Simplify Fundamental Movement Skills in Primary K-6 PDHPE

If you’ve opened the new PDHPE K-6 syllabus and thought, “Where do I even start with Fundamental Movement Skills?”, you are not alone.

This week on The PDHPE and CAFS Podcast, I’m joined by Lyndelle, a primary PE RFF teacher, who breaks FMS down in a way that feels clear, structured and actually manageable for NSW primary teachers.

And here’s the truth.

You don’t need to be “sporty” to teach this well.

You need clarity.
You need structure.
You need purpose.

The Shift: From Playing Sport to Teaching Skills

One of the biggest takeaways from this episode is this:

PE is not sport.

Physical activity is play.
Sport is structured competition.
Physical Education is learning.

Under the new NSW K-6 PDHPE syllabus, we are explicitly teaching Fundamental Movement Skills so students can demonstrate, apply and refine them across stages. That progression matters.

That language mirrors what we already do in English and writing. We teach. We model. We scaffold. We refine.

FMS is no different.

Make It Explicit: I Do, You Do, We Do

If your PE lessons feel chaotic, this framework changes everything.

I do – Model the movement.
You do – Students practise.
We do – Refine together with feedback.

It sounds simple. Because it is.

When we teach movement explicitly, behaviour improves. Waiting time reduces. Students understand the purpose.

And when students understand the purpose, they engage.

You Can Teach This in the Classroom

No hall?
Wet weather?
Limited equipment?

You can still teach FMS in primary PE.

Movement breaks with purpose.
Station work with clear roles.
Maths lessons measuring standing broad jumps.
Quick five minute skill challenges.

The key is not “more sport”.
The key is intentional movement.

Assessment Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated

Observations.
Checklists.
Short skill tracking.
Targeted student conversations.

Think like we do with student writing. We gather evidence over time. We track growth. We give feedback.

That’s how we lift students.

Whether you’re a primary classroom teacher or a Primary PE specialist, this episode will help you simplify your planning, build confidence and align your teaching with the new syllabus language.

🎧 Listen to Episode 165: thelearnnet.com/165
🎥 Watch the replay: thelearnnet.com/pefms
🎁 Download the free FMS resource: thelearnnet.com/fms

Let’s make Primary PDHPE purposeful again.