Needham Public Schools Grade Level Benchmarks
What is a benchmark?
A benchmark is the end of unit goal that we hope all learners can achieve. In short, it is what we hope students know and are able to demonstrate by the end of the unit we are working on. The following are the specific benchmarks for each grade level. Please note that a benchmark is simply the overall outcome that we hope students are able to achieve - additional skills and concepts are taught during each of the skill units that are presented. (i.e. although the overhand throw to a moving target is the benchmark for grade 5 throwing and catching, they are also working on underhand throws, sidearm throws, throwing a variety of objects, faking, etc. during the unit).
Additionally, other units are taught in various grade levels but may not necessarily be formally assessed (i.e. grade 1 works on moving to music and striking with paddles but those units may not have a formal assessment/benchmark listed).
Grade 1 Benchmarks
Participation:
Prepared for class (sneakers), demonstrates appropriate participation and effort in class activities.
Personal and Social Responsibility:
Accepts responsibility for safe participation and proper use of equipment without teacher reminders.
Cognitive:
Demonstrates knowledge of specific motor cues taught during class.
Psychomotor:
Demonstrates the ability to skip using proper form in general space.
Demonstrates the ability to roll in a forward direction using proper skill cues.
Uses proper form while throwing underhand to a stationary target.
Demonstrates the ability to catch a self-tossed object in personal space.
Demonstrates the ability to dribble a ball with alternating hands while remaining in a stationary space.
Demonstrates the ability to dribble a ball with feet in general space.
Demonstrates the ability to strike a lightweight object in an upward direction with both hands.
Grade 2 Benchmarks
Participation:
Prepared for class (sneakers), demonstrates appropriate participation and effort in class activities.
Personal and Social Responsibility:
Works independently with others in partner environments with minimal teacher prompting.
Cognitive:
Demonstrates knowledge of specific motor cues taught during class.
Psychomotor:
Jumps a long rope up to 10 times consecutively with teacher assisted turning.
Dribbles with feet in general space at slow to moderate jogging speed with control of ball and body.
Kicks a rolling ball to a large, stationary target with the instep (shoelaces).
Dribbles using alternating hands while traveling in general space.
Applies simple strategies and tactics in chasing and fleeing activities.
Performs a teacher and/or student designed rhythmic activity with correct response to simple rhythm/direction changes.
Grade 3 Benchmarks
Participation:
Prepared for class (sneakers), demonstrates appropriate participation and effort in class activities.
Personal and Social Responsibility:
Exhibits personal responsibility while working cooperatively with others.
Cognitive:
Demonstrates knowledge of specific motor cues taught during class.
Psychomotor:
Throws overhand demonstrating a mature pattern, in non-dynamic environments (closed skills), to a stationary target.
Catches a thrown ball using a mature pattern in a non-dynamic environment (stationary).
Strikes an object using a mature underhand striking pattern, sending it forward over a net.
Strikes a stationary ball with a long-handled implement (e.g. hockey stick, golf club, bat), sending it forward, while using proper grip.
Combines balance and weight transfers with movement concepts (e.g. mule kick, cartwheel, roundoff).
Grade 4 Benchmarks
Participation:
Prepared for class (sneakers), demonstrates appropriate participation and effort in class activities.
Personal and Social Responsibility:
Exhibits proper etiquette and adherence to rules in a variety of physical activities.
Cognitive:
Demonstrates knowledge of movement concepts, skills, and strategies in game, dance, and gymnastics activities.
Psychomotor:
Performs intermediate jump-rope skills (e.g. a variety of jump rope tricks) with a self-turned short jump rope.
Dribbles with feet in combination with the instep kick to a large stationary target area.
Combines hand dribbling with movement concepts (speed, pathway changes) during 1v1 practice tasks.
Applies simple offensive strategies and tactics in chasing & fleeing activities.
Strikes a rebounding object with a short-handled implement (e.g. paddle or racket) while demonstrating a mature forehand pattern.
Grade 5 Benchmarks
Participation:
Prepared for class (sneakers), demonstrates appropriate participation and effort in class activities.
Personal and Social Responsibility:
Accepts, recognizes, and actively involves others with both higher and lower skill abilities into physical activities and group projects.
Cognitive:
Demonstrates knowledge of movement concepts, skills, and strategies in game, dance, and gymnastics activities.
Psychomotor:
Throws overhand using a mature pattern to a moving target (lead pass) in a small-sided game.
Forearm passes a ball to a partner/teammate in a modified game activity with correct form,
Volleys a ball using a two hand overhead pattern sending it upward toward a target.
Strikes a moving ball consistently with a long-handled implement (e.g. bat, hockey stick) using a mature pattern.
Combines a minimum of 5 gymnastics skills (e.g. rolling, balance, weight transfer) to create and demonstrate a gymnastics sequence.
