Physical Education Worksheet – Move and Match
Need a last minute ideas for PE class, a physical or occupational therapy session or anytime you need kids to get some quick exercises in? Check out this FREE physical education worksheet where the kids have to move and match. You can download it for FREE at the bottom of the post.
Simon Says
MOVE AND MATCH WORKS ON MANY SKILLS
This free printable helps kids work on the following skills:
- Fine motor skills
- Gross motor skills
- Visual perceptual skills
- Motor planning
- Body awareness
- Coordination
- Balance
HOW DO YOU COMPLETE THIS PHYSICAL EDUCATION WORKSHEET?
Download and print the activity. The kids complete each exercise pose. When done draw a line connecting the picture to the matching stick figure pose.
HOW TO GET ACCESS TO THE FREE PRINTABLE
All you need to do is follow these three steps to access the printable page for preschoolers, kindergarten students, elementary and homeschool students:
- Sign up to receive the emails from Your Therapy Source. If you already get our emails, you can enter your email in the box. You will not be subscribed twice.
- You will be redirected to download the PDF format file of the printable activity.
- Print or screen share the activity.
OTHER WAYS TO COMPLETE THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION WORKSHEET
Here are a few options to modify or differentiate this activity:
- Print on cardstock paper and laminate it. Use wipe-off markers to write on the free printable.
- Screen share the activity on the board so the whole class can do it without having to print the activity.
- Make it easier by: cutting up the paper and providing only two stick figure poses per picture to reduce the number of choices.
- Make it more difficult by: folding the paper in half. Copy the stick figure poses and then match them to the person.
- Add in more physical activity by: cutting the worksheet up. Hide the stick figure pictures around the room. The kids have to complete the pose and then find each matching stick figure.
Exercise Posters for Kids – Printed
WHY ARE THESE SKILLS IMPORTANT FOR THE CHILDREN TO PRACTICE WITH THIS FREE PRINTABLE?
Here are more details about this free printable and why the skills are important to practice.
FINE MOTOR SKILLS
Fine motor skills refer to the ability to control small muscles in the hands and fingers. For example in this activity, the children have to: pick up the pencil or writing utensil.
Fine motor skills develop throughout childhood and continue to improve into adulthood. They are important for activities such as writing, typing, cooking, and using other tools. There are many ways to improve fine motor skills, including occupational therapy, targeted exercises, and adaptive devices. Get more fine motor activity ideas.
GROSS MOTOR SKILLS
Gross motor skills are the ability to use large muscles to complete tasks. Examples of gross motor skills include walking, running, jumping, climbing, and throwing.
For example, in this activity, the children have to: perform various yoga poses.
These skills develop during childhood and continue to improve into adolescence. Gross motor skills are important for daily living activities, such as getting dressed or going up and down stairs. They also play a role in sports and other recreational activities. gross motor skills can be difficult for some children to develop. However, there are many resources and activities available to help those who struggle. Physical therapists can assess gross motor skills and provide strategies for improvement. With practice and guidance, gross motor skills can be improved as children grow and develop. Get more gross motor activity ideas.
VISUAL MOTOR SKILLS
Visual motor skills are the ability to use information from our visual system to guide our motor system. This can include skills such as catching a ball, writing, drawing, and cutting with scissors. Visual motor skills involve the coordination of both large and small muscles.
For example, in this activity the children have to: draw a line to the matching stick figures.
Additionally, visual motor skills develop over time – infants and toddlers typically have poorer visual motor skills than school-aged children or adults.There are many ways to improve visual motor skills, such as by playing sports, engaging in crafts, or participating in other activities that require coordination and fine motor skills. Anyone can benefit from improving their visual motor skills! Get more visual motor activity ideas.
MOTOR PLANNING SKILLS
Motor planning skills are the ability to plan and execute motor tasks. This includes the ability to come up with a motor plan, carry out the motor plan, and monitor the motor task.
For example, in this activity the children have to: copy the picture and make their body move the same way.
Motor planning skills are important for everyday activities such as getting dressed, brushing teeth, and cooking meals. Motor planning skills can be affected by many different factors, including ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, sensory processing disorder, and cerebral palsy. There are many different ways to help develop and improve motor planning skills. Some interventions that can be used to help develop motor planning skills include occupational therapy and physical therapy. Read more on practicing motor planning.
BALANCE SKILLS
Balance skills are the ability to control your body’s position, whether you are holding still or moving.
For example, in this activity the children have to: balance on one foot and lean side to side.
The balance system is made up of three parts: the vestibular system, proprioception, and sensory processing. The vestibular system is responsible for detecting movement and keeping us oriented in space. Proprioception is the ability to know where our limbs are in space. Sensory processing is the ability to make sense of all the information our senses are taking in.
Balance skills start developing in infancy and continue to develop into adulthood. Babies develop vestibular skills by turning their head and following objects with their eyes. As they get older, they start crawling and pulling themselves up to standing. This gives them proprioceptive input that helps them develop a sense of where their body parts are in space. Around 12-18 months old, babies start walking and running, which develops their balance skills even further. Balance skills continue to develop throughout childhood and into adulthood as we participate in more activities that require balance, such as sports. Read about more balance activities for kids.
BODY AWARENESS
Body awareness is the ability to sense and be aware of the body in space. This includes the ability to feel where the body is in relation to the surrounding environment and to maintain a sense of balance. Body awareness is important for everyday activities such as walking, climbing stairs, and reaching for objects. It is also important for more complex activities such as dance and martial arts.
For this activity, the children are: moving their bodies to match the pictures.
People with poor body awareness may have difficulty with coordination and balance. They may also have trouble knowing where their body parts are in space, which can lead to clumsiness. There are various exercises that can help to improve body awareness, such as yoga and coordination exercises. Improving body awareness can help to improve coordination, balance, and flexibility. Read more about body awareness.
COORDINATION SKILLS
Coordination skills involve the ability to use your body in a smooth, efficient way. There is eye hand coordination, eye foot coordination, and bilateral coordination (using both sides of the body together). Good coordination skills are important for activities such as playing catch, sports,and dance. Practicing coordination exercises regularly can help!
In this activity, the children are working on these coordination skills: moving the right and left sides of the body together and top and bottom.
Read more about coordination exercises for kids.
25+ Bilateral Coordination Exercises
WHEN IS A GOOD TIME TO USE THIS ACTIVITY?
The free physical education worksheet printable is great to use for:
- Indoor Physical Education lesson
- Fine Motor stations
- Gross Motor stations
- Brain breaks
- Early finishers
- Occupational Therapy Session
- Physical Therapy Session
- Carry over activities at home
- School breaks
- Anytime kids need some extra motor skill practice!
DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE COPY OF THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION WORKSHEET PRINTABLE HERE
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