Galaxy Navigators Lesson Plan PE Lesson Plan Grades K–1 • 35–40 Minutes
Galaxy Navigators: Cosmic Spatial Awareness
SHAPE Standards S1.E1 (Locomotor), S2.E1 (Space)
Focus Concepts
Self-Space (Bubble) vs. General Space (Galaxy)
Speed Control
Warp 1 (Slow), Warp 2 (Medium), Warp 3 (Fast)
Equipment
1 Hula Hoop/Spot per student, 1 Tambourine or Drum
Safety Rule
No bumping bubbles! Eyes on open pathways.
Essential Questions
How do we keep our "forcefield bubble" safe while moving?
How does our body move differently when changing cosmic speeds?
Learning Targets ("I Can")
I can move anywhere in the gym without popping anyone's bubble.
I can switch instantly between slow, medium, and fast gears on cue.
Lesson Sequence & Procedures (Part 1)
Phase 1
Launchpad Suit-Up & Forcefield Activation (Warm-Up)
6 Mins
Each student stands in their own hula hoop ("Space Capsule") on the perimeter. Teacher leads imaginary suit-up: pull on magnetic moon boots (ankle rolls), zip pressurized spacesuit (reach high to low), click helmet on (head turns left/right).
Teacher Script Cue: "Reach your arms wide out to your sides, up high, and down low. Turn around in a full circle without stepping outside your capsule. That is your Self-Space Forcefield ! Can anyone touch you? No!"
Phase 2
Into the Galaxy: Self-Space vs. General Space Exploration
10 Mins
Introduce the gym floor as the "Galactic Open Space." On the teacher's countdown ("3-2-1 Blastoff!" ), students leave their hoops and travel into empty floor areas. They must maintain their invisible forcefields while traveling.
Key Locomotor Challenges:
Gliding Walk (smooth sliding steps)
Comet Skip (knees high toward stars)
Zero-G Gallop (lead foot forward)
The "Red Planet Freeze" Cue:
When the teacher beats the drum twice and yells "RED ALERT FREEZE!" , astronauts freeze on one foot like statues in self-space.
Galaxy Navigators PE Curriculum • Space & Movement Page 1 of 2
Galaxy Navigators Lesson Plan
Mission Phases 3–4, Modifications & Assessment
Part 2 of 2
Phase 3
Cosmic Warp Engine: Changing Locomotor Speeds
12 Mins
Introduce the 3 Cosmic Speed Gears. Practice switching on visual and audio cues (tambourine tempo or colored visual cones).
Warp 1: Moon Walk (Slow)
Slow motion, giant lunging steps, gentle heel-toe landing. High balance focus.
Warp 2: Comet Cruiser (Medium)
Controlled jog or skip. Continuous radar scanning for empty floor spaces.
Warp 3: Hyper-Drive (Fast)
Controlled speed-march or quick feet with immediate braking capability!
Phase 4
Asteroid Belt Tag & Return to Capsule (Culmination)
6 Mins
Teacher (or designated tagger carrying a soft foam meteor) floats across the galaxy. Students must navigate into empty spaces away from the asteroid while keeping their forcefield bubble intact. On whistle, return safely to home capsules!
Adaptations & Modifications
Support: Allow student to hold a physical hula hoop at waist level while traveling to make their bubble concrete.
Sensory: Offer a designated "Quiet Moon Base" corner for students overwhelmed by gym noise or fast motion.
Challenge: Add direction changes on cue (traveling sideways like space crabs or backward slowly).
Observational Assessment Rubric
Mastered Travels into open spaces at all speeds without collisions; stops immediately on signal.
Developing Maintains bubble at Warp 1 & 2; needs verbal reminders to scan for open space at Warp 3.
Needs Practice Follows peers closely ("tailgating"); bumps into others or struggles to freeze on cue.
Teacher Debrief Prompts
"What did your eyes look for when moving around the room? If you saw a crowded area of stars, which direction did your rocket steer? How did stopping at Warp 3 feel compared to Warp 1?"
Galaxy Navigators PE Curriculum • Space & Movement Page 2 of 2
Cosmic Orbit Slides Space Cadet Academy
Mission: Ready
Astronaut Flight Training
GALAXY NAVIGATORS
Master your personal space bubble and explore the open stars!
1. Protect Bubble
2. Find Open Space
3. Control Speed
Rule 01
Self-Space: Your Forcefield Bubble
Personal Space
Your Invisible Bubble
Stretches as far as your fingers and toes can reach!
Reach Out Wide
Arms up high, down low, and all the way around!
Never Pop a Bubble
No touching, bumping, or crashing into classmates!
Cadet Challenge: Turn in a full circle without touching anyone!
Rule 02
General Space: The Open Galaxy
Shared Space
Look For Empty Space
Keep your astronaut radar scanning ahead. Steer your rocket ship where there are NO other astronauts!
"Where is an open pathway?"
Avoid Space Traffic
If you see a crowd of rockets, do not follow them! Turn your steering wheel and glide to the open galaxy!
"Never tailgate another rocket!"
Cadet Cue: Eyes up, head scanning, radar active!
Controls
Cosmic Warp Engine: 3 Speed Gears
Locomotor Speeds
Gear 1
Moon Walk
SLOW SPEED
Floating in low gravity. Giant slow steps with balanced landings.
Easy to brake instantly!
