Our Curriculum › PE & Health › 4th Grade
PE & Health 4
A fourth-grade year of balance and ball skills (throwing, striking, serving, kicking, dribbling) with health lessons on bones and muscles, digestion and the heart, fitness components, bike and water safety, first aid, stress, screen time and healthy decisions.
180 lessons
One a day for a school year
9 units
Each opens to its lessons
4 fitness components
Plus a one-month fitness goal
Standards
SHAPE America PE & health standards
What's taught, unit by unit
Goals, balance and basic ball skillsDays 1–21
Setting a meaningful health goal with a tracking sheet, balancing on one, two and three body parts (even with eyes closed), rolling and throwing underhand and overhand, striking off a tee, why people like different activities, and a group challenge.
- 1 · Welcome to PE & Health 4: A New Level of Challenge
- 2 · The Four Big Ideas in PE & Health 4
- 3 · Setting a Goal That Means Something to You
- 4 · Build Your Own Goal-Tracking Sheet
- 5 · Talk Through Your Goal With Your AI Teacher
- 6 · Balancing on One Foot: Finding Your Center
- 7 · Balancing on Two Body Parts at Once
- 8 · Balancing on Three Body Parts: Building a Stable Base
- 9 · Balance Challenge: Closing Your Eyes
- 10 · Balance Skills Check-In: Build an Obstacle Course
- 11 · Rolling a Ball With Control
- 12 · Rolling at a Target: Aim and Accuracy
- 13 · Throwing Underhand With Accuracy
- 14 · Throwing Overhand: Step, Turn, Release
- 15 · Meet Your Long-Handled Striking Tool
- 16 · Striking a Ball Off a Stationary Stand
- 17 · Improving Your Swing: Stance and Follow-Through
- 18 · Striking Skills Review: Three Swings, Three Targets
- 19 · Why Do You Like the Activities You Like?
- 20 · Choosing Activities That Fit You
- 21 · Working Together Through a Group Challenge
Bones, muscles and healthy habitsDays 22–30
The skeleton, the bones that protect organs, major bones, keeping bones strong, how muscles move the body and work with bones. Includes a factual lesson on how tobacco and alcohol harm a growing body, and everyday habits that prevent illness and injury.
- 22 · Your Skeleton: The Body's Framework
- 23 · Bones That Protect Your Organs
- 24 · Major Bones and Where They Are
- 25 · Keeping Your Bones Strong
- 26 · Your Muscles: How You Move
- 27 · Different Muscles, Different Jobs
- 28 · Muscles and Bones Working as a Team
- 29 · Keeping a Growing Body Healthy: Tobacco and Alcohol
- 30 · Preventing Illness and Injury: Everyday Healthy Habits
Catching, striking and fitness componentsDays 31–46
Catching tosses at different heights and angles, striking above and below the waist, then the four fitness components (cardio endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility) and planning and tracking a one-month fitness goal.
- 31 · Catching a Soft Toss at Chest Height
- 32 · Catching a High Toss Above Your Head
- 33 · Catching a Low Bounce
- 34 · Catching from an Angle to the Side
- 35 · Striking Above the Waist: The Balloon Tap
- 36 · Above-Waist Striking: Alternating Hands
- 37 · Striking Below the Waist: The Underhand Tap
- 38 · Combining Above- and Below-Waist Strikes
- 39 · Fitness Component: Cardiovascular Endurance
- 40 · Fitness Component: Muscular Strength
- 41 · Fitness Component: Muscular Endurance
- 42 · Fitness Component: Flexibility
- 43 · Putting the Fitness Components Together
- 44 · Choosing a One-Month Fitness Goal
- 45 · Planning Your Fitness Goal: A Weekly Schedule
- 46 · Tracking Week One of Your Fitness Goal
Digestion, heart, fueling and environmentDays 47–60
Food's path through mouth, stomach and intestines, how the heart pumps blood and gets stronger with exercise, eating and drinking before, during and after activity, finding good health information, how the environment affects health, and a block review.
