California Physical Education Standards Comprehensive Guide
California Physical Education Standards: Building a Foundation for Lifelong Physical Activity

Table of Contents
California Physical Education
A well-rounded education must include physical education. It equips students with the information and abilities necessary to make healthy lifestyle choices. Social and emotional competencies, such as collaboration, cooperation, and sportsmanship, are also fostered via participation in physical education.
Instruction in physical education in California is guided by the California Physical Education Standards. The California Physical Education Standards were developed in accordance with the National Standards for Physical Education and are meant to provide students with the foundational understanding and competence in physical activity and health.
The California Physical Education Standards are divided into three domains:
- Movement Skills and Patterns: This domain includes standards related to the development of basic and specialized movement skills and patterns.
- Movement Concepts, Principles and Strategies: This domain includes standards related to the development of knowledge and understanding of movement concepts, principles, and strategies.
- Personal and Social Responsibility: Standards for the cultivation of character traits including self-control, teamwork and sportsmanship may be found here.
The California Physical Education Standards are organized into two content strands:
- Movement Competencies: This strand focuses on the development of movement skills and patterns, as well as movement concepts, principles and strategies.
- Personal and Social Responsibility: This strand focuses on the development of the skills and attitudes necessary to be physically active for life.
These two categories are how the standards for each grade are broken down. In kindergarten, for instance, kids should already have the motor skills to run, leap, and throw, and the social graces to play well with others. Complex skills including dribbling, passing, and kicking, as well as the creation and implementation of a personal fitness plan, are expected of pupils by the end of the 12th grade.
The California Physical Education Standards were developed to be malleable and accommodating to the many learning styles of California’s K-12 population. Teachers are urged to apply their knowledge and experience to design standards-based courses and projects for their pupils.
The California Physical Education Standards are organized into four grade bands:
- Kindergarten-Grade 2
- Grades 3-5
- Grades 6-8
- Grades 9-12
Kindergarten-Grade 2
Young children in grades K-2 learn the fundamentals of physical activity and fitness. They get a lesson on the value of caution and teamwork too.
Grades 3-5
Students’ understanding of movement and fitness continues to mature throughout the intermediate grades. They also start to pick up on more advanced concepts related to movement. Students get an appreciation for the value of collaboration and good sportsmanship.
Grades 6-8
In grades 6 through 8, students continue to develop their movement skills, fitness concepts, movement principles and strategies. They also learn about the importance of personal and social responsibility in physical activity.
Grades 9-12
In grades 9 through 12, students continue to develop their movement skills, fitness concepts, movement principles and strategies. They also learn about the importance of lifetime physical activity and wellness.
The California Physical Education Standards are essential for all students
All students, regardless of their aptitudes or areas of interest, must master the California Physical Education Standards. Students may learn the fundamentals of physical activity and health via physical education.
The California Physical Education Standards highlight the significance of not just the three physical education domains, but also:
- Inclusive physical education: All students, regardless of their abilities or interests, should have the opportunity to participate in physical education.
- Culturally responsive physical education: Physical education should be culturally responsive and inclusive of all students.
- Social justice and equity: Physical education should promote social justice and equity for all students.
Physical therapists, parents, and caregivers can all benefit from consulting the California Physical Education Standards. They lay forth a road map for making sure that every kid gets the chance to learn the fundamentals of physical fitness and health.

The Benefits of Physical Education
There are many benefits to participating in physical education. Physical Education can help students:
- Improve their physical fitness
- Develop healthy habits
- Learn about the importance of physical activity
- Develop social and emotional skills
- Reduce their risk of developing chronic diseases
- Improve their academic performance
The California Physical Education Standards
The purpose of the California Physical Education Standards is to provide children with the foundation they need to lead a physically active and healthy lifestyle. The California Physical Education Standards cover the following three areas:
Movement Skills and Patterns
The Movement Skills and Patterns domain includes standards related to the development of basic and specialized movement skills and patterns. These skills and patterns are essential for participation in a variety of physical activities.
Movement Concepts, Principles and Strategies
Standards for learning about and using different movement ideas, principles, and tactics may be found in the Movement ideas, Principles, and tactics domain. A student’s ability to study and perform physical activities is enhanced by having this background knowledge and comprehension.
Personal and Social Responsibility
Standards for the development of personal and social responsibility abilities are included in the Personal and Social Responsibility category. These abilities are necessary for success in life and in physical education.
Implementing the California Physical Education Standards
The standards for physical education in California can be implemented in a number of different ways. A standard based curriculum is one approach. A curriculum that is in line with the state requirements is called standards-based. It gives teachers a road plan for educating students on the standards and evaluating their progress.
Another way to implement the California Physical Education Standards is to use a variety of teaching methods. Some effective teaching methods for Physical Education include:
- Direct instruction: Direct instruction is a teaching method in which the teacher provides explicit instruction on the skill or concept being taught.
