Practical examples of lesson plans for outdoor activities in PE

Outdoor PE isn’t just “take the kids outside and roll out a ball.” With more schools emphasizing student mental health, movement breaks, and time outdoors, administrators actually want to see examples of lesson plans for outdoor activities in PE that are structured, standards-based, and safe.

Recent guidance from organizations like SHAPE America and public health agencies highlights how outdoor movement supports physical health, focus, and mood. The CDC notes that regular physical activity improves attention, academic performance, and emotional regulation in children and teens (CDC Physical Activity Facts). Outdoor PE is a natural way to build that movement into the school day.

Below are real examples of outdoor PE lessons you can plug into your yearly plan. Each one includes:

• Clear learning goals
• Simple equipment lists
• Step-by-step set-up
• Ways to differentiate for different abilities
• Quick assessment ideas

Use these as templates, then tweak them for your space, climate, and students.

Example of an outdoor fitness circuit lesson (Grades 3–8)

This is one of the best examples of a flexible outdoor lesson plan because you can scale it up or down, adjust intensity, and reuse it all year.

Objective
Students will perform a variety of fitness activities at stations, monitor their intensity, and describe how physical activity affects heart rate and breathing.

Equipment
Cones or markers, stopwatches or a large timer, printed station cards, optional jump ropes, light medicine balls, resistance bands, chalk.

Set-up
Create 8–10 stations around the field or blacktop. Examples include:

• Cone shuttles (short sprints between cones)
• Jump rope
• Bodyweight squats
• Push-ups (wall or incline options for support)
• Plank holds
• Agility ladder or chalk ladder
• Walking lunges
• Step-ups on a safe low bench or curb

Lesson flow
Students warm up with a 5-minute walk and dynamic stretches. Then they rotate through stations for 30–45 seconds of work, 15–30 seconds of rest. After one full circuit, they take a longer break to check pulse and talk about how they feel.

Differentiation
Offer lower-impact versions (e.g., step instead of jump), and challenge options (e.g., add a medicine ball for squats). Students who need less running can do power walks at the cone station.

Assessment
Exit ticket: each student writes down one station that raised their heart rate the most and explains why. You can also have them classify activities as muscular strength, muscular endurance, or cardio.

This is a go-to example of a lesson you can repeat, just swapping in new stations or adding music.

Best examples of outdoor cooperative games lesson plans (Grades 2–6)

Cooperative games are perfect examples of lesson plans for outdoor activities in PE that support teamwork and social-emotional skills, not just fitness.

Objective
Students will demonstrate cooperation, communication, and problem solving while participating in team-based outdoor challenges.

Equipment
Hula hoops, cones, soft foam balls, poly spots, ropes, beanbags.

Sample activities
You don’t need a numbered list on your clipboard; think of these as a menu to choose from:

In Hoop Island, place hula hoops (islands) scattered across the field. Students must move from one side of the field to the other, stepping only inside hoops. Each hoop can only hold a limited number of students at once. They must plan routes, share space, and help each other balance.

In River Crossing, lay ropes or chalk lines on the ground to mark an imaginary river. Give each team a few “rafts” (poly spots or laminated sheets). Students must cross without touching the ground, moving their rafts together and communicating as they go.

In Clean Your Yard, split the field in half. Teams start with equal numbers of foam balls. On your signal, they gently toss balls over to the other side, trying to have the fewest balls when time is called. Then they huddle and set a new strategy for the next round.

Teaching focus
Pause between rounds to ask: “What worked? What didn’t? Who helped your team?” These quick reflections turn a simple game into one of the best examples of SEL-integrated outdoor PE.

Assessment
Use a simple rubric for cooperation (listening, sharing, encouraging). You can observe and jot notes while they play.

Real examples of outdoor invasion games (Grades 4–10)

Invasion games (like soccer, ultimate frisbee, and flag football) are classic examples of lesson plans for outdoor activities in PE that build tactical thinking and cardio fitness.

Objective
Students will apply offensive and defensive strategies in small-sided invasion games while demonstrating safe play and respect for opponents.

Equipment
Cones, pinnies, soft balls or foam balls, frisbees, flag belts if needed.

Small-sided game structure
Instead of full 11v11 soccer, create several small fields with 3v3 or 4v4 games. This increases ball touches and engagement.

You might run:

• End-zone ball: Students score by passing a ball to a teammate standing in the end zone. No running with the ball, similar to ultimate frisbee.
• Four-goal soccer: Each team defends two small cone goals and attacks two. This encourages spacing and awareness.

Teaching focus
Highlight spacing, moving to open space, and supporting teammates off the ball. Use short, focused rounds (3–4 minutes) with quick coaching points in between.

Differentiation
Allow different balls (larger, lighter) for groups that need them. You can also remove defenders temporarily to build confidence.

Assessment
Have students pair up and explain one offensive and one defensive strategy they used. This verbal reflection is a simple example of formative assessment.

Example of an outdoor orienteering & mapping lesson (Grades 5–12)

If you want an example of a lesson that connects PE with geography, math, and problem solving, outdoor orienteering is a standout.

Objective
Students will use basic map-reading and navigation skills to locate checkpoints around the school grounds while working safely in small groups.

Equipment
Printed maps of the campus, simple compasses (optional), laminated checkpoint cards, pencils.

Set-up
Before class, place numbered checkpoints around the outdoor area (trees, corners of the field, near fences). Mark these on a simple map.

