Effective Physical Education (PE) instruction hinges on thorough lesson planning. Incorporating the SMART principles into your planning process ensures that your lessons are Structured, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This approach increases student engagement and fosters more organized and efficient teaching for you!
Specific (Clearly Defined Objectives)
SMART lesson planning begins with specific objectives. Clearly define what you want your students to achieve throughout the lesson. For instance, instead of setting a vague goal like “throw a ball,” be specific with your objective “Students will be able to perform overhand throws with correct throwing form.” I am a big believer in teaching through gameplay! Find games that incorporate your objective and teach it to your students.
Focused Activities- Design activities that directly target these objectives. If your goal is improving cardiovascular endurance, plan activities such as relay races or cardio kickball that will help enhance your student’s aerobic capacity.
Measurable (Quantifiable Goals)
Ensure that your objectives are measurable. This allows you to track progress and assess whether students meet the set goals you’ve outlined. For example, “Students will be able to throw and catch a ball with proper form.
Assessment Tools- You can utilize various assessment tools to measure student progress. You can find a wide array of these tools on the Gopher website. These can include fitness tests, skill assessments, or even game rules recall. Regularly collect data to monitor improvement and adjust your lesson plans accordingly.
Attainable (Realistic Goals)
Set attainable goals based on your student’s current fitness levels and abilities. Unrealistic expectations can lead to frustration and disengagement from your class. If a class comprises of mostly beginners, start with basic techniques and gradually increase the complexity throughout your unit. A lot of times plans look solid written out but they don’t translate well with your students. Be flexible and willing to tweak the game/activity on the fly.
Progressive Builds- Design your lessons with progressions that build on each other. For instance, start with basic soccer skills (i.e. dribbling, passing, etc.) before moving on to more complex skills. Always keep realistic expectations in mind, when
Relevant (Meaningful Activities)
Ensure that activities are relevant to student’s interests and skill sets. Incorporate sports and games that resonate with them, this will enhance their motivation and participation in your class. For instance, popular sports like soccer or basketball can make the lessons more engaging. A lot of standards include activities like dance and gymnastics, things not everyone will relate to. However, I’ve found learning popular dances like the “Cupid Shuffle” are good because they’ll be able to use what they’ve learned at weddings, etc.
Outside of your Classroom- Emphasize the importance of physical activity in promoting lifelong fitness and health to your students. Teach students how the skills and habits they develop in your class can benefit their overall health and well-being, encouraging them to stay active outside of school.
Time-bound (Structured Time Frames)
Set a clear structure for achieving each objective in your lessons. Break down the lesson into segments, allocating specific times for warm-up, game instruction (I like to demonstrate physically), skill development, gameplay, and cool-down. This structure helps maintain a steady pace and ensures all activities are completed before the class ends.
Long-term Planning- Develop a long-term plan that outlines what you aim to achieve over the semester or school year. This plan should include specific, ensuring you teach all necessary standards throughout the year. I like to start at the end of the year and work backward. This will enable me to cover all units/standards throughout the year.
Wrap Up
Incorporating the SMART principles into your lesson planning creates a structured and effective learning environment. Set specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound objectives to enhance student engagement, track their progress, and hopefully instill a lifelong love for physical activity! Through careful planning and continuous improvement, PE classes should be educational and fun! Equipping students with the skills and the confidence to lead a healthy lifestyle outside the gym.