How to Easily Survive Kindergarten PE Class: 8 Best Tips
There’s nothing quite like teaching Kindergarten PE class. It’s packed with plenty of silliness, laughter (some crying), non-stop energy, and tons of fun.
BUT… it can also be a little (okay, A LOT) challenging at times!
8 Kindergarten PE Class Tips
If you’re an elementary physical education teacher looking to trade your crazy kindergarten PE class time in for a calmer, less chaotic, and more successful kinder gym experience – I got you!
These 8 best kindergarten PE class tips will help elementary PE teachers build routines, manage behavior and create a smooth, organized, and positive physical education class where young learners can move, play, and have a blast while still learning key PE skills.
Hi there, it’s so great to meet you! I’m Mrs. T. (or you can call me Jen) – a Michigan mom, wife, new grandma (aka “Jemma”) K-12 PE teacher, blogger (Love 2 Teach and Learn) and author of 59 CRAZY FUN Elementary PE Games that ROCK!
I love teaching PE class because I get to spend time telling silly SPORTS JOKES and exercising, while laughing with my students.
I’m also on a serious mission to MAKE SCHOOL FUN AGAIN and I believe physical education class is a great way to do just that!
READY! SET! LET’S HERD SOME CUTE LITTLE KINDERGARTEN CATS!
TIP #1: Use a Visual Schedule
Using pictures and a visual schedule in kindergarten PE class helps students understand what to do next, even before they can read all the words.
It also makes class run more smoothly because young children feel more confident, stay on task, and have an easier time transitioning from one activity to another.
Grab my Print and Post PE Agenda Labels RIGHT HERE.
TIP #2: Add a Short Read Aloud
Using a children’s read aloud about sportsmanship, teamwork, or valuable sports lessons can help kindergarten students understand important behavior lessons in a fun and simple way.
It also gives the PE teacher an ideal opportunity to build positive character and good manners, encourage kind play, introduce new sports concepts and help students learn how to work together better during class.
Here are a few of my kindergarten favorites:
- Sally Sore Loser by Frank J. Sileo
- Winners Don’t Whine and Whiners Don’t Win by Julia Cook
- Winners Never Quit by Mia Hamm
- I Really Want to Win by Simon Philip
I use read alouds with my kindergarten through second grade students all the time and sometimes I even use them with my third through fifth graders.
It’s a great end of class calming activity that prepares students for an easy transition back to their regular classrooms too.
I’ve found that sports and fitness books present so many wonderful opportunities for kindergarten pe class teaching moments. It’s also a great way to weave literacy into PE and promote cross-curricular learning.
Many of the books can be found on YouTube and are told as stories. I like to switch things up and do a bit of both in the gym.
TIP #3: Use PE Fitness Stars
It was during my second year of teaching PE when I came up with the idea to start incorporating fitness stars into my PE classes.
And, I’ve gotta tell you – it has been the one PE Teacher Hack that has been the biggest game-changer for both myself and my students.
A PE Fitness Star is a K-5 student leader, appointed by the PE teacher, who gets to feel extra special for the day because they get to lead warm-up exercises, assist the teacher with equipment setup, choose teams, and help manage other class tasks.
If you want to drastically reduce fighting, arguing, and complaining, here are the 5 best reasons to have Kindergarten PE Fitness Stars:
#1: NO MORE FIGHTING OR COMPLAINING ABOUT – Who Gets to Lead Warm-Up Exercises!
#2: NO MORE FIGHTING OR COMPLAINING ABOUT – Who Gets to Help the Teacher with Game Set-Up and Equipment!
#3: NO MORE FIGHTING OR COMPLAINING ABOUT – Who Gets to Be a Tagger First in the Warm-Up Game!
#4: NO MORE FIGHTING OR COMPLAINING ABOUT – Who Gets to Choose Teams!
#5: NO MORE FIGHTING OR COMPLAINING ABOUT – Who Gets to Be FIRST IN LINE!
I have a whole blog post on why you should use PE fitness stars in class, how to set this routine up, and how it will make your life as an Elementary PE teacher one million times easier.
If you are interested, you can read that post RIGHT HERE.
TIP #4: Use Small Group Stations
I absolutely LOVE using PE Stations with my kindergarten students.
Using small group stations in kindergarten PE class helps keep young students active, focused, and involved because they get more chances to move and practice skills.
It also cuts the chaos and makes class run more smoothly since the teacher can give better support, manage behavior more easily, and keep the activities simple and fun for little learners.
Here are my 5 best tips for managing small group stations with your kinders:
- Use numbered cones to mark your station zones or areas.
- Have your students rotate in a circular direction by cone number.
