Physical Education Teacher Newsletter: Summer Work Newsletter
PE summer work is most effective when it does not feel like homework. The goal is for students to stay physically active and build habits that make them healthier in September than they were in June. A newsletter that gives families a realistic, flexible activity plan with a clear rationale gets better results than a structured daily program that feels like a chore from the first week of July.
Connect the summer activity to the fall curriculum
"In September we begin the year with a fitness assessment. Students who have been physically active over the summer consistently perform better on the aerobic endurance component, specifically the PACER test, than students who did not maintain any activity. More importantly, students who developed a physical activity habit over the summer are more engaged in PE class during the fall. The habit is worth more than any single summer fitness gain."
Make the activity goal concrete and achievable
"The summer physical activity goal is 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity per week. This is the standard recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control for adolescents. 150 minutes per week breaks down to 30 minutes on 5 days, or 50 minutes on 3 days, or any other combination that adds up. Moderate activity means something that makes you breathe harder than at rest and feel somewhat warm. Vigorous activity means something where you cannot hold a full conversation. Walking counts as moderate. Running counts as vigorous."
Give families a flexible activity log format
Here is a newsletter excerpt that introduces the activity log:
"Summer Activity Log: Students should track their physical activity from June 15 through August 20. There is no required format. The log should record: the date, the activity, and the approximate duration. That is all. A notes app entry that says 'June 18, basketball at the park, 45 min' is perfect. A handwritten notebook with the same information is perfect. A screenshot of a fitness app is perfect. The log is due September 9. Students who complete 10 or more weeks of logs with activity meeting the weekly goal earn full credit for the summer assignment component. Students who complete fewer weeks earn partial credit. Students who do not turn in a log earn zero on that component."
Offer a sample weekly activity plan for families who want one
"If your family wants a structured starting point: Week 1 sample (150 minutes total): Monday: 30-minute brisk walk or light jog. Wednesday: 30-minute swim or bike ride. Friday: 30-minute pickup game or sport practice. Saturday: 30-minute family activity of any kind. Sunday: 30-minute yard work, hiking, or active play. This is a sample only. Any combination of activities that reaches 150 minutes works. The goal is movement, not a specific program."
Acknowledge competitive athletes and address their situation
"Students who play on school or community sports teams over the summer are already meeting the activity requirement through their practices and games. You should still keep the activity log, but you will be logging team practices and games. There is no need to add extra activity beyond your sport unless you want to."
Give free activity options for families who need them
"Free and low-cost activity options in our area: [City Parks and Recreation summer programs link], [Local YMCA scholarship program link], free open gym at [location and schedule], and walking trails at [nearest park]. The public library system often runs summer wellness programs as well. Physical activity does not require a gym membership or equipment. A good pair of shoes and a route to walk is the baseline."
Close with an invitation to stay connected over the summer
"I check email on weekdays through August 15 and respond within 48 hours. If your student has a question about the activity log, needs help adapting the goal for a physical limitation, or just wants to ask about a specific activity, they are welcome to reach out." Students who feel connected to the teacher over the summer tend to arrive in September more motivated and more prepared than students who did not have contact for three months. That connection starts with making it clear the door is open.
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Frequently asked questions
Should PE teachers assign formal summer work?
PE summer work is different from academic summer work in one important way: physical fitness and activity habits benefit enormously from consistency over time, but the assignment should not create stress or become a compliance exercise. The most effective PE summer work is a physical activity log with a flexible minimum, not a structured daily program that families feel obligated to complete perfectly. A goal of 150 minutes of moderate activity per week, tracked in any format the student chooses, is aligned with physical health guidelines and achievable without being overwhelming.
How do I explain the summer activity log to families?
Make the standard simple and the tracking flexible. 'The summer activity log asks students to track their physical activity from June 15 through August 20. The goal is 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week, spread across at least three days. Any activity counts: swimming, biking, walking the dog at a brisk pace, pickup basketball, a dance class, yard work, hiking. The log can be handwritten, in a notes app, or in any format the student can show me in September. There is no required format. The goal is self-awareness about activity levels, not a perfect paper trail.'
How do I motivate students who are not naturally active to do a summer fitness assignment?
Frame activity as something families do together, not just an individual fitness project. 'The most effective thing families can do is build physical activity into family routines over the summer. An evening walk after dinner, a Saturday morning bike ride, or a family swim at a community pool all count toward the activity log. Students who build activity into family routines in June sustain the habit longer than students who treat it as a solo assignment. If your family is not currently active together, summer is the easiest time to start because the schedule is looser.'
How do I handle students who play competitive sports over the summer?
Name it explicitly in the newsletter. 'Students who play on competitive sports teams over the summer are completing the activity requirement through their team practices and games. They should log their sport participation in the activity log alongside any other physical activity. For these students, the summer letter is less relevant as a motivational tool, but the log is still useful as a record of their overall activity pattern going into the fall.'
What platform is best for sending PE summer work newsletters?
Daystage lets you send the summer activity newsletter before school ends and schedule a reminder for mid-July when students who started and then stopped need a gentle nudge. Including links to free resources like the CDC's physical activity guidelines for adolescents, local park and recreation program schedules, or free workout apps in the newsletter gives families immediate actionable options. Daystage delivers all of this directly to the family inbox in a format they can reference over the summer.
Adi Ackerman
Author
Adi Ackerman is a former classroom teacher and curriculum writer with 8 years in K-8 schools. She writes about school communication, parent engagement, and what actually works in real classrooms.
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