Free PE Lesson Plan Template (Printable)
A one-page physical education lesson plan template with objectives, standards, timed lesson phases, differentiation and assessment. Print it or save it as a PDF. No sign-up needed.
PE Lesson Plan
| Teacher | Date | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Class / Grade | Lesson length | ||
| Unit | Lesson # of unit |
| Learning objective(s) | Students will be able to… |
|---|---|
| SHAPE America standards (2024) | 1 · Motor skills2 · Movement & fitness knowledge3 · Social skills4 · Personal skills & lifelong activity |
| Equipment & space | |
| Safety notes |
| Phase | Time | Activity & organization | Teaching cues |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warm-up | |||
| Skill development | |||
| Main activity / game | |||
| Cool-down & closure |
| Differentiation (easier / harder, IEP / 504) | |
|---|---|
| Assessment (what you'll look for) | |
| Reflection (what to change next time) |
Free template from PatioLab · patiolab.us/pe-lesson-plan-template
How to fill in the template
- Start with one objective. Write what students will be able to do by the end of class ("Students will be able to dribble with the dominant hand while keeping their eyes up").
- Tick the standards it supports. Most skill lessons hit Standard 1; add 3 or 4 when cooperation or personal goals are part of the lesson.
- Time each phase. A common 45-minute split is 8–10 min warm-up, 10 min skill work, 20 min game and 5 min closure.
- Plan the easier and harder versions before class, so you can adjust on the spot.
- Decide what you'll look for. One or two observable cues are enough for a quick checklist.
For a step-by-step walkthrough with examples, read How to Write a PE Lesson Plan.
Generate a full PE unit plan, free
PatioLab builds a printable unit plan for your class: identification, standards framework, class context, the four national standards, learning indicators, pacing guide, instructional approach, differentiation (IDEA, Section 504, UDL) and assessment. Choose your grade band to start:
Free account with a 14-day trial of PatioLab Pro, no card needed. Works best on a computer.
Pick from 600+ PE activities, drop them into warm-up, main activity and cool-down, and run the lesson from your phone with a timer, team picker and scoreboard.
Frequently asked questions
What should a PE lesson plan include?
At minimum: a clear learning objective, the standards it addresses, equipment and safety notes, the lesson phases with times (warm-up, skill work, main activity or game, cool-down and closure), differentiation and how you will check for learning.
How long should a PE lesson plan be?
One page is enough for a daily lesson. Longer documents belong at the unit level, where you lay out the sequence of lessons, the standards and how the unit is assessed.
What is the difference between a lesson plan and a unit plan?
A lesson plan covers one class period. A unit plan covers several weeks: the standards and outcomes, the pacing of lessons, the instructional approach, differentiation and assessment for the whole unit.
Is the unit plan generator really free?
Yes. You create a free account (14-day trial of PatioLab Pro, no card needed), choose your grade band and print or save your unit plan as a PDF. What you save is yours to keep.