Lesson flow
Students start in small groups with a map and a starting clue. Their task is to visit as many checkpoints as possible within a set time, recording codes or symbols at each point. Emphasize safety rules: stay within boundaries, stay with your group, and walk in crowded areas.

Teaching focus
Model how to orient the map, find landmarks, and plan a route. Connect the activity to real-life navigation skills.

Assessment
Check their recording sheets and ask groups to explain how they chose their route. This lesson is one of the best examples of outdoor PE that also supports cross-curricular learning.

Nature walk & mindfulness: examples of outdoor wellness lessons (Grades K–12)

Outdoor PE doesn’t have to be intense all the time. With rising concern about student stress and screen time, many teachers now include examples of lesson plans for outdoor activities in PE that focus on wellness, not just performance.

Objective
Students will participate in a guided nature walk and simple mindfulness activities to explore how outdoor movement affects mood and stress.

Equipment
Clipboards, simple reflection sheets, pencils.

Lesson flow
Begin with a short walk around the school grounds. Ask students to notice three things they can see, hear, and feel (for example, the sound of birds, the feel of the breeze, the color of the sky). Periodically pause for a 30-second quiet “notice your breathing” break.

Back in a seated circle outdoors, students complete a quick reflection: “Before this walk I felt… After this walk I feel…” This aligns with growing research on the mental health benefits of outdoor activity. For example, the NIH highlights links between physical activity and reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression (NIH Physical Activity & Mental Health).

Assessment
Collect reflections or have students share one observation. This lesson is a gentle example of how PE can support emotional well-being.

Track & field sampler: real examples of outdoor skill stations (Grades 3–12)

Short, station-based track and field days are classic examples of examples of lesson plans for outdoor activities in PE that build fundamental movement skills.

Objective
Students will practice basic locomotor and object-control skills through modified track and field events.

Equipment
Cones, measuring tape, foam javelins or foam noodles, soft shot puts (like medicine balls), stopwatches.

Sample stations
Set up a sprint lane where students run 30–50 feet while a partner times them. At a standing long jump station, they jump from a line and measure distance with a partner. A foam javelin station uses soft equipment and emphasizes safe throwing form. A relays area lets small groups practice baton handoffs using short, fun races.

Teaching focus
Keep the tone on personal improvement, not comparison. Students record their own times and distances and try to improve across attempts.

Assessment
Students graph one of their results over multiple attempts or classes. This creates a simple data connection and shows progress.

Outdoor fitness trail using school grounds (Grades 2–8)

If you don’t have fancy equipment, your campus itself can become a fitness trail. This is an underrated example of an outdoor PE lesson that requires almost no budget.

Objective
Students will complete a series of bodyweight and locomotor activities using natural and built features of the school grounds.

Equipment
Chalk, cones, optional laminated station cards.

Set-up and activities
Choose a loop around the playground or field. At different points, assign tasks: bench step-ups, fence push-ups, line hops over painted lines, balance walks along a curb, and short jog segments between trees or poles.

Lesson flow
Students travel the loop in small groups, stopping at each station. You can assign different routes to reduce crowding.

Assessment
Ask students to design one new station idea using something they see outside. Their suggestions give you fresh examples of lesson plans for outdoor activities in PE to reuse later.

Safety, inclusion, and trends to keep in mind

When you build your own examples of lesson plans for outdoor activities in PE, a few themes keep coming up in 2024–2025:

• Heat and weather safety: Check heat index, provide water breaks, and modify intensity in hot weather. The CDC offers guidance on heat-related illness prevention (CDC Heat & Schools).
• Inclusion and accessibility: Offer seated or low-impact options, adjust rules, and use a variety of roles (timer, coach, equipment manager) so all students can participate.
• Social-emotional learning: Build in quick reflection questions, partner check-ins, and chances to practice encouragement.
• Student voice: Let students adapt rules or invent new games. Their ideas often become some of your best examples of outdoor PE lessons.

These trends don’t require a full program overhaul. They simply shape how you tweak each example of a lesson you try.

FAQ: examples of outdoor PE lesson planning questions

What are some simple examples of outdoor PE activities for limited space?
Small-sided invasion games, cooperative challenges like Clean Your Yard, and fitness circuits using cones and chalk are all easy to run on a blacktop or small grass area.

Can you give an example of an outdoor PE lesson that supports mental health?
A guided nature walk with short mindfulness pauses and a written reflection at the end is a strong example. Students move, breathe fresh air, and reflect on how they feel before and after.

How often should I use these examples of lesson plans for outdoor activities in PE?
Many teachers rotate at least one outdoor-focused unit each quarter, then sprinkle in single outdoor lessons whenever weather and schedules allow. Fitness circuits, cooperative games, and fitness trails are especially easy to repeat.

Do outdoor PE lessons need formal assessment?
Yes, but it can be quick and low-pressure: exit tickets, partner checklists, short skill demonstrations, or brief verbal reflections all work. Each example of a lesson above includes at least one simple assessment idea.

How can I adapt these real examples for students with diverse needs?
Offer choices in movement intensity, provide visual cues at stations, assign supportive roles, and allow assistive devices. Focus on participation and effort rather than performance comparisons.

Outdoor PE doesn’t have to be complicated. With these examples of lesson plans for outdoor activities in PE, you have a full menu of fitness, games, navigation, wellness, and skill-based lessons ready to adapt. Start with one or two, see how your students respond, and build your own bank of real examples that fit your community, climate, and teaching style.