Subject Specific Vocabulary for P.E. - EYFS & KS1 P.E. Vocabulary - Gymnastics - Actions

Sep 28, 2026

A subject-specific English vocabulary list for Physical Education, covering EYFS & KS1 and KS2 learners. Organized by skill areas such as Gymnastics, Dance, and Games, it provides age-band word banks including movement terms, body actions, directions, levels, pathways, spacing, coordination, and simple health and fitness warm-up/cool-down language. The KS2 section extends vocabulary for athletics and swimming with game, rules, tactics, and technique terms.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages7

Reading Time18 min

AccessFree to download

EYFS & KS1 P.E. Vocabulary

Gymnastics

Dance

Games

KS2 P.E. Vocabulary

Gymnastics

Dance

Games

Athletics

Swimming

Subject Specific Vocabulary for P.E. EYFS & KS1 P.E. Vocabulary | | Gymnastics | Dance | Games | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | EYFS | Straight, Pike, Tuck, Straddle,
Star,
Shape, Curl,
Roll, Position, Body parts , Travel Balance Jump | Travelling-slither, gallop, shuffle, roll, crawl
Actions- lead, follow copy Body parts
Co-operation- share, wait, before, after.
Direction – forwards, backwards
Feeling- happy, excited, sad Body actions e.g. stretching, curling, reaching, twisting, turning
Movement-strong, gentle, heavy, floppy
Space - between, through, above. | Walking Running Throwing Fast slow Catching Rolling Space Pushing
Patting Kicking Bounce Control
Co-ordination Bounce
Body parts | | Year 1 | stretch balance tension zig-zag travelling jumping climbing repeat sequence
space perform adapt direction speed levels ShapesPike Star Straddle
Straight Tuck Landing
Health and fitness – warm up/ cool down | Travel and stillness-gallop, skip, jump, hop, bounce, spring, turn, spin, freeze, statue
Direction- forwards, backwards, sideways Space- near, far, in and out, on the spot, own, beginning, middle end
Mood and feelings-happy, angry, calm, excited, sad, lonely
Body actions
Levels high, medium, low Speed-fast, slow Pathways- curved, zigzag Rhythm
Co-ordination Pattern Stimulus Copy
Health and fitness – warm up/ cool down | Running Jumping Rolling Striking Throwing Bouncing Catching Space Opposite team Speed Direction Passing Controlling Shooting Scoring
Co-ordination Partcipate
Health and fitness – warm up/ cool down | | Year 2 | Speed Compose Movements Position Extend Travel Combinations Demonstrate Repeat | Movement Control Speed Level Sequence Unison Cannon
Travel and stillness-gallop, skip, jump, hop, bounce, | Avoiding Accuracy Tracking a ball Rolling Striking Overarm throw Chest pass Bounce pass
Bouncing | | | Create Stretch Point Balance Level Tension Smooth Sequence
Shapes – pike, star, straddle, top to toe, tuck
Health and fitness – warm up/ cool down | spring, turn, spin, freeze, statue
Direction- forwards, backwards, sideways Space- near, far, in and out, on the spot, own, beginning, middle end
Mood and feelings-happy, angry, calm, excited, sad, lonely
Body actions
Levels high, medium, low Speed-fast, slow
Pathways- curved, zigzag Rhythm
Co-ordination
Pattern
Stimulus
Health and fitness – warm up/ cool down | Catching Free space Own space Opposite Team Rebound Follow Aiming Speed Direction Passing Controlling Shooting Scoring Participate Co-ordination Technique Combinations Rules Tactics
Health and fitness – warm up/ cool down | | --- | --- | --- | --- | KS2 P.E. Vocabulary | | Gymnastics | Dance | Games | Athletics | Swimming | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Year 3 | Flow | Create | Defending | Running | | | | Explosive | Combination | Attacking | Speed | | | | Symmetrical | Sequence | Travel | Throw | | | | Asymmetrical Combination Evaluate Improve Stretch Refine Adapt | Space Improvisation Repetition Adapt Motifs Pattern Movement | Bouncing Control Possession Co-ordination
Co-operation Scoring Batting | Skip Aim Bounce Jump Leap Hop | | | | Contrasting | Evaluate | Space | Target | | | | Curled | Improve | Pass | Overarm | | | | Stretched | Agility | Dribble | Underarm | | | | Suppleness | Flexibility | Team | Walking | | | | Strength
Inverted | Strength
Control | Points
Goals | Jogging Baton | | | | Jump Land Over Under Agility Strength, | Balance Stimulus Rhythm Timing Perform Health and | Rules Tactics
Fielding
Bowler
Wicket
Innings | Relay
Take off Landing Health and fitness – warm | | | | Technique, | fitness – warm | Rounder | up/ cool down | | | | Control | | Backstop | | | | | Balance Evaluate Improve Shapes-tuck, straddle, pike, arch, back support, Front support, shoulder stand, bridge
Health and fitness – warm up/ cool

FAQs

What does this document provide for Physical Education learners?

It provides an English subject-specific vocabulary list for P.E., organized into word banks by age group and activity area (e.g., gymnastics, dance, games).

How are EYFS & KS1 vocabulary terms organized?

EYFS & KS1 terms are grouped under Gymnastics, Dance, and Games, including movement actions, body parts, direction, levels, and space-related words, plus warm-up and cool-down vocabulary.

What topics are covered in the KS2 P.E. vocabulary section?

KS2 vocabulary includes multiple strands: Gymnastics, Dance, Games, Athletics, and Swimming, with terms for technique, movement, coordination, possession/scoring, and health and fitness routines.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Riley West