- Guided practice: Guided practice is a teaching method in which the teacher provides students with support and feedback as they practice the skill or concept being taught.
- Independent practice: Independent practice is a teaching method in which students practice the skill or concept being taught on their own.
- Play-based learning: Play-based learning is a teaching method in which students learn through play.
Assessing Student Learning
In order to make sure that students are fulfilling the criteria, it is crucial to evaluate their learning in physical education. In physical education , there are several techniques to evaluate students’ learning. Effective physical education assessment techniques include:
- Observation: Observation is an assessment method in which the teacher observes students as they perform skills or activities.
- Performance assessments: Performance assessments are assessments in which students perform a skill or activity to demonstrate their learning.
- Written assessments: Written assessments are assessments in which students answer questions about the skills or concepts they have learned.
California standards physical education standards test
The California Physical Education Standards Test (PFT) is a physical fitness test that is administered to all public school students in grades 5, 7 and 9. The test is designed to measure students’ cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility and body composition. The results of the PFT are used to assess the effectiveness of physical education programs and to identify students who may be at risk for health problems related to physical inactivity.
The PFT consists of the following six tests:
- Aerobic capacity: One-mile run or 20-meter PACER test
- Abdominal strength and endurance: Curl-up test
- Trunk extensor strength and flexibility: Trunk lift test
- Upper body strength and endurance: Push-up test
- Flexibility: Back-saver sit and reach test
- Body composition: Skinfold caliper measurement or body mass index (BMI) calculation
Each exam gives students a score depending on how well they do in comparison to norms for their age and gender. Students are thought to have a low chance of developing health issues linked to physical inactivity if they receive “healthy fitness zone” scores on all six tests.
Annually, between February 1 and May 31, the PFT is given out. In addition to giving students time to prepare for the exam, schools are expected to provide pupils at least two weeks’ notice before the test date.
In order to succeed on the California Physical Education Standards Test, you should:
- Exercise often. The majority of the week, try to get in at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise.
- Adopt a balanced diet. You’ll have the energy you need to perform at your best on the test if you eat nutrient-rich meals.
- Practice the exam questions. The precise exam elements that will be on the PFT can be practiced using a variety of online and offline resources.
- Get adequate rest. You will feel more refreshed and aware if you get a decent night’s sleep the night before the test.
Make sure to arrive early on exam day and wear relaxed attire and sneakers. You should bring a water bottle to the test so that you can keep hydrated.
Talk to your physical education teacher or the school nurse if you have any queries or worries regarding the PFT.
The Importance of Physical Education for Students with Disabilities
Students with impairments should pay particular attention to physical education. In addition to helping them gain general skills and information that they may need to participate in physical activities, physical education may assist students with disabilities in developing the same skills and knowledge as students without disabilities.
The California Physical Education Standards are created with all students, including those with impairments, in mind. Because they are defined in performance terms, the standards place more emphasis on what students should be able to achieve than on how they should go about doing it. This enables teachers to adjust lessons and tests to suit the requirements of every student.
The Importance of the California Physical Education Standards
Because they offer a foundation for guaranteeing that all children have access to high-quality physical education teaching, the California Physical Education Standards are significant. The requirements are crucial because they encourage pupils to have active lifestyles and good diets.
How to Meet the California Physical Education Standards?
The California Physical Education Standards can be met by instructors in a number of ways. Lessons and activities should first be matched up with the standards by teachers. To make sure that all students are learning and making progress, teachers should employ a range of teaching strategies and evaluation techniques.
A good and encouraging learning atmosphere where students feel safe and at ease engaging in physical exercise should also be fostered by teachers. Additionally, teachers want to motivate kids to exercise outside of the classroom.
California Physical Education Standards
How to support physical education?
There are many things that parents and caregivers can do to support physical education at home and in their child’s school. Here are a few tips:
- Encourage your youngster to engage in physical activity daily for at least 60 minutes.
- Consult the physical education instructor of your child to find out how you may help them learn at home.
- Participate in your child’s physical education class by volunteering.
- Encourage your child’s school to offer physical education.
Here are some tips for teaching physical education to students with disabilities:
- Make changes and accommodations. Students with disabilities can engage in physical education with the use of accommodations and adaptations, which are adjustments made to the learning environment, curriculum or evaluation. For instance, it could be necessary to lend a student a wheelchair or a pair of crutches, or it might be necessary to alter the rules of a game or activity so that the student can take part.
- Use a range of instructional techniques. Direct instruction may be the best method of education for some disabled students, but guided practice or play-based learning may be more effective for other disabled students. To reach every student, it’s critical to employ a range of teaching techniques.
