Running a PE lesson

Motor engagement time, instructions, set-ups, groups and lesson structure: getting every pupil active.

The outline, topic by topic

Each topic is weighted the way the exam weighs it.

Motor engagement time: what is it?
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Time during which the pupil is actually physically active.
It is often much shorter than the lesson.
The flow of a PE lesson: which step comes after "Welcome and register"?
- Stating the goal
- Warm-up
- Learning tasks
- Transfer task
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Stating the goal
The classic pattern: taking charge (stating the goal gives meaning), warm-up, learning, applying what was learned in a situation close to the real activity, then cool-down and review.
Funnel of time: what is it?
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From scheduled time to learning time, each stage loses time.
Changing rooms, instructions, waiting: so many leaks.
A class of 30 queues behind a single mat. What should change first?
- Give longer instructions before each turn
- Add stations to raise engagement time
- Switch to command style to pace the turns
- Run a summative assessment during the wait
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Add stations to raise engagement time
With a single station, each pupil waits while 29 others go: adding stations (circuits, extra mats) cuts the waiting, a major leak of engagement time.
Instruction: what is it?
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A message stating the task's goal, set-up and criteria.
Short, one at a time, checked.