adding a Roll to Your Sequence
- 23 · Practicing Your Full Sequence
- 24 · Movement Sequence Review
- 25 · Why You Love to Move
- 26 · Moving With Others
- 27 · Your Personal Movement Story
- 28 · Planning a Fire Escape Route
- 29 · Practicing Your Escape Plan
- 30 · Health and PE Review
Dance, jump rope and safe landingsDays 31–48
Moving to rhythm, in-place moves, dancing with a prop and building a 12-count sequence, jump rope technique and counting, jumping for height versus distance, landing safely, and keeping safe in busy game spaces like freeze tag and blob tag.
- 31 · Moving to the Beat: Locomotor Patterns in Rhythm
- 32 · Non-Locomotor Moves: Bending, Twisting, and Swaying in Place
- 33 · Adding a Prop: Manipulative Movement in Your Dance
- 34 · Putting It Together: A 3-Part Movement Sequence
- 35 · Showtime: Performing Your Movement Sequence
- 36 · Jump Rope Warm-Up: Grip and Wrist Turns
- 37 · The Basic Two-Foot Jump Rope Bounce
- 38 · Watch and Learn: Jump Rope Video Practice
- 39 · Counting Your Jumps: Building a Rhythm
- 40 · Jump Rope Challenge: Speed and Steady Rhythm
- 41 · Bend Your Knees: Safe Landing Basics
- 42 · Jumping for Height vs. Jumping for Distance
- 43 · Jump-and-Freeze: Controlling Your Landing
- 44 · Landing Safely Review: Two-Foot Jump Check
- 45 · Sharing Space Safely: Moving Where Others Are Moving
- 46 · Safety Rules for a Moving Game: Freeze Tag at Home
- 47 · Stop on a Dime: Changing Direction Under Control
- 48 · Busy-Space Game Day: Blob Tag Safety Review
Game strategy, food labels and dental healthDays 49–60
Finding open space and moving toward a goal in target games, then what shapes snack choices, reading serving sizes, ingredients and sugar on a food label, comparing two snacks, dentist visits, brushing and flossing. Ends with a block review.
- 49 · Finding Open Space: Your First Offensive Idea
- 50 · Move Toward the Goal: A Simple Offense Idea
- 51 · Target Game Day: Open Space and Moving Toward the Goal
- 52 · What Shapes Your Snack Choices?
- 53 · Reading a Food Label: Serving Size
- 54 · Reading a Food Label: Ingredients and Sugar
- 55 · Label Detective: Comparing Two Snacks
- 56 · Why Dentist Visits Matter
- 57 · What Happens During a Dental Checkup
- 58 · Brushing and Flossing: Preventing Cavities
- 59 · Dental Health Review: Habits That Protect Your Smile
- 60 · Block Review: Movement, Games, and Healthy Habits
Defense, throwing form and partner problemsDays 61–72
Guarding space, staying between a player and the goal, watching ball and player, throwing with the opposite foot, giving with the catch, kicking with the inside of the foot, and partner problem-solving challenges.
- 61 · What Does It Mean to 'Guard the Space'?
- 62 · Staying Between: The Key Defensive Skill
- 63 · Watching the Ball and the Player: Defensive Focus
- 64 · Defense Game Day: Guard the Cone Challenge
- 65 · Throwing Form: Why Step with the Opposite Foot?
- 66 · Catching: Why We 'Give' with the Catch
- 67 · Kicking with Control: Using the Inside of Your Foot
- 68 · Throw, Catch, Kick: How Form Helps Every Skill
- 69 · Partner Challenge: Move an Object Using Only Feet
- 70 · Partner Challenge: Keep It Off the Ground
- 71 · Solving a Movement Puzzle: The Space Between Us
- 72 · Movement Problem-Solving: What Worked and Why
Eyes, ears, kitchen safety and communicationDays 73–90
Why vision and hearing checkups matter, kitchen and fire safety, smoke alarm steps, trusted helpers at home, away from home and in the community, and communication: saying what you need, active listening and expressing feelings respectfully.
- 73 · Why Regular Eye Checkups Matter
- 74 · Why Regular Hearing Checkups Matter
- 75 · Taking Care of Your Eyes and Ears: What to Tell a Trusted Adult
- 76 · Kitchen Safety: Rules Before You Help Cook
- 77 · Being Safe in the Kitchen
- 78 · Fire Safety: What to Do If You Hear a Smoke Alarm
- 79 · Fire Safety Steps Worksheet
- 80 · Who Can Help Me? Trusted Adults at Home
- 81 · Who Can Help Me? Away From Home
- 82 · Who Can Help Me? In the Community
- 83 · My Trusted Helpers Worksheet
- 84 · Saying What You Need: Clear Communication
- 85 · Active Listening: More Than Just Staying Quiet
- 86 · Listening Game: Follow My Directions
- 87 · Expressing Feelings Respectfully to Others
- 88 · Communication Skills Check-In
Plus 2 review days, not listed.
Fair play, weather, decisions and feelingsDays 91–120
Seeing a game from a teammate's view, fair turn-taking and choosing who is 'it', good sportsmanship, dressing and drinking water for hot and cold weather, decision steps, and naming feelings with slow breaths and short breaks.
