14 PE sub plans for the gym, plus a classroom backup
These fourteen PE lessons are for a substitute who is not a gym teacher. Every game is no-contact and needs little or no equipment, and each one says what to do, what you need and the grades it fits. Start with a warm-up, run one or two games, and keep the last two ideas ready in case the gym is taken and you end up in a classroom. Follow the school's gym rules first.
Warm-ups
1. Follow the leader laps
Students line up behind a leader and walk or jog around the edge of the gym, copying whatever the leader does, like arm circles, side steps or skips. Every half lap, call "switch" and the leader moves to the back so the next student leads.
Grades K–8You need Open gym space
2. Mirror partners
Partners stand facing each other an arm's length apart without touching. One leads slow moves, like reaching high, lunging or balancing on one foot, and the other copies them like a mirror. Switch leaders every minute.
Grades K–8You need Open gym spaceUse 1-minute timer
3. Animal moves across the gym
Students line up along one wall. Call out an animal and how it moves: bear walk on hands and feet, crab walk, frog hops, flamingo steps. Everyone moves that way to the far wall, then you call a new animal for the trip back.
Grades K–3You need Open gym space
No-contact games
4. Red light, green light with moves
Stand at one end while students line up at the other. Green light means move toward you, red light means freeze, and yellow light means move in slow motion. Add moves like hop, skip or tiptoe to each round. The first student to reach you becomes the caller.
Grades K–3You need Open gym space
5. Four corners workout
Number the four corners of the gym. Students jog to any corner while you count down from ten, then you roll a die or call a number. That corner does ten jumping jacks while the rest stretch in place, and everyone moves again.
Grades K–5You need Paper signs or numbers for each cornerUse Online dice
6. Rock paper scissors cheer chain
Every student finds a partner and plays rock paper scissors. The loser becomes the winner's cheering section and follows them, clapping, as they find a new opponent. Chains grow until two big groups face off for the final round. Then everyone starts over.
Grades 2–8You need Open gym space
7. Clean your side
Split the gym in half with two teams and scatter the soft balls evenly. On go, students roll or toss balls underhand onto the other side, staying on their own side. When the timer ends, everyone freezes and you count which side has fewer balls.
Grades K–5You need Lots of soft foam balls or rolled-up paper ballsUse 2-minute timer
8. Cone bowling
Set up groups of cones like bowling pins at one end. Teams take turns rolling a soft ball from a line, set up the cones again, and add up how many fell. Move the line back each round to make it harder.
Grades K–5You need Cones or empty plastic bottles and a few soft balls
9. Keep it up
Groups of five or six stand in a circle and tap a balloon or light ball into the air, counting each tap out loud. No one may tap it twice in a row. When it hits the floor, the group starts at zero and tries to beat its best count.
Grades 2–8You need Balloons or a light soft ball for each group
Grades 4–8
10. Timed fitness stations
Write one move on each sign, such as wall sit, jumping jacks, high knees, side shuffles, plank and balance on one foot, and put them around the gym. Groups spend one minute at a station, then rotate when you call time until every group has done all six.
Grades 4–8You need Paper signs for six stations and a timerUse 6-minute timer
11. Number call relay
Teams line up behind a start line and students number off within their team. Call out a math problem; every student whose number is the answer walks quickly to the turn line and back. The first team with its runners back over the line earns a point.
Grades 3–8You need Cones or tape for start and turn lines
12. Balance challenge ladder
Call out balance challenges that get harder: stand on one foot, then with eyes closed, then holding the other foot behind you, then touching the floor while on one foot. Students choose how far up the ladder to go and try to hold each balance for ten seconds.
Grades 2–8You need Open gym space
Classroom backup
13. Move to your answer
Name a question with two answers, like cats or dogs, summer or winter. Students walk to the left wall for one answer and the right wall for the other, then do five squats or arm circles there before you ask the next question. Keep walking, never running.
Grades K–8You need The classroom with desks pushed inUse Would you rather wheel
14. Silent toss at desks
Students sit on their desks or stand at them. Toss the ball underhand to any student, who catches it and tosses it to someone else, all in silence. A bad toss or any talking means sitting down. The last few standing win the round.
Grades 2–8You need One soft ball or a rolled-up paper ball
Making it work
- Check in with the office or the teacher next door about the gym rules, where the equipment is and what is off limits before the first class arrives.
- Keep every game no-contact. If a game turns into pushing or grabbing, stop it and switch to a calmer one.
- Use one clear stop signal, like a whistle or a raised hand, and practice it twice before starting any game.
- If the gym is not available, run the classroom backup items, or pull a movement card from the get-moving brain breaks.
- Leave a few minutes at the end for students to put equipment back and line up, then jot what each class did in your sub note.
Questions teachers ask
- What do you do as a sub in PE with no plans?
- Start with a warm-up like follow the leader laps, then run one or two no-contact games such as red light green light, four corners or keep it up. Ask the office about gym rules first, and keep a classroom backup ready.
- What PE games need no equipment?
- Follow the leader laps, mirror partners, animal moves, red light green light, the rock paper scissors cheer chain and the balance challenge ladder all need nothing but open space. Four corners needs only a die or a number you call.
- What PE sub plans work for middle school?
- Older students do well with timed fitness stations, the number call relay, the rock paper scissors cheer chain and keep it up with a best-score goal. Give them a clear time for each round and let them choose their station order.
- What if the gym is being used when I arrive?
- Ask the office where the class should go. In a classroom, push desks in and run move to your answer or silent toss, or use short movement brain breaks at the desks until the period ends.
Written for teachers by Peabody Teach. No ads, no affiliate links. Something wrong or missing? Tell us.