Adapted PE Volleyball Unit Plan for Special Education | Grades 6-12

An adapted PE volleyball unit for middle and high school: 7 lessons that build from balloons and catch-toss to real bumps, sets, and serves, with Level A, B, and C in every one.

Why I made this: Volleyball can be the hardest unit to run with mixed abilities, because the ball moves fast and the touches are hard to learn. Starting with balloons and catching, then building to bumps and sets, keeps every student in the game. Seated play runs on the same courts.

What's included:

• Teacher overview: what Levels A, B, and C mean, how I run the unit, and a 7-day calendar

• Equipment list (standard and modified) and a drawn court setup diagram, including seated volleyball

• Safety and inclusion notes with a student setup chart

• 7 one-page lessons: ready position and catch-toss, forearm pass, overhead set, underhand serve, rotation, modified games, and tournament day

• Every lesson has an objective, warm-up, cue words, practice, a Level A/B/C table, a skill check, a teacher tip, and a cool-down question

• A 4-station volleyball rotation, a skill check rubric, and a class record sheet

• Rally scoring sheets for modified games and a 4 v 4 rotation chart with a court diagram

• Student self-rate cards

How I use it: Every class starts with balloon or beach ball warm-ups so nobody is afraid of the ball. Then students choose their ball and net height for the main practice. Catch volleyball is the bridge most of my classes need before real touches.

Who it is for: Adapted PE teachers, general PE teachers with inclusive classes, and special education teachers who run PE, grades 6 to 12.

Every lesson, station, rubric, and game page in this unit is original to it. If you need a quick change on the fly, change the space, the task, the equipment, or the people, one thing at a time.

What you download: one printable PDF, 17 pages, US Letter.

Also in my Adapted PE series: the Basketball, Soccer, Bowling, Bocce, and Track and Field units, plus the Adapted PE IEP Goal Bank and Movement