Lesson Title: Emerging Sports for Phys Ed

Ready to shake up your PE class with something fresh and exciting? 

This lesson introduces students to the world of emerging sports—think Pickleball, Parkour, Spikeball, Ultimate Frisbee, and other creative, fast-growing activities that go beyond the traditional gym lineup. With a focus on fun, safety, and skill-building, students will explore new ways to move, build confidence, and connect with their peers. 

The lesson wraps up with an interactive Goosechase scavenger hunt that gets students thinking, moving, and laughing—all while reinforcing what they’ve learned. Get ready to energize your class and maybe discover a new favorite sport along the way!

Grade: 6 - 8

Subject: Physical Education

Learning Objectives:

• By the end of this lesson, students will:
  • be introduced to emerging sports such as Pickleball, Parkour, and others.
  • learn basic rules and techniques
  • explore safety protocols
  • understand the benefits of trying new physical activities
  • demonstrate their understanding and skills through hands-on practice and a Goosechase Interactive Experience

Materials:

• Mobile devices (tablets, phones, or laptops) with the Goosechase app installed
• Safety gear (optional but recommended—gloves, knee/elbow pads for Parkour), whistle, stopwatch
• Pickleball paddles, balls, and net
• Cones, soft mats, and obstacle elements for Parkour basics
• Projector or screen for short intro videos

Preparation:

• Create an Experience on the Goosechase app with a series of Missions focussed on emerging sports, importance of physical education, and relevant safety protocols.
• Develop Missions that require students to demonstrate their understanding of what they have learned. Example Missions:
  • Parkour Move: Record a teammate doing a safe Parkour move.
  • Brain Break: Answer this: What’s one safety rule for Pickleball?
  • Newbie Tip: Write down one benefit of trying new sports.
  • Find It: Find someone from another team who’s never played Pickleball before—snap a selfie together!
  • Snap It: Take a photo of your team in an athletic pose from one of the new sports.
•  Find example Missions in the Goosechase Templates below. 

• Adapt the difficulty of the Missions based on the proficiency levels of your students to keep the activity inclusive and engaging for everyone.
• Prepare hints or resources that might help students solve the Missions if needed.
• Divide students into teams and assign each team a mobile device with the app, or have students complete the scavenger hunt individually.
• Run your Experience during one class period or longer.
• App Set-Up 
  • Dedicate time to ensuring all students have the Goosechase app downloaded and joined to the Experience to avoid any tech issues.

Lesson Plan Outline:

• Warm-Up & Introduction
  • Dynamic warm-up:
    • jumping jacks, high knees, arm circles, lunges.
  • Discussion Prompt:
    • Have you ever tried a sport that’s not in the Olympics or part of your regular PE class?
• Mini-Presentation/Video Clips on:
  • Pickleball – A paddle sport combining tennis, badminton, and ping pong.
  • Parkour – The practice of moving creatively through spaces using jumping, climbing, and balancing.
  • Other options (if time): Spikeball, Ultimate Frisbee, or FootGolf.
• Safety First! 
  • Pickleball Safety Tips
    • Warm up before playing
    • Communicate with your partner
    • Don’t run backward
  • Parkour Safety Tips
    • Start slow with basic movement
    • Use mats and spotters
    • Always be aware of your surroundings
  • General Safety
    • Listen to your body
    • Stay hydrated
    • Respect others’ space
• Group discussion: Benefits of Participating in New Sports
  • Boosts creativity and problem-solving (especially in Parkour)
  • Improves coordination and agility
  • Builds teamwork and communication skills
  • Keeps physical activity exciting and inclusive for everyone
• Skills Practice Stations: Divide students into rotating stations:
  • Station 1: Pickleball Basics
    • Grip and paddle control
    • Serve and rally with a partner
  • Station 2: Parkour Fundamentals
    • Precision jumps
    • Vaulting over cones
    • Balance beams (tape lines or benches)
  • Station 3: Free Choice Zone
    • Try another new sport: Spikeball, frisbee trick throws, or cooperative group challenges
    • Option for students to share a sport they know that others may not
• Goosechase Scavenger Hunt
  • Read through Missions with students, emphasizing the importance of evidence and analysis in their responses.
  • Monitor progress and provide assistance as necessary.
  • If working in teams, encourage them to strategize and collaborate to solve the Missions.
  • Sit back and enjoy watching your students collaborate and demonstrate their learning.
• Debrief and Reflection
  • Review the activity, discussing which missions were the most challenging or fun.
  • Discuss how teams collaborated and solved problems together.
  • Highlight the importance of following safety procedures in all future woodworking projects.
  • Have group discussions centering around how students felt trying new sports.
  • Invite students to vote on an emerging sport they’d like to explore further in future PE classes.
  • Optionally, award prizes to the team(s) with the highest score.

Optional Post-Experience Activities:

• Mini Research Paper
  • Students select one emerging sport they are not familiar with but would like to explore more. Students research the history of the sport, its rules, and other interesting facts. 
• Emerging Sport Poster
  • Students reflect on what they have learned about emerging sports. Students create a poster to be put on the wall in the school highlighting the emerging sport of their choice. 
• Reflection Journal 
  • Students complete a “My Movement Journey” where they track their exercise and write short reflection pieces. They can talk about what they did and did not like about their movement that day, how they feel, and what they want to try next. 
• Emerging Sport Challenge
  • Time to get creative! Students brainstorm new ideas and design their own emerging sport. They develop the name, the purpose, and the rules for their game and can present in a way of their choosing. 

Assessment

• Participation and teamwork during activities
• Engagement with Goosechase missions
• Informal check-ins on understanding of safety rules and sport benefits
• Have students complete an “Exit Ticket” prior to leaving class – Write one thing you learned, one thing you loved, and one thing you want to try again

Ready Made Experience To Try

Pickleball Power Up!

Serve up fun and test your Pickleball skills with challenges that get you moving, thinking, and rallying like a pro. Let’s hit the court and power up your game!

Get your own copy!

Parkour Playground!

Leap, climb, and roll through challenges that explore the basics of Parkour—no rooftops needed! Test your skills and have fun moving in new ways!

Get your own copy!

Want a copy of this lesson plan to use with your class?

What is Goosechase EDU?

Goosechase is an online platform that helps educators create and run interactive learning experiences in their classrooms and beyond. Sign up and try creating an Experience, or contact us to learn more about our school and district-wide solutions!