- Give advice and assistance. Compared to students without impairments, kids with disabilities may require more help and feedback. Giving pupils comments on their development and supporting them in overcoming obstacles is crucial.
- Celebrate achievements. The accomplishments of all pupils, including those with impairments, should be honored. Students will benefit from feeling inspired and competent as a result.
Examples of Accommodations and Modifications for Students with Disabilities in physical education
Here are some examples of accommodations and modifications that you can provide for students with disabilities in physical education:
- Physical disabilities:
- Provide students with wheelchairs, crutches or other assistive devices as needed.
- Modify the rules of games or activities so that students can participate. For example, you may allow students to sit down while playing a game or to use a different type of ball.
- Provide students with extra time to complete activities.
- Cognitive disabilities:
- Break down complex tasks into smaller steps.
- Provide students with visual or written instructions.
- Allow students to use calculators or other assistive devices as needed.
- Provide students with extra time to complete activities.
- Behavioral disabilities:
- Provide students with a clear and consistent set of rules and expectations.
- Use positive reinforcement to encourage desired behavior.
- Provide students with breaks as needed.
- Develop a behavior intervention plan (BIP) in collaboration with the student’s other teachers and parents.
California Physical Education Standards
Resources for Teaching Physical education to Students with Disabilities
There are a number of resources available to help you teach physical education to students with disabilities. Here are a few examples:
- The National Adapted Physical Activity Council (NAPAC) is a nonprofit organization that aids professionals who deal with kids with disabilities by offering resources and assistance. On its website, NAPAC offers a variety of materials, such as lesson plans, exercises, and articles.
- The National Standards for Adapted Physical Education (APENS): A collection of guidelines for adapted physical education is known as the APENS. The APENS offer recommendations for teaching physical education to kids with disabilities.
- The education department of your state: To assist instructors in teaching physical education to kids with disabilities, several state departments of education make materials accessible. To learn more about the services available, you can get in touch with your state’s department of education.
California standards physical education lesson plans
Here is a sample lesson plan for a California Physical Education class, based on the California Physical Education Standards content:
Grade Level: 3
Standard: 1.2 Demonstrate mastery of fundamental motor skills and movement patterns in a variety of physical activities.
Lesson Objective: Students will be able to demonstrate the fundamental motor skill of throwing by accurately throwing a beanbag to a target 10 feet away.
Materials:
- Beanbags
- Cones or other markers
Procedure:
- Warm-up: Begin with a light warm-up, such as jogging, jumping jacks, and arm circles.
- Introduction: Explain to students that they will be learning how to throw a beanbag to a target. Demonstrate the proper throwing technique, emphasizing the importance of using the core muscles to generate power.
- Practice: Divide students into pairs and have them practice throwing the beanbag back and forth to each other. Once students are comfortable with the basic throwing motion, have them practice throwing the beanbag to a target 10 feet away.
- Assessment: To assess student progress, have each student throw the beanbag to the target 10 times. Count the number of times the beanbag hits the target and record the results.
- Cool-down: End with a cool-down activity, such as stretching or walking.
Differentiation:
- For students who need more support, provide them with a closer target or a larger beanbag.
- For students who are ready for a challenge, have them try throwing the beanbag to a target that is further away or smaller.
Extensions:
- Play a tossing activity with the pupils, such a beanbag race or beanbag toss.
- Create your own targets with the pupils, like a beanbag or ring throw game.
- Ask your pupils to conduct research on various throwing sports and learn about the various throwing methods employed in those activities.
This is only one illustration of a lesson plan for a physical education class in California. You can develop lesson plans that are in compliance with the California Physical Education Standards content by using a variety of various online and offline resources.
California Physical Education Standards
Here is a sample California physical education Standards lesson plan for grade 4:
Standard: 1.1 Students demonstrate the motor skills and movement patterns needed to perform a variety of physical activities.
Objective: Students will be able to demonstrate the skills necessary to play soccer, including dribbling, passing, and shooting.
Materials:
- Soccer balls
- Cones
- Bibs
Warm-up:
- 5 minutes of light jogging
- 5 minutes of dynamic stretches, such as arm circles, leg swings, and torso twists
Activity:
- Students should be divided into two teams and instructed to stand on opposing ends of the gym.
- Cones should be placed in a line down the middle of the gym.
- Give a soccer ball to each pupil.
- Students should dribble their balls along the field while dodging the cones as you indicate.
- Students must pass the ball to a teammate on the other team after they have reached the end of the field.
- Up until everyone has had an opportunity to dribble and pass, the students keep passing the ball back and forth.
- After every student has passed the ball, instruct them to line up on the other half of the field and carry out the exercise once more.
Variations:
- Make the activity more challenging by adding more cones to the field or by having students dribble with their weaker foot.
- Add a competitive element by having teams race to see who can pass the ball down the field and back the fastest.