- 91 · Seeing the Game Through a Teammate's Eyes
- 92 · Playing Fair with Different Skill Levels
- 93 · Noticing When Someone Needs Encouragement
- 94 · Perspective-Taking Check-In
- 95 · Deciding Who Goes First
- 96 · Choosing Who's 'It'
- 97 · Taking Turns Fairly in a Longer Game
- 98 · How We Decided: A Turn-Taking Reflection
- 99 · Winning without Bragging
- 100 · Losing without Giving Up on Fun
- 101 · Using Encouraging Words During a Group Game
- 102 · Sportsmanship Check-In
- 103 · Dressing for Cold-Weather Play
- 104 · Dressing for Heat and Sun Protection
- 105 · Drinking Water During Outdoor Play
- 106 · Knowing When to Come Inside
- 107 · Deciding What to Do When You Feel a Little Sick
- 108 · Deciding What to Do When Weather Changes Mid-Game
- 109 · Knowing When to Ask for Help
- 110 · Working Through a Decision
- 111 · Naming Your Feelings
- 112 · Taking Slow Breaths to Calm Down
- 113 · Taking a Short Break
- 114 · My Feelings Check-In Chart
- 115 · Matching the Tool to the Feeling
- 116 · Managing Your Feelings While Noticing a Partner's
- 117 · Handling a Negotiation That Doesn't Go Your Way
- 118 · Calming Down Before You Celebrate or Console
- 119 · Planning a Family Game Night
- 120 · Social Skills and Health Decisions: Block Review
Whole-body health, teamwork, habits and screensDays 121–150
How movement affects mood and health, choosing activities you enjoy, team challenges like the rolled-sock relay, checking and adjusting the health goal, sleep, food, hygiene and safety as daily habits, screen breaks, the 20-20-20 rule, online privacy and scenarios.
- 121 · How Movement Affects Your Whole Health
- 122 · Picking Activities You Actually Enjoy
- 123 · Matching Activities to Your Interests
- 124 · The Mood-Movement Connection
- 125 · Team Challenge: The Rolled-Sock Relay
- 126 · Working Together When Things Get Hard
- 127 · The Untangle Challenge
- 128 · What Makes a Challenge 'Hard Together'?
- 129 · Checking In On Your Health Goal
- 130 · What's Helped You Stick With Your Goal?
- 131 · What's Gotten In The Way?
- 132 · Do You Need Some Help With Your Goal?
- 133 · Adjusting Your Plan
- 134 · Putting It All Together: A Healthy Day
- 135 · Sleep's Role in Your Healthy Habits Picture
- 136 · Food, Movement, and Feeling Your Best
- 137 · Hygiene and Safety as Daily Habits
- 138 · My Daily Habits Checklist
- 139 · Why Your Brain and Body Need Screen Breaks
- 140 · The 20-20-20 Rule for Screen Time
- 141 · Keeping Your Personal Information Private Online
- 142 · When Something Online Feels Wrong
- 143 · Building a Screen-Time Plan
- 144 · Screen Safety Review
- 145 · Scenario: Planning a Healthy Afternoon
- 146 · Scenario: A Goal Setback
- 147 · Scenario: Screen Time and Family Rules
- 148 · Scenario: Choosing an Activity You Enjoy
- 149 · Putting Your Plan Into Action This Week
- 150 · Health & Personal Wellness Review
Skills showcase and speaking up for healthDays 151–166
Showcase days for locomotor combos, jump rope, landing, weight transfer and dance patterns, then advocacy: what it means to speak up for health, working with others, planning to encourage a family member toward a healthy habit, and speaking up when a game is not safe.
- 151 · Skills Showcase: Locomotor Combos
- 152 · Jump Rope Skills: Practicing on Your Own
- 153 · Showcase: Jumping and Landing Safely
- 154 · Showcase: Transferring Your Weight
- 155 · Showcase: Moving to a Pattern
- 156 · Choose Two: Your Own Skills Showcase
- 157 · What Is Advocacy? Speaking Up for Health
- 158 · Advocacy Needs Teamwork: Collaboration and Communication
- 159 · Tools for Advocacy: Skills and Strategies
- 160 · Putting Advocacy into Action
- 161 · Advocacy Check: What You've Learned
- 162 · Plan: Encourage a Family Member Toward a Healthy Habit
- 163 · Encouragement in Action
- 164 · How Did It Go? Reflecting on Your Advocacy
- 165 · Speaking Up When a Game Isn't Safe
- 166 · Advocacy Wrap-Up: Self and Others
Year review, family activity day and goal reflectionDays 167–180
Review days across movement, nutrition, safety and fitness, a mixed challenge, planning and doing a family activity day with snacks and a weather check, looking back at the health goal, setting a new one, and a celebration day.
- 167 · Year in Review: Movement and Fitness Knowledge
- 168 · Year in Review: Nutrition and Safety
- 169 · Year in Review: Your Body and Fitness
- 170 · Year in Review: Mixed PE and Health Challenge
- 171 · Plan a Safe, Fun Family Activity Day
- 172 · Fueling Your Activity Day: Choosing Snacks
- 173 · Weather Check and Safety Plan
- 174 · Activity Day: Try It and Reflect
- 175 · Looking Back: Your Health and Fitness Goal
- 176 · Your Goal: How Did It Go?
- 177 · Setting a New Goal for Next Year
- 178 · Celebrating How Far You've Come
- 179 · What You Learned This Year in PE & Health
- 180 · Finish Line: Your PE & Health 3 Celebration
By the end of the year, your child can
- Combine locomotor skills such as running, skipping and sliding into a planned sequence
- Jump rope and land safely from a jump
- Throw, catch and kick using correct form, and play simple offense and defense
- Read a food label's serving size, ingredients and sugar to compare snacks
- Name feelings, use slow breaths or a break, and take turns fairly in games
- Set a health goal, track it, and adjust the plan