Demonstrate locomotor, non-locomotor, and manipulative skills safely in personal and open space

Standards Alignment

• TEKS.PE.3.04A primary
  demonstrate locomotor, non-locomotor, and manipulative skills safely in personal and open space;
• TEKS.PE.3.04B primary
  combine pathways and levels into various movement patterns in a wide variety of physical activities; and

Lesson Overview

This Grade 3 physical education lesson focuses on helping students demonstrate locomotor, non-locomotor, and manipulative skills safely within personal and open space. Students will also learn to combine pathways and levels into various movement patterns across different physical activities. The lesson emphasizes spatial and body awareness including understanding pathways, shapes, levels, speed, direction, and force, aligned with TEKS standards.

Learning Objectives

• Demonstrate locomotor, non-locomotor, and manipulative skills safely in personal and open space.
• Combine pathways and levels into various movement patterns in a wide variety of physical activities.

Success Criteria

• Students demonstrate locomotor, non-locomotor, and manipulative skills with control and safety in both personal and open space.
• Students combine different movement pathways and levels to create varied movement patterns during physical activities.
• Students follow safety rules and procedures during movement activities.

Prerequisite Knowledge

Students should understand basic movement terms such as locomotor and non-locomotor skills and have experience moving safely in a shared space.

Key Vocabulary

• Locomotor skills
• Non-locomotor skills
• Manipulative skills
• Personal space
• Open space
• Pathways
• Levels
• Movement patterns
• Spatial awareness
• Body awareness

Materials and Resources

• Open indoor or outdoor space free of obstacles
• Soft balls or beanbags for manipulative skill practice
• Cones or markers to define pathways and levels
• Music player (optional)

Teacher Preparation

• Prepare a safe, open area for movement activities.
• Set up stations or areas for practicing different skills.
• Review safety rules and procedures for physical activity.
• Prepare visual aids or demonstrations for locomotor, non-locomotor, and manipulative skills.

Detailed Lesson Notes

Locomotor Skills

Locomotor skills are movements that transport the body from one place to another. Examples include walking, running, hopping, skipping, jumping, and galloping. These skills help students move safely and efficiently through personal and open space. Teachers should demonstrate each skill emphasizing safe foot placement, balance, and control.

Non-Locomotor Skills

Non-locomotor skills involve movements performed without traveling from one place to another. These include bending, twisting, stretching, balancing, swaying, and turning. These skills develop body awareness and control within personal space. Students practice maintaining balance and smooth movements while staying in one spot.

Manipulative Skills

Manipulative skills involve handling or controlling objects with hands or feet. Examples include throwing, catching, kicking, dribbling, and striking. These skills require hand-eye or foot-eye coordination and spatial awareness to perform safely in open space. Teachers should model proper techniques and safety precautions to avoid injury.

Personal and Open Space

Personal space is the immediate area around a student where they can move safely without bumping into others. Open space is a larger area where multiple students can move freely. Teaching students to recognize and respect both spaces helps prevent collisions and injuries during activities.

Combining Pathways and Levels

Pathways refer to the directions or routes students take while moving (straight, curved, zigzag). Levels refer to the height of movements (low, medium, high). Combining different pathways and levels creates varied movement patterns that enhance spatial awareness and physical coordination. For example, a student might hop (locomotor) along a curved pathway at a low level, then stretch (non-locomotor) upward at a high level.

Safety Practices

Safety is critical during physical activities. Teachers should explain and enforce rules such as moving in designated areas, watching for others, using equipment properly, and stopping immediately when asked. Providing clear demonstrations and immediate feedback helps students perform skills safely.

Worked Examples

Classroom Activity

Students rotate through stations practicing walking, hopping, bending, throwing, and catching while focusing on control and safety.

