Each class gets 45 minutes of Physical Education (P.E.) per week with Ms. Higdon.  Ms. Higdon has been teaching PE for 18 years. This is her third year at Marie Reed. The other places she has taught PE are Washington State and New Mexico. Her undergraduate is in Sociology and Spanish Literature from UC San Diego. She loves being active, especially doing outdoor activities like skiing, hiking and biking.

ECE and kindergarten focus on movement skills in general space – running, galloping, skipping, jumping, hopping. They develop ball skills with different sizes and types of balls, dance and move to music and have balance bikes to learn the balance they will need to ride bicycles. They go over and under, around and through. They work on sharing and being aware of others so all students can have a good time.

1st graders focus on movement skills in general space – running, galloping, skipping, jumping, hopping. They develop ball skills with different sizes and types of balls. They add tag games which develop social and spatial awareness, and work on tumbling and fitness skills.

2nd graders focus on movement skills in general space – running, galloping, skipping, jumping, hopping. They develop ball skills with different sizes and types of balls – kicking, throwing, catching, shooting.  They add tag games which develop social and spatial awareness and work on tumbling and fitness skills.  Jogging and endurance is introduced. All second graders have a biking unit where they learn to ride a bicycle, which ends in a bicycle field trip!

3rd graders receive sport-specific instruction in tennis, football, basketball, etc. Students do more fitness work, learning about intervals and endurance activities. Grades 3/4/5 have a strong jump rope unit with short and long ropes. They also learn tinikling – a Filipino dance with poles.

4th graders also receive sport-specific instruction. Students develop understanding of their own fitness and how to set goals and take responsibility for their wellness.  Fitness testing begins for 4th and 5th graders. DCPS uses Fitnessgram for their fitness assessments. All 4th graders go to Rock Creek Park for a hiking and nature field trip.

5th graders also receive sport-specific instruction. Students develop understanding of their own fitness and how to set goals and take responsibility for their wellness.  Students receive Fitnessgram assessments per DCPS.