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NJPEP Home > Standards > Comprehensive Health and Physical Education (Revised)

STANDARD 2.5 (MOTOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT) by Grade 4

Strands with Cumulative Progress Indicators

A. Movement Skills

  1. Perform movement skills with developmentally appropriate form in both isolated and applied settings.
  2. Demonstrate smooth transitions between sequential movement skills used in applied settings (e.g., creative dance, gymnastics routine, trap-dribble-shoot).
  3. Demonstrate weight transfer, balance, coordination, and agility while employing various movement skills.
  4. Employ various rhythms, tempos, musical styles, relationships, directions, pathways, speeds, and levels during movement.
  5. Respond to multiple changes in rhythm, tempo, beat, and musical style.
  6. Change the effort or range of a movement skill or combination to improve performance.
  7. Modify and adapt movement skills in relation to body parts (e.g., clapping over one’s head), other participants (e.g., dance partner, teammate), objects, and boundaries.
  8. Respond appropriately to visual and verbal cues during physical activity.
  9. Correct movement errors in response to feedback and explain how the change improves performance.
  10. Apply a learned skill to another movement setting.
  11. Demonstrate both improvised and choreographed movement sequences such as moving to poetry, or performing a folk dance or an aerobic routine.

B. Movement Concepts

  1. Discuss the importance of proper body mechanics when performing movement skills.
  2. Explain the fundamental principles of force, motion, base of support, and center of gravity as applied to physical activity.
  3. Explain how changing the energy, flow, effort, or range of movement skill changes the quality of the movement (e.g., baby steps vs. giant steps).
  4. Discuss ways to refine and increase control when performing movement skills.
  5. Discuss ways that personal and general space is used in all forms of physical activity (e.g., using the entire dance floor, position play in a sport).
  6. Explain how a movement skill can be used in another movement setting.
  7. Give examples of verbal and visual cues used to improve movement skill performance.
  8. Define and use skill- and activity-specific vocabulary.

C. Strategy

  1. Explain and demonstrate the use of simple strategies, including player positioning, faking and dodging, and defending space.

D. Sportsmanship, Rules, and Safety

  1. Discuss the characteristics of good sportsmanship and demonstrate appropriate behavior as both a player and an observer during physical activity.
  2. Describe activity-specific rules, explain their importance for the safety and enjoyment of participants, and follow the rules during physical activity.
  3. Describe and demonstrate ways to handle and care for equipment safely and responsibly.

E. Sport Psychology

  1. Describe a variety of mental strategies used to prepare for physical activity.