- 47 · Your Body's Food Journey Begins: The Mouth
- 48 · Down to the Stomach
- 49 · The Intestines Finish the Job
- 50 · Digestive System Review
- 51 · Your Heart, the Hardest-Working Muscle
- 52 · How Blood Travels Through Your Body
- 53 · Exercise Makes Your Heart Stronger
- 54 · Circulatory System and Fitness: Putting It Together
- 55 · Eating Before You Play
- 56 · Drinking Water Before, During, and After Activity
- 57 · Refueling After Activity
- 58 · Health Literacy: Finding Good Health Information
- 59 · How Your Environment Affects Your Health
- 60 · Block Review: Fitness, Body Systems, and Healthy Choices
Serving, striking, kicking, bike and water safetyDays 61–90
Underhand serving, short-handled striking and rallies, sending and receiving, instep kicking, bike helmets, hand signals and crossings, swimming ability, life jackets and pool rules, and how family, friends, advertising and media shape health choices.
- 61 · Serving Basics: The Underhand Toss Over a Line
- 62 · Serving Slow and Steady: Balloon Serves
- 63 · Serving for Accuracy: Aiming at a Target Zone
- 64 · Serving with Power: Distance and Follow-Through
- 65 · Striking Basics: Meet the Short-Handled Implement
- 66 · Striking Control: Keeping It Up
- 67 · Striking for Direction: Angle Your Swing
- 68 · Striking Rally: Keep the Object Going
- 69 · Sending and Receiving: Partner Toss and Catch
- 70 · Sending and Receiving Solo: The Wall Toss Challenge
- 71 · Sending with Different Force: Soft Lob vs. Firm Throw
- 72 · Receiving on the Move: Catching While Stepping
- 73 · Kicking Basics: Meet the Instep
- 74 · Kicking for Accuracy: Target Practice
- 75 · Kicking a Rolling Ball: Timing Your Instep Strike
- 76 · Kicking Skills Combo: Instep Challenge Course
- 77 · Bike Safety: Getting Your Helmet Right
- 78 · Bike Safety: Hand Signals Every Rider Should Know
- 79 · Bike Safety: Looking Both Ways at Every Crossing
- 80 · Bike Safety Checklist: Ready to Ride
- 81 · Water Safety: Know Your Swimming Ability
- 82 · Water Safety: Life Jackets on the Water
- 83 · Water Safety: Pool Rules That Keep Everyone Safe
- 84 · Water Safety Review: Putting the Rules Together
- 85 · How Family Shapes Our Health Habits
- 86 · How Friends Influence Our Health Choices
- 87 · How Advertising Tries to Influence Our Health Choices
- 88 · How Media Influences Our Health Choices
- 89 · Skills Review: Serving, Striking, Sending, and Kicking
- 90 · Safety and Influences Review
Dribbling, teamwork, first aid and decisionsDays 91–120
Hand and foot dribbling with control, targets and obstacles, reading others' feelings in games, sharing roles and negotiating turns, caring for a small scrape (clean, cover, tell), and four-step health decision scenarios, including when to ask an adult.
- 91 · Hand-Dribbling Basics: Push, Don't Slap
- 92 · High Dribble vs. Low Dribble: Controlling the Bounce Height
- 93 · Keeping the Ball Close: Soft-Touch Control
- 94 · Switch-Hand Dribble Challenge
- 95 · Foot-Dribbling Basics: Small Taps with the Inside of the Foot
- 96 · Foot-Dribbling on the Move
- 97 · Changing Direction with Inside and Outside of the Foot
- 98 · Speed Control: Stop-and-Go Dribbling
- 99 · Hand-Dribble to a Target
- 100 · Foot-Dribble to a Target
- 101 · Dribble Around Obstacles to Reach Three Targets
- 102 · Timed Dribble Challenge: Hands vs. Feet
- 103 · Thinking About How Others Feel During a Game
- 104 · Reading Body Language During Play
- 105 · Why Including Everyone Matters
- 106 · Responding with Empathy When a Game Doesn't Go Someone's Way
- 107 · Deciding Who Plays What Role
- 108 · Splitting Up Setup Responsibilities
- 109 · Negotiating Turn Order Fairly
- 110 · Working Together to Adjust Game Rules
- 111 · What Is First Aid? Taking Care of a Small Scrape
- 112 · The Three Steps: Clean, Cover, Tell
- 113 · Adult-Now or Small Bandage Myself? Making the Call
- 114 · First-Aid Scenario Sort: Practice Deciding
- 115 · Decision Scenario: Forgot Allergy Medicine at a Friend's House
- 116 · Decision Scenario: Left the Inhaler at Home Before a Game
- 117 · Decision Scenario: A Friend Wants to Try Something That Feels Unsafe
- 118 · When to Decide Alone and When to Ask for Help
- 119 · Review Quiz: Dribbling and Working with Others
- 120 · Review Quiz: Health Decisions and First Aid
Sportsmanship, habits, stress and screensDays 121–150
Good sportsmanship and settling disagreements, combined-skill games, a mid-year goal check-in, sleep, movement, food and safety habits, stress and coping, self-esteem, when to talk to a trusted adult, and screen-time balance and planning.