Gear 2
Comet Cruiser
MEDIUM SPEED
Smooth jog or bouncy skip. Controlled rhythm through the galaxy.
Full control of steering!
Gear 3
Hyper-Drive
FAST SPEED
Quick controlled burst! Maximum alertness to dodge other cadets.
Ready to hit the brakes!
Listen for teacher's gear shift cues!
Mission Game
Asteroid Belt Alert!
Space Alert
Step 1: Navigate
Travel into open spaces across the galaxy.
Step 2: Dodge
Steer clear of moving asteroids and classmate bubbles!
Step 3: Freeze!
When the drum beats: freeze like a frozen astronaut!
Red Alert Rule: If your bubble touches another, do 3 star jumps!
Starlight Return: Cool Down
Mission Accomplished!
Space Station Movement Game PE Active Games Kindergarten – 1st Grade
Space Station Movement Games
Activity Types Whole-Gym & Stations
Gym Floor Layout Map Boundary: Full Gym Basketball Court
Station 1: Asteroid Leap ▲ GENERAL SPACE (OPEN GALAXY) ▲ Station 2: Solar Gallop
Hula Hoop Space Capsules (Perimeter Home Bases)
Station 3: Satellite Orbit ▼ SCATTERED PATHWAYS & CONES ▼ Station 4: Meteor Glide
1
Cosmic Traffic Controller
Focus: Speed Modulation
Teacher (or student leader) acts as the Galactic Air Traffic Controller at center court holding 3 colored visual signals (or calling out codes). Cadets travel throughout general space:
Green Light: Warp 1
Slow-motion moon walk. Cadets stretch tall, step high, float gently.
Yellow Light: Warp 2
Comet jog or skip. Cadets continually scan open pathways.
Red Light: Meteor Freeze
Immediate zero-gravity freeze! Must freeze in self-space without wobbling.
2
Asteroid Belt Tag & Capsule Rescue
Focus: Spatial Evasion
Two teachers or student "Asteroids" carry soft foam balls and walk at medium speed. If an asteroid gently tags an astronaut's bubble, the astronaut enters "Zero-G Orbit" (stands in place and performs slow space twists until another astronaut flies past and gives an imaginary "Rocket Fuel High Five" from 3 feet away).
Safety Golden Rule: No tackling or diving! Both taggers and runners must keep their personal bubbles inflated. Running into another astronaut's bubble deflates both ships!
Galaxy Navigators PE Resource • Active Games Page 1 of 2
Printable Station Signs
Galaxy Circuit Station Task Cards
Cut or post at gym cones
Station 1 Curved Paths
Asteroid Crater Leap
Leap gracefully over foam poly spots ("space craters") without touching them!
1 Take off from 1 foot, land softly on 2 feet.
2 Bend knees like rocket shock absorbers!
3 Leave 3 big steps between you and the astronaut ahead.
Cadet Cue: "Soft rocket landing, no sound!"
Station 2 Zig-Zag Paths
Solar Flare Gallop
Gallop in a zig-zag line around the orange cones to avoid solar radiation!
1 Keep one rocket foot always in the lead.
2 Warp 2 speed: controlled bouncy rhythm.
3 Look ahead before turning around cones!
Cadet Cue: "Step-together-step, lead foot first!"
Station 3 Self-Space
Starlight Landing Cool Down PE Cool Down Guide Recovery & Mindfulness • 5–7 Mins
Starlight Landing Cool-Down Protocol
Objective Heart Rate & Calm
After high-velocity spatial navigation, young children require deliberate physiological deceleration. This guided sequence transitions students from high cardiovascular arousal (Warp 3) down to a calm, focused resting state before returning to their classroom.
1
Capsule Docking & Heart Rate Engine Check
1.5 Mins
Signal the soft chimes. Students float in slow-motion back to their personal hula hoops ("Space Capsules") and sit cross-legged in the center.
Verbal Prompt: "Place your right hand over your heart engine. Can you feel it beating fast like a rocket booster? Let's help our engine power down smoothly."
2
The 5-Point "Star Breath" Technique
2 Mins
Students hold one hand open like a 5-pointed star. With the pointer finger of their other hand, they trace up and down their fingers while breathing deeply.
Trace Up Finger:
Breathe in cool starlight through nose (3 seconds).
Trace Down Finger:
Breathe out warm rocket exhaust through mouth (4 seconds).
3
Zero-Gravity Progressive Muscle Melt
2 Mins
Guide students through releasing tension from head to toe:
Shoulders: Squeeze up to astronaut ears like a tight spacesuit... drop and melt completely!
Fingers & Hands: Make tight astronaut fists... open hands like floating starlight.
Spine & Legs: Fold gently forward over crossed legs into a sleeping astronaut rock. Hold for 10 seconds.
Debrief Question Before Dismissal
"Whisper to your space partner: How did keeping your bubble safe today help everyone have more fun in the gym?"
Galaxy Navigators PE Curriculum • Recovery Routine Page 1 of 2
Cadet Flight Log: Mission Reflection
Galaxy Navigators Exit Ticket
Space Academy
Astronaut Name:
Mission Date:
1 My Space Forcefield Check
How well did you protect your personal space bubble during our flight?
🌟
Super Navigator
My bubble never popped once!
🚀
Space Cadet
I tapped once, then fixed it!
🛠️
In Training
I am still practicing braking!
2 My Favorite Cosmic Speed