Homeschool PE: A Simple Weekly Plan and 30 Activities for Teaching PE at Home
If you homeschool, you've probably wondered how to teach PE without a gym, a class full of kids, or a closet full of equipment. Maybe you're not sure what to teach, or how much is enough. You're not alone, and the good news is that homeschool PE can be simple, fun, and very doable.
In this post, I'll walk you through what homeschool PE should include, the equipment you need (and what to use instead), a simple weekly plan, and 30 homeschool PE activities you can start today. After more than 30 years of teaching physical education, I can tell you that good PE doesn't need a gym. It needs a plan, a little space, and a lot of movement.
Quick Answer: Homeschool PE works best with a simple weekly routine: a warm-up, skill practice, an active game, and a cool-down. Rotate through movement skills, tossing and catching, ball skills, fitness, and calm activities like yoga. Health guidelines call for at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day for kids ages 6 to 17, and PE time counts toward it.
Quick Section Links
Click any of the links below to jump to a section of this article:
What Should Homeschool PE Include?
A well-rounded homeschool PE program covers the same basics a school PE program does, just on a smaller scale:
Movement Skills: Walking, running, hopping, skipping, galloping, and jumping, plus non-locomotor skills like bending, twisting, and balancing. See Incorporating Locomotor Movement into PE.
Object Control Skills: Tossing, catching, kicking, dribbling, striking, and volleying. These skills carry over into every game and sport. Learn more in my guide to manipulative skills.
Fitness: Activities that build cardio endurance, muscular strength and endurance, and flexibility. My post on the health-related components of fitness explains each one.
Games and Play: Simple games that put skills to work and make movement fun.
Personal and Social Skills: Taking turns, following rules, encouraging others, and trying again after a miss.
These areas line up with the 2024 SHAPE America National Physical Education Standards:
Standard 1: Develops a variety of motor skills.
Standard 2: Applies knowledge related to movement and fitness concepts.
Standard 3: Develops social skills through movement.
Standard 4: Develops personal skills, identifies personal benefits of movement, and chooses to engage in physical activity.
*National Physical Education Standards are used under license from SHAPE America. © 2024, SHAPE America, https://www.shapeamerica.org/. All rights reserved.
For more on the standards, read Understanding the New SHAPE America Physical Education Standards for 2024. Homeschool PE requirements vary by state, so check your own state's rules, too.
Homeschool PE Equipment (and What to Use Instead)
You don't need much to get started. Here's a simple list, with easy swaps for things you already have at home:
A Soft Ball or Playground Ball: For tossing, catching, kicking, and dribbling. Swap: a pair of rolled-up socks for indoor tossing.
Jump Rope: One of the best fitness tools you can buy. Swap: a long piece of rope or a garden hose laid on the ground for jumping games.
Hula Hoop: For twirling, rolling, and target games. Swap: a laundry basket or a circle of tape on the floor for targets.
Balloons: Light, slow, and safe indoors for volleying and tracking practice.
Beanbags: For tossing, balancing, and target games. Swap: small zipper bags filled with dry beans or rice.
Pool Noodles: Cut them into pieces for hurdles, targets, and soft striking.
Cones or Markers: For boundaries and courses. Swap: paper plates, water bottles, or shoes.
Dice or a Deck of Cards: Turn any exercise list into a game.
A Simple Weekly Homeschool PE Plan
A routine makes homeschool PE easy to keep up. Try this simple structure for every session:
Warm-Up (5 minutes): Light jogging, jumping jacks, or animal walks to get the body ready.
Skill Practice (10 to 15 minutes): Work on one skill, starting easy and adding challenges.
Active Game (10 to 15 minutes): Put the skill to work in a game or challenge.
Cool-Down (5 minutes): Stretching, yoga, or slow breathing.
Then rotate the focus through the week:
Day | Focus | Try This |
Monday | Movement Skills | Animal walks, a hopscotch course, and a locomotor relay |
Tuesday | Tossing and Catching | Sock ball catch, target toss, and balloon volleys |
Wednesday | Fitness | A dice workout, jump rope challenges, and a short circuit |
Thursday | Ball Skills | Dribbling, kicking to a target, and partner passing |
Friday | Games and Yoga | A family game, then yoga poses and stretching |
Add outdoor play, bike rides, walks, and sports on the other days, and your kids will be well on their way to an active hour every day.