Cool-down:
- 5 minutes of light jogging
- 5 minutes of static stretches, such as holding a hamstring stretch or a calf stretch
Assessment:
Observe students as they dribble and pass the ball. Look for students who are able to:
- Dribbling with control and accuracy
- Passing the ball to a teammate with accuracy and power
- Maintaining good body position and balance
Differentiation:
- For students who need more support, provide them with a smaller ball or have them dribble a cone instead of a ball.
- For students who are ready for a challenge, have them try dribbling with their eyes closed or with their weaker foot.
This lesson plan can be easily adapted to fit the needs of your students and the resources you have available. You can also add or remove activities to make the lesson longer or shorter.
Here are some California physical education standards lesson plans for grades K-12:
Grade K
- Standard 1: Demonstrates the motor skills and movement patterns needed to perform a variety of physical activities.
- Lesson Plan: Animal Locomotion
Lesson Objectives:
- Students will be able to identify and imitate the movement patterns of different animals.
- Students will be able to use their imaginations to create new animal movements.
- Students will have fun and be active while learning new motor skills.
Materials:
- Open space
- Music (optional)
Procedure:
- Warm up with a light jog or walk around the activity area.
- Introduce the lesson by telling students that they are going to be learning about different animal movements.
- Demonstrate the movement pattern of a different animal, such as a rabbit hopping, a bird flying, or a snake slithering.
- Have students imitate your movements.
- Continue demonstrating and practicing different animal movements.
- Once students have a good understanding of the different movements, have them create their own animal movement.
- Play music (optional) and have students move around the activity area using their new animal movements.
Assessment:
- Observe students as they move around the activity area. Are they able to identify and imitate the movement patterns of different animals? Are they able to use their imaginations to create new animal movements?
Differentiation:
- For students who need additional support, provide them with visual cues or physical assistance.
- For students who are ready for a challenge, have them create a more complex animal movement or a sequence of animal movements.
Grade 4
- Standard 2: Demonstrates knowledge of movement concepts, principles, and strategies that apply to the learning and performance of physical activities.
- Lesson Plan: Volleyball Skills and Tactics
Lesson Objectives:
- Students will be able to demonstrate the basic skills of volleyball, such as serving, passing, setting, and hitting.
- Students will be able to apply basic volleyball tactics, such as positioning and teamwork.
- Students will have fun and be active while learning new volleyball skills and tactics.
Materials:
- Volleyball net
- Volleyballs
Procedure:
- Warm up with a light jog or walk around the activity area.
- Introduce the lesson by telling students that they are going to be learning about the basic skills and tactics of volleyball.
- Demonstrate the basic volleyball skills of serving, passing, setting, and hitting.
- Have students practice each skill in small groups.
- Once students have a good understanding of the basic skills, introduce some basic volleyball tactics, such as positioning and teamwork.
- Divide the class into two teams and play a simple game of volleyball.
Assessment:
- Observe students as they play the game of volleyball. Are they able to demonstrate the basic volleyball skills? Are they able to apply basic volleyball tactics?
Differentiation:
- For students who need additional support, provide them with visual cues or physical assistance.
- For students who are ready for a challenge, have them play a more complex game of volleyball or have them create their own volleyball drill.
Grade 8
- Standard 3: Participates in physical activities that require a variety of skills and strategies.
- Lesson Plan: Basketball Skills and Drills

Lesson Objectives:
- The fundamentals of basketball, including dribbling, passing, shooting, and rebounding, will be shown by the students.
- Students will be able to use fundamental basketball techniques including fast breaks and man-to-man defense.
- Students will learn new basketball techniques and abilities while having fun and being active.
Materials:
- Basketball court
- Basketballs
Procedure:
- Walk or lightly jog around the basketball court to get warmed up.
- Inform the class that they will be learning about the fundamental techniques and tactics of basketball as you begin the session.
- Show off your dribbling, passing, shooting, and rebounding fundamentals in basketball.
- Put pupils in small groups to practice each skill.
- Introduce some fundamental basketball tactics, such as man-to-man defense and fast breaks, after pupils have a firm grasp of the fundamental abilities.
- Play a straightforward game of basketball with the class divided into two teams.
Assessment:
- Watch the students as they play basketball. Can they illustrate the fundamentals of basketball? Can they use fundamental basketball tactics?
Differentiation:
- Provide physical assistance or visual indications to pupils who require more help.
- Play a more difficult basketball game with kids who are up for a challenge, or let them design their own basketball exercise.
These are just a few examples of California physical education standards lesson plans.
California Physical Education Standards
Conclusion
A well-rounded education must include physical education. A foundation for Physical Education education in the state is provided by the California Physical Education Standards. The California Physical Education Standards are intended to assist students in gaining the information and skills necessary to lead physically active, healthy lives.