Teaching Games at Different Grade Levels

Abstract

Purpose: This article is designed to help physical education teachers and specialists to plan developmentally appropriate games that emphasize physical literacy skills and concepts across each grade level.

Conclusion: Important to consider while planning teaching episodes are the varying developmental levels of the learners across each grade level. It is true that physical education primarily teaches physical and motor skill development, however, cognitive and psychosocial development play a drastic role in the planning of appropriate games, including rules and expectations, game play boundaries, student roles, equipment selection, levels of tactical and strategic game concepts, types of questions appropriate to ask students, and more. This article provides a brief description of the varying developmental levels to consider across varying grade level bands, breaks down the appropriate concepts and considerations related to gameplay, and makes recommendations for appropriate game-play planning for each major grade level band.