30 Homeschool PE Activities
Here are 30 simple homeschool PE ideas, grouped by focus. Most need little space and little or no equipment.
Fitness (No Equipment)
Dice Workout: Roll a die, match the number to an exercise, and do that many reps times two.
Animal Walk Relay: Bear walk, crab walk, and frog jump from one end of the room or yard to the other.
Wall Sit Challenge: See who can hold a wall sit the longest, then try to beat that time next week.
Jumping Jack Countdown: Do 10 jumping jacks, rest, then 9, then 8, all the way down to 1.
Commercial Break Workout: Pick an exercise for each break during a show or between lessons.
For ready-to-go fitness ideas, try the Homeschool PE Kids Fitness Activities and Roll and Move Dice Activities. Kids Tabata Workouts are another great option.
Tossing and Catching
Sock Ball Catch: Toss a rolled-up sock ball to yourself, then add a clap before each catch.
Laundry Basket Target Toss: Toss beanbags or sock balls into a basket from three different distances.
Partner Toss Count: Count how many catches in a row you and a partner can make without a drop.
Balloon Toss and Turn: Toss a balloon up, spin around, and catch it before it lands.
Bounce and Catch: Bounce a ball and catch it with two hands, then one hand, then the other.
The Homeschool PE Toss and Catch Activities give you more ideas.
Ball Skills
Dribble Course: Dribble a ball with your hands around cones or shoes in the driveway.
Kick to a Target: Kick a ball between two water bottles from farther and farther away.
Balloon Volley: Keep a balloon in the air using hands, then elbows, then knees. Find more in these 30 balloon games and the Homeschool PE Balloon Activities.
Foot Dribble Weave: Dribble a soccer ball with your feet through a zigzag course.
Wall Passing: Pass a ball against a wall with your hands or feet and count your catches or traps.
For more, try the Homeschool PE Ball Skills Activities.
Jump Rope and Hula Hoop
Jump Rope Challenge: Count how many jumps you can do in 30 seconds, then try to beat it.
Rope Shapes: Lay a rope on the ground in a shape and jump or hop along it.
Hoop Hop Course: Lay hoops on the ground and hop from one to the next on one foot.
Hoop Twirl: Twirl a hoop around your waist, arm, or leg and count the spins.
Hoop Roll: Roll a hoop and chase it, or roll it to a partner.
See the Homeschool PE Jump Rope Challenge Cards, Homeschool PE Hula Hoop Activities, 25 jump rope tricks and skills, and 30 fun ways to use hula hoops.
Agility and Movement
Quick Feet Ladder: Make a ladder with tape or chalk and step in and out of each box as fast as you can.
Cone Weave: Run, skip, or gallop through a zigzag line of markers.
Mirror Me: Face a partner and copy their moves, then switch leaders.
Line Jumps: Jump side to side over a line for 20 seconds, then front to back.
Pool Noodle Hurdles: Set noodle pieces on the floor and leap over each one.
The Homeschool PE Quick Feet Agility and Homeschool PE Pool Noodle Activities sets, plus these 10 fun ways to use pool noodles, add plenty more.
Calm and Flexibility
Yoga Pose of the Day: Learn one new pose each day and hold it for five slow breaths.
Animal Yoga: Try poses named after animals, like cat, cow, cobra, and downward dog.
Stretch Routine: Stretch arms, legs, and back, holding each stretch for 15 to 30 seconds.
Balance Challenge: Balance on one foot, then try it with your eyes closed.
Breathing Countdown: Breathe in for four counts and out for four counts, five times.
For more, see the Homeschool PE Kids Yoga Poses set and 20 yoga poses for PE.
Make PE a Family Activity
One of the best parts of homeschool PE is that the whole family can join in.
Play Together: Kids love it when a parent joins the game. Take turns being the leader.