- Turn off music to signal to students that it’s time to rotate.
- Have kids point to the station they are moving to next. Then have them hold hands with their group members as they travel together to their next station.
- *MY BEST TIP -Plan stations for Kindergarten PE class often – THEY ARE A LIFESAVER FOR SURE!
You can check out my 40 favorite small group PE station ideas RIGHT HERE.
TIP #5: Switch Activities Often
Switching things up or changing activities often in kindergarten PE class is an absolute MUST DO. It helps young students stay interested, active, and excited to learn.
It also works well for little learners because short activities match their attention span and help prevent boredom and behavior problems.
*BONUS TIP: Try NOT to go over 11 minutes long with one single activity. Anything after 11 minutes – YOU HAVE LOST THEM!
TIP #6: Praise Good Behavior Often
Praising good behavior often in kindergarten PE class helps students feel proud, seen, and excited to keep making good choices.
It also encourages kind, safe, and respectful behavior, which makes class run more smoothly for everyone.
Finally, here’s a little extra tip that I’ve found makes a BIG different – Try to give name-specific praise often. Here’s an example for you:
- “I like the way Johnny is using the equipment safely – Thank you, Johnny”
TIP #7: Play Fun and Upbeat Music
Playing fun and upbeat music in the gym helps kindergarten students feel happy, excited, and ready to move. Music works great as stop, freeze, listen, and clean up signals, as well.
I personally LOVE to use music as a start/stop signal for all of my PE games. It is probably the best classroom and behavior management trick that I use.
My music expectation is this: MUSIC ON: Your Turn (run, play, chat, have a blast) MUSIC OFF: My Turn (teach, explain, etc.)
Music definitely makes kindergarten PE class more enjoyable by keeping energy high, helping with transitions, and making activities a whole lot more fun and exciting.
Feel free to check out my 117 Song Clean and Upbeat Elementary PE Class Playlist RIGHT HERE.
I even have a 54 Song, nearly 3 hour FIELD DAY PLAYLIST that you can check out RIGHT HERE.
TIP #8: Teach Routines from Day 1
Start Teaching Routines on Day #1 – DO NOT WAIT!
I saved this kindergarten PE class tip for last because I really do feel that it is the MOST IMPORTANT!
It truly can either help you survive and thrive with your kindergarten classes or it can absolutely break you!
I know this because I taught four years of kindergarten before I started my career as a physical education teacher.
Kindergarteners absolutely NEED structure, procedures, and routines and those things NEED to be taught right away – not halfway through the school year when you think they are “ready to learn.”
Start teaching routines on Day One and continue reviewing and practicing them.
When students know exactly what to do, where to go, and how to act safely, your classes will run more smoothly, students will feel more confident and there will be more time for learning and fun.
Kindergarten Routines and Procedures
Here are several kindergarten PE class routines and procedures you may want to think about setting up:
- Where do you want your students to go as soon as they enter the gym? (I have my students head to a black end line and wait until I start the warmup song)
- What are your expectations for your jog/walk warmup? Here are my 6 rules and expectations for a smooth warmup routine.
- Where will you send your students every time you hear the dreaded question: “What are we doing in PE class today?” A visual PE schedule is a great resource to post and point your students to.
- Where do you want your students to sit when you are teaching or explaining the directions for PE games like tag? Here are my 10 simple tag game tips that work beautifully.
- How will your students know HOW to clean up? It’s very important to teach students how to clean up quickly and properly, demonstrating exactly where all of the equipment should go.
- How will your students know WHEN it’s time to clean up? Will you use music, a hand signal, or a whistle cadence?
- Where will you have your students gather or line up ready to head back to their classroom teacher? I like to have my students meet me on that same black line that they started on.
- Find tons more PE Schedule and Routine Details in my blog post 50 Minute Elementary PE Class Schedule that Totally ROCKS!
The bottom line is this…Yes, they are kindergarteners but with the right guidance and explanation…THEY TOTALLY CAN DO IT!
Start teaching them “How to do PE” from Day #1 and by about Day #100 you will have created a kindergarten class that pretty much runs itself.
CLASS DISMISSED
So, what do you say? Are you ready to give these 8 Kindergarten PE Class Tips a try?
If you’re a PE Teacher, I’d love to connect with you. You can find me hanging out in all of these Amazing places.
Mrs. T’s “Always Growing” PE Games Bundle
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Hey – Thanks so much for stopping by today to check out my Kindergarten PE Class tips.
I really appreciate it and I hope your day is filled with plenty of FUN and FITNESS.
Oh, and remember PE Friends… IF YOU HAD FUN, YOU WON!
