How To Level Up PE Lesson Ideas With Playground Markings
Updated on: September 25, 2023
With PE a highlight of the week for many children, there can be a pressure to serve up great ideas for PE every session.
We know that’s always not possible, but playground markings can be a huge help. Playground markings are bright, colourful designs that are heat-applied to the ground and create an engaging outdoor area for pupils.
We’re a leading supplier of PE playground markings to schools, nurseries, and other play spaces across the UK.
When you need inspiration for PE planning or just want to be a bit more structured or considered about what you do, PE playground markings can be really useful.
Our PE playground markings include: sports courts, workout markings, stamina-building markings, running tracks, skill-building markings and more.
Why Use PE Playground Markings
When you’re stuck for PE lesson ideas, knowing you have playground markings outside that you can make use of is a great help.
1. Time-Saving
Outdoor PE lessons require a lot of organisation. Having PE playground markings already laid out on the ground can save a huge amount of time.
Sports court markings, for example, are a brilliant time-saving device. You don’t have to take out and pack away any equipment or have children arguing about rules when the lines are already clearly marked out on the floor.
The installation of a professional-looking sports court is a great way to motivate children to fully participate in lessons. According to research by the Fordham Institute, children learn best when they feel valued.
Knowing they have a real-life sports court to play on, adds an extra level of excitement and fun for children when playing ball games outside.
Our sports courts are non-slip and include a range of options for lots of different sports, such as: netball, basketball, and football.
A multi-sports court is a great innovation because it enables three sports courts to be installed in the same space. The courts are layered on with a different coloured line for each sport so all 3 sports courts can be clearly seen and used.
If you’re short on space, multi-sports courts are a brilliant way to ensure pupils have access to a variety of sports regardless of floor capacity.
If you want something a bit different, sports courts can be installed with a custom design to add extra appeal to a space. From colourful patterns to school logos, there are lots of ways to add personality to outdoor play areas.
2. More Physical Activity
With the NHS recommending children over 5 get at least 60 minutes of energetic activity every day, we’re all a lot more aware of how much time children are active for.
Our playground markings are here to make it easier for you to plan fun PE lesson ideas.
Having the marks already present on the ground outside can give you lots of easy ideas for outdoor PE activities and make it simpler to target some of more specific aspects of physical development.
According to the NHS, children should ‘take part in a variety of types and intensities of physical activity across the week to develop movement skills, muscles and bones.’ The presence of skill-focused markings on the playground can help you do that.
For example, the bleep test marking can be used regularly to help children build stamina whilst active spot markings are a brilliant way for children to improve muscle strength and co-ordination.
All our markings can be customised so you could pick active spots for exercises you know your pupils will find motivating.
Building bleep tests, workouts and more into PE lesson ideas on a regular basis will help children to develop good habits for life. During playtimes and lunchtimes, children are then free to go out and use the markings in their own time.
With everyone familiar with the playground marking, children can get competitive on their own or with peers and continuously try to better their score.
All our playground markings are open-ended and universal so they can be used by children of any age. Whether EYFS, KS1, KS2 or more, we guarantee pupils will find activities enjoyable and motivating.
3. Time To Hone A Skill
So often, children are forced to move through PE activities quickly. When you have permanent markings installed on the playground children have a lot more time to practice and perfect a skill.
In addition to longer durations to engage in the activity, children can return to the marking in their own time and keep practicing it. With peers present and well-versed in the same skill, children can help each other to improve.
With the marking a constant fixture on the playground, you’re much more likely to develop a more structured approach to how you use it, building it into a series of lessons.
When the demands of PE equipment organisation are removed, you have more time to focus on what the children will do in a PE lesson and why.
Browse more brilliant PE lesson ideas in our playground markings collection.
Explore PE playground markings
Browse sports playground equipment
Jess Sparks
Jess is deeply committed to supporting our mission of positively impacting UK outdoor play environments to promote healthy lifestyles in children.
With a CIM Level 6 Diploma in Sustainable Marketing, Jess channels her passion for sustainability into her marketing role, using her skills to promote eco-conscious practices and raise awareness for our initiatives.
Jess’ experience within the industry is instrumental in driving engagement and supporting connections with those who require ultra-durable, high-grade playground markings both locally and internationally.