A benchmark is the end of unit goal that we hope all learners can achieve. In short, it is what we hope students know and are able to demonstrate by the end of the unit we are working on. The following are the specific benchmarks for each grade level. Please note that a benchmark is simply the overall outcome that we hope students are able to achieve - additional skills and concepts are taught during each of the skill units that are presented. (i.e. although the overhand throw to a moving target is the benchmark for grade 5 throwing and catching, they are also working on underhand throws, sidearm throws, throwing a variety of objects, faking, etc. during the unit).
Additionally, other units are taught in various grade levels but may not necessarily be formally assessed (i.e. grade 1 works on moving to music and striking with paddles but those units may not have a formal assessment/benchmark listed).
Grade 1 Benchmarks
Participation:
Prepared for class (sneakers), demonstrates appropriate participation and effort in class activities.
Personal and Social Responsibility:
Accepts responsibility for safe participation and proper use of equipment without teacher reminders.
Cognitive:
Demonstrates knowledge of specific motor cues taught during class.
Psychomotor:
Demonstrates the ability to skip using proper form in general space.
Demonstrates the ability to roll in a forward direction using proper skill cues.
Uses proper form while throwing underhand to a stationary target.
Demonstrates the ability to catch a self-tossed object in personal space.
Demonstrates the ability to dribble a ball with alternating hands while remaining in a stationary space.
Demonstrates the ability to dribble a ball with feet in general space.
Demonstrates the ability to strike a lightweight object in an upward direction with both hands.
Grade 2 Benchmarks
Participation:
Prepared for class (sneakers), demonstrates appropriate participation and effort in class activities.
Personal and Social Responsibility:
Works independently with others in partner environments with minimal teacher prompting.
Cognitive:
Demonstrates knowledge of specific motor cues taught during class.
Psychomotor:
Jumps a long rope up to 10 times consecutively with teacher assisted turning.
Dribbles with feet in general space at slow to moderate jogging speed with control of ball and body.
Kicks a rolling ball to a large, stationary target with the instep (shoelaces).
Dribbles using alternating hands while traveling in general space.
Applies simple strategies and tactics in chasing and fleeing activities.
Performs a teacher and/or student designed rhythmic activity with correct response to simple rhythm/direction changes.
Grade 3 Benchmarks
Participation:
Prepared for class (sneakers), demonstrates appropriate participation and effort in class activities.
Personal and Social Responsibility:
Exhibits personal responsibility while working cooperatively with others.
Cognitive:
Demonstrates knowledge of specific motor cues taught during class.
Psychomotor:
Throws overhand demonstrating a mature pattern, in non-dynamic environments (closed skills), to a stationary target.
Catches a thrown ball using a mature pattern in a non-dynamic environment (stationary).
Strikes an object using a mature underhand striking pattern, sending it forward over a net.
Strikes a stationary ball with a long-handled implement (e.g. hockey stick, golf club, bat), sending it forward, while using proper grip.
Combines balance and weight transfers with movement concepts (e.g. mule kick, cartwheel, roundoff).
Grade 4 Benchmarks
Participation:
Prepared for class (sneakers), demonstrates appropriate participation and effort in class activities.
Personal and Social Responsibility:
Exhibits proper etiquette and adherence to rules in a variety of physical activities.
Cognitive:
Demonstrates knowledge of movement concepts, skills, and strategies in game, dance, and gymnastics activities.
Psychomotor:
Performs intermediate jump-rope skills (e.g. a variety of jump rope tricks) with a self-turned short jump rope.
Dribbles with feet in combination with the instep kick to a large stationary target area.
Combines hand dribbling with movement concepts (speed, pathway changes) during 1v1 practice tasks.
Applies simple offensive strategies and tactics in chasing & fleeing activities.
Strikes a rebounding object with a short-handled implement (e.g. paddle or racket) while demonstrating a mature forehand pattern.
Grade 5 Benchmarks
Participation:
Prepared for class (sneakers), demonstrates appropriate participation and effort in class activities.
Personal and Social Responsibility:
Accepts, recognizes, and actively involves others with both higher and lower skill abilities into physical activities and group projects.
Cognitive:
Demonstrates knowledge of movement concepts, skills, and strategies in game, dance, and gymnastics activities.
Psychomotor:
Throws overhand using a mature pattern to a moving target (lead pass) in a small-sided game.
Forearm passes a ball to a partner/teammate in a modified game activity with correct form,
Volleys a ball using a two hand overhead pattern sending it upward toward a target.
Strikes a moving ball consistently with a long-handled implement (e.g. bat, hockey stick) using a mature pattern.
Combines a minimum of 5 gymnastics skills (e.g. rolling, balance, weight transfer) to create and demonstrate a gymnastics sequence.
