PE choice board: a 45-minute plan for 6th graders who dislike sports
What it is: a 6th grade PE plan for students who are not excited by team sports. A 3 by 3 choice board offers nine ways to move, from dance and yoga to walking, jump rope and strength, and students pick three for a 45-minute session, then log how each one felt.
Time: about 45 minutes. Grade: 6th grade (grades 6–8).
Materials: a choice board on paper or the board, a log sheet, and what the choices need (a jump rope, a mat, music, a hallway or yard). Sample choices: brisk walk or hike, follow-along dance, yoga flow, jump rope intervals, body-weight strength circuit, shooting baskets or wall ball, active chores like raking or carrying, a bike ride with an adult, create a 1-minute routine.
- Start with a 5-minute warm-up for everyone: marching, arm circles, inchworms and side steps.
- Explain that every choice counts as PE. Students pick three, with at least one that works the heart and one that builds strength.
- Each choice lasts about 12 minutes. Students use the talk test: able to talk but not sing means moderate; only a few words between breaths means vigorous.
- After each choice, students rate it on the log for effort (1 to 5) and enjoyment (1 to 5).
- End with a 5-minute cool-down and stretch.
- Each week, students look back at their logs, keep the activities they liked and try one new square.
Safety: walks and bike rides happen with an adult, in daylight, on safe routes, with a helmet for biking; choose spaces clear of furniture; keep water nearby; anyone who feels pain or dizziness stops and tells an adult. Every session: warm up first, clear the space, keep water nearby, and stop if anything hurts or a student feels dizzy or unwell.
Differentiation: students who need support can choose from a smaller board of 4. Students with limited mobility can use seated choices such as seated boxing or wheelchair pushes. Students who are ready can design two new squares for the board. English learners can use a board with a picture for each choice.
Quick check: ask a student which choice scored highest for enjoyment and which for effort, and why.
Homeschooling? These logs double as a PE record; see the UpOnly Learning tips on homeschool record keeping.
What has worked for your students who don't love PE? Share a choice that surprised you or a way you build buy-in.
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About this resource
- Shared by
- @UpOnlyLearning · Curriculum team
- Posted
- Oct 31, 2026
- Type
- Tip
- Grade
- Grades 6–8
- Subject
- Physical education
- Language
- English
- License
- Free for classroom, co-op and tutoring use. Please don't resell.