- 121 · Good Sportsmanship: Winning and Losing Well
- 122 · Encouraging Your Teammates
- 123 · Handling a Disagreement During a Game
- 124 · Following Rules Fairly Without a Referee
- 125 · Combo Challenge: Dribble, Toss, and Strike
- 126 · Backyard Triathlon: Three Skills, One Course
- 127 · Partner Rally Game: Serve and Strike Together
- 128 · Family Field Day: Mixing Manipulative Skills
- 129 · Mid-Year Check-In: How Far Have You Come?
- 130 · Do You Need Help? Identifying Support for Your Goal
- 131 · Refining Your Plan: Actions and Resources
- 132 · Spotting Barriers Before They Stop You
- 133 · Tracking Your Progress: Building a Simple Log
- 134 · The Big Picture: Sleep, Move, Eat, Stay Safe
- 135 · A Day in the Life of a Healthy Kid
- 136 · Healthy Habits Checklist: Rating Your Week
- 137 · Building Habits That Stick
- 138 · What Is Stress? Naming the Feeling
- 139 · Two Ways to Cope With Stress
- 140 · Self-Esteem: What Makes You, You
- 141 · When to Talk to a Trusted Adult
- 142 · Screen Time: Finding the Balance
- 143 · Why Breaks From Screens Matter
- 144 · Building a Simple Screen-Time Plan
- 145 · Screens Before Bed: Why It Matters
- 146 · Choosing Activities Instead of Screens
- 147 · Putting It All Together: Goals and Habits
- 148 · Healthy Habits and Digital Balance Check-In
- 149 · Your Wellness Snapshot: Mid-Year Reflection
- 150 · Block Review: Sportsmanship, Habits, and Wellness
Skills showcase and a year of health topics reviewedDays 151–170
Showcase days for each skill group, then a review of the year's topics: body systems, nutrition, hydration, bike and water safety, first aid, substances, decisions, emotional health, digital wellness and health influences. Mostly review of earlier lessons.
- 151 · Balance and Rolling: Skills Showcase
- 152 · Throwing and Catching: Skills Showcase
- 153 · Long-Handled Striking: Skills Showcase
- 154 · Short-Handled Striking and Serving: Skills Showcase
- 155 · Dribbling With Hands and Feet: Skills Showcase
- 156 · Kicking, Sending, and Receiving: Skills Showcase
- 157 · Combined Skills to a Target: The Big Challenge
- 158 · Skeletal and Muscular Systems: Year-End Review
- 159 · The Digestive System: Year-End Review
- 160 · Circulatory and Respiratory Systems: Year-End Review
- 161 · Building a Balanced Plate: Nutrition Review
- 162 · Staying Hydrated: A Review
- 163 · Bike Safety: A Review
- 164 · Water Safety: A Review
- 165 · First Aid Basics: A Review
- 166 · Substances and Your Body: A Review
- 167 · Making Good Decisions: A Review
- 168 · Mental and Emotional Health: A Review
- 169 · Digital Wellness: A Review
- 170 · What Shapes Your Health? Influences Review
Family day planning and goal reflectionDays 171–180
A health influences map, planning a safe and healthy family day and a lake weekend, a balanced-day recap, reflecting on the year's goal, setting a new goal and a finale.
- 171 · My Health Influences Map
- 172 · Planning a Safe, Healthy Family Day
- 173 · Weekend Adventure: Making Safe Choices
- 174 · Putting It All Together: A Balanced Day
- 175 · Looking Back at Your Goal
- 176 · Goal Reflection Worksheet
- 177 · Talking Through Your Growth
- 178 · Setting a New Goal for Next Year
- 179 · What You Learned This Year in PE and Health
- 180 · Course Finale: Celebrating a Year of Health and Fitness
By the end of the year, your child can
- Balance on one, two or three body parts and hold a steady position
- Throw, catch, strike, serve, kick and dribble with a ball using correct form
- Name the four fitness components and make a one-month fitness plan
- Explain how bones, muscles, the heart and digestion work
- Follow bike and water safety rules and clean and cover a small scrape
- Use a four-step process to make a health decision and know when to ask an adult