People don’t usually associate reading with Physical Education, but I have found over the years that reading a book at the end of a class is an excellent way to calm students down before they head back to their homeroom teacher – a critical transition for students returning to a classroom. But more importantly, books provide SO many great conversations by not only teaching us new things, but also by opening our minds to new experiences and our eyes to different perspectives. Here are some of my favorite books to read to my PE classes.
by Marguerite Locke
Kindness Wins is an educational, rhyming book meant to give students insight into the world around them and help them to realize how their words, actions, and thoughts effect others.
In this book you will meet the students of Love Elementary, and follow them as they attend their favorite class… PE!!
But after a shocking incident occurs during a soccer game… the students learn a valuable lesson about kindness and gain a broader perspective of the world around them.
by Marguerite Locke
Join Jimmy and his classmates at Love Elementary as they learn the importance of rules and why teachers and parents work so hard to ensure students follow them. You may be surprised when you find our how the story unfolds.
This vibrantly illustrated children’s book takes readers through a series of extremly relatable classroom events, and shows children how everyone is affected when one student does not follow the rules!
Henry and the Gym Monster
by Ben Lancour
Henry LOVES P.E. class! In art, he draws about dancing. In music, he sings about soccer. But when it’s gym time, he has ONE BIG PROBLEM…Manny the monster!
He tricks Henry into doing the opposite of what his teacher asks him to do. Will the confused boy control his beastie buddy before growing to a size he cannot control?
Character is doing what’s right even when your monster tells you to do the opposite. This GYM TALE has themes of taking responsibility for one’s actions, impulse control, and bullying.
Sally Sore Loser
by Frank Sileo
Sally loves to be first at everything! She is first in line at school. She is first out the door at recess. She is first at dinner finishing her mac ‘n’ cheese!
Unfortunately, Sally dislikes losing and this can lead to hot tempers and hurt feelings. She even gets the nickname “Sally Sore Loser” from her classmates at school. With the help of her teacher and her mom, Sally learns the rules for being a good winner and a good loser, and that the most important thing is having fun.
My P.E. Teacher is a Ninja
by Joey and Melanie Acker
The students in Mr. Walker’s school think he might be a ninja!
Come join Mr. Walker’s students in discovering if he really is a ninja or just a fast and sneaky P.E. teacher. He is serious, quiet, swift, and knows when someone or someTHING is up to no good (without even looking)!
‘My P.E. Teacher is a Ninja’ is a fun and easy beginner reader for ages 4 – 10. Published in large print, this book is also great for classroom read-alouds and as an entertaining book to read at home. This funny and silly story also makes a great gift for the P.E. teacher!
Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns About Sportsmanship: Winning Isn't Everything
by Reverend Ana
Howard B. Wigglebottom likes to win, but he learns that nobody wins all the time. Howard learns how to become a team player when his soccer team makes it to finals.
Evie's Field Day
by Claire Annette Nolan
Evie loves to run, jump, hop and most of all – win! In fact, she has a special place in her room for all her trophies and ribbons. Evie couldn’t wait to blaze past her classmates on Field Day. So when things didn’t go her way, she stomped, scored and downright pouted! Evie was a sore loser, alright.
When Evie finds herself ahead of the pack and faced with an important decision, will she choose the chance at a trophy or the chance to be a kind friend?
The Gym Teacher from the Black Lagoon
by Mike Thaler
There’s a new gym teacher transferring over from the junior high, and Hubie is worried. The junior high students say he’s big, mean, and blows his whistle a lot. Will Hubie really have to run a lap around the world to pass Mr. Green’s class? Will he be able to lift Mr. Green’s pickup truck and climb up a rope while it’s on fire? Ugh! Hubie doesn’t want to go to gym class anymore!
Everybody's Good at Something
by Susan E Rose and Emily Hercock
Today is Sports Day. I CAN’T WAIT! And as I know that I’ll be great, I’ve planned how I will celebrate – because I’m going to win.
Our heroine is determined that she’s going to win all the events at school sports day. The problem is that winning isn’t as easy as it looks. She doesn’t win the running race or the tug of war – and she can’t even win a game of hide-and-seek. But maybe winning isn’t really the point?
A joyful picture book with an important message from the author and illustrator of I Really Want the Cake.
by Christina Furnival
In The Not-So-Friendly Friend, children will learn an easy and practical lesson about how to firmly and assertively―yet kindly―stand up for themselves in the face of a bully.
By teaching children about the importance and value of setting boundaries for healthy friendships, this book provides children the tools they need to foster their social confidence and emotional well-being.
