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K–2 Locomotor Movement
Lesson Plan

A complete, standards-aligned lesson for walking, running, galloping, and skipping. 3-tier assessment rubric included. Ready to teach Monday.

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K–2 Locomotor Skills Lesson Plan

✓ Grades K–2 ✓ SHAPE America 2024 30–40 min 3-page PDF Rubric included
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✓ SHAPE America S1.E1 & S1.E2
✓ Warm-up + Main Activity + Cool-down
✓ 3-Tier Observation Rubric
✓ Grade K / 1 / 2 Modifications
✓ Student Self-Assessment

A complete lesson, start to finish

Everything from the warm-up to the exit reflection, with time cues and teacher notes throughout.

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Warm-Up

8 minutes

Freeze Tag Walk, Animal Walk Circuit, and standing stretches. Gets students moving and activates the right muscle groups.

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Direct Instruction

7 minutes

Teacher models each locomotor skill with 1–2 key cues. Students mirror. "Freeze-check" technique for live feedback.

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Locomotor Stations

10 minutes

Four cone sides, four skills. Music cues transitions. Teacher circulates and coaches. Easy to differentiate by station.

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Partner Mirror Game

5 minutes

Partner-based practice builds peer learning and rhythmic coordination without competition pressure.

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Skill-Card Challenge

3 minutes

Teacher holds up picture cards, students perform immediately. Quick engagement spike before cool-down.

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Cool-Down & Reflection

5 minutes

Slow walk debrief, seated stretching, and a 1–4 finger self-assessment that takes 30 seconds to complete.

SHAPE America 2024 — Standard 1

S1.E1
Walking & Running
Demonstrates a mature pattern for walking and running. Applies biomechanical cues: heel-to-toe footstrike, arm swing, forward lean.
S1.E2
Galloping & Skipping
Demonstrates a mature pattern for galloping with a consistent lead foot, and skipping with a two-beat step-hop alternating pattern.
S1.E3
Sliding & Spatial Awareness
Travels using a variety of locomotor skills in general space without colliding — spatial awareness embedded throughout stations.

3-Tier Observation Rubric

Use it during the station activity. One page, four skills, 10-student grid. Circle and record in under 2 minutes.

Skill 🔴 Beginning 🟠 Developing 🟢 Proficient
Walking Inconsistent arm swing; shuffling or toe dragging Occasional arm swing; mostly heel-to-toe Smooth arm swing; heel-to-toe; upright posture; eyes forward
Running Arms cross body; flat-footed; no forward lean Some forward lean; arms pump but crossing midline Forward lean; arms at 90°; lands on ball of foot; fluid stride
Galloping Lead foot inconsistent; rhythm uneven; losing balance Consistent lead foot; rhythm developing Smooth step-together rhythm; controlled balance
Skipping Step-hop pattern absent; running instead Step-hop present but arrhythmic; arms not synced Smooth step-hop alternating; arms swing in opposition; rhythmic

Full rubric with student name grid included in the PDF download.

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