Try Family Challenges: Set a weekly goal, like a total number of jump rope jumps or minutes of activity, and track it on a chart.
Team Up With Other Families: A homeschool group or co-op makes team games possible. A field day is a great way to end the year.
Plan a Family Fitness Night: The Family Fitness Fun Night activities are built for parents and kids moving together.
Take It Outside: Walks, bike rides, hikes, and park visits all count toward an active day.
Ready-Made Homeschool PE Resources
If you'd rather have activities ready to go, my Homeschool PE sets use simple equipment and clear visuals kids can follow on their own:
Everything in One: The Homeschool PE Bundle includes 10 sets with 314 movement and fitness activity cards.
Skills and Fitness: The Skills & Fitness bundle includes 154 movement activity cards.
No Equipment: The Grab and Go bundle uses no-equipment movement cards.
With Equipment: The Grab Your Gear bundle has challenge cards for balls, hoops, and noodles.
For more at-home ideas, read Engaging At-Home PE Activities.
Homeschool PE FAQs
Do homeschoolers need to do PE?
It depends on where you live. Homeschool requirements vary by state, so check your state's rules. Either way, regular physical activity is important for every child's health.
How much PE should a homeschooler do each day?
Health guidelines call for at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day for kids ages 6 to 17. A 30 to 45 minute PE session plus outdoor play is an easy way to get there.
What equipment do I need for homeschool PE?
A ball, a jump rope, and a hula hoop will cover most activities. Balloons, beanbags, pool noodles, and a pair of dice add even more options.
Can I teach PE if I'm not athletic?
Yes. Your job is to set up the activity, encourage effort, and keep it fun. Visual task cards show kids exactly what to do, and you can learn right alongside them.
How do I track progress in homeschool PE?
Keep it simple. Record jump rope counts, catches in a row, or how long your child can hold a balance, then try to beat those numbers every few weeks.
Final Thoughts
Homeschool PE doesn't need a gym or fancy equipment. A simple routine, a few basic tools, and activities your kids enjoy will build skills, fitness, and a love of movement that lasts.
Which homeschool PE activity will your family try first? Let me know in the comments below.
Download a FREE Visual: 12 COOL Ways to Move in Your Home
12 COOL Ways to Move in Your Home
This 12 Cool Ways to Move in Your Home visual makes it easy to share at-home movement ideas with your students. Hang it on the fridge or use it as a daily movement menu.
Fill out the form below to download the "12 COOL Ways to Move in Your Home" PDF. The 12 movements are easy for students to understand and do at home with little or no equipment, and any equipment shown is something most students have at home. The visual comes in 6 color schemes with kid-friendly graphics.
Need More At-Home PE Visuals?
Get students moving at home with my Home PE Bundle: 160 Task Cards for Snow Days, Summer, and Absences. It includes easy-to-follow task cards for fitness, movement, and skill activities made for home.
Each task card set has 40 home-based task cards students can use to stay active when they're not at school. The visuals make it easy for students to read and then do a variety of fitness, movement, and skill tasks in small spaces.
What's in the Home PE Bundle?
Also check out my PE Yoga Task Cards: 24 Pose Activities for Class, Home, and Brain Breaks.
You can find this bundle in my TPT store: Home PE Bundle: 160 Task Cards for Snow Days, Summer, and Absences
This bundle gives you an easy, creative way to have students move at home with a purpose! The task cards are colorful, with great graphics and clear instructions. Each task card includes: 1. Movement or Skill Name, 2. Movement or Skill Graphic, 3. Rep or Time Suggestion, 4. Description of the Movement or Skill, and 5. Tips for Success. Each set also includes an optional PE Movement Activity Log (Word or PDF) for students to record what they do at home.
About Pete Charrette
Pete Charrette is a National Board Certified physical education teacher and former Georgia PE Teacher of the Year with more than 30 years of experience teaching elementary PE. He is the creator of Cap'n Pete's Power PE and has developed more than 1,000 PE and health resources used by teachers around the world. Pete loves helping PE teachers build programs their students enjoy.