Guided Practice

Independent Practice

1. Foundational: Name one locomotor skill and one non-locomotor skill you can do safely in your personal space.
2. Developing: Describe how you can move safely in open space when playing a game with your classmates.
3. Application: Show how you can combine a locomotor skill with a non-locomotor skill using different pathways and levels.
4. Analysis: Explain why it is important to use personal and open space safely when practicing manipulative skills like throwing or catching.
5. Challenge: Create a short movement routine that includes at least two locomotor skills, one non-locomotor skill, and one manipulative skill, combining different pathways and levels. Describe your routine.

Independent Practice Teacher Answer Key

1. 1. Locomotor skill example: walking. Non-locomotor skill example: bending.
2. 2. You can move safely by watching where others are, keeping enough distance, moving slowly or carefully, and following the rules.
3. 3. For example, you can skip (locomotor) along a straight path (pathway) and then stop to stretch your arms up high (non-locomotor at a high level).
4. 4. Using space safely prevents bumping into others and injuries. It allows enough room to control the object and move freely without accidents.
5. 5. An example routine: walk forward in a straight line (locomotor, medium level), hop in a zigzag pathway low to the ground (locomotor, low level), twist your torso while standing still (non-locomotor), then throw a ball gently to a partner (manipulative). This routine combines pathways and levels safely.

Guiding Questions

• What are locomotor, non-locomotor, and manipulative skills?
• How can you move safely in personal and open space?
• What are pathways and levels in movement?
• How do you combine different movements to create patterns?
• Why is safety important during physical activities?

Common Misconceptions

• Locomotor skills only include running and jumping, but they also include walking, hopping, skipping, and galloping.
• Non-locomotor skills involve moving from one place to another, but they actually involve movements without traveling.
• Manipulative skills are only about throwing, but they also include catching, kicking, dribbling, and striking.
• Personal space is the same as open space, but personal space is the immediate area around a person, while open space is larger and shared.
• Moving faster is always safer, but moving too fast can cause accidents and loss of control.

Differentiation

Assessment

• Observe students performing locomotor, non-locomotor, and manipulative skills safely during practice stations.
• Ask students to explain how they combined pathways and levels in their movements.
• Use exit tickets where students name one skill of each type and describe how they moved safely.
• Demonstrate one locomotor and one manipulative skill safely in personal space.
• Describe how you combined pathways and levels in a movement you practiced today.
• Create and perform a short routine combining locomotor, non-locomotor, and manipulative skills with varied pathways and levels.
• Write or verbally explain why safety is important when moving in personal and open space.

Answer Guide

• Name one locomotor skill and one non-locomotor skill you can do safely in your personal space.
  Answer: A locomotor skill is walking; a non-locomotor skill is bending.
• Describe how you can move safely in open space when playing a game with your classmates.
  Answer: By watching others, keeping distance, moving carefully, and following rules.
• Show how you can combine a locomotor skill with a non-locomotor skill using different pathways and levels.
  Answer: Skipping along a straight path then stretching arms up high.
• Explain why it is important to use personal and open space safely when practicing manipulative skills like throwing or catching.
  Answer: To avoid bumping into others and injuries, and to have enough room to control the object.
• Create a short movement routine that includes at least two locomotor skills, one non-locomotor skill, and one manipulative skill, combining different pathways and levels. Describe your routine.
  Answer: Walk forward straight, hop zigzag low, twist torso standing still, throw ball gently to partner.

Real-Life Application

Ask students to practice one locomotor, one non-locomotor, and one manipulative skill safely at home or outdoors with family members. Have them describe or demonstrate how they used pathways and levels in their movements.

Homework or Home Connection

• Ask students to practice one locomotor, one non-locomotor, and one manipulative skill safely at home or outdoors with family members. Have them describe or demonstrate how they used pathways and levels in their movements.

Lesson Summary

In this lesson, students learned to demonstrate locomotor, non-locomotor, and manipulative skills safely in personal and open space. They practiced combining different pathways and levels to create varied movement patterns, enhancing their spatial and body awareness. Emphasizing safety and control, students applied these skills in practice stations and group activities, building confidence and teamwork.

Teacher Notes

Use the exact standards alignment and retrieved-source provenance stored with this enrichment.

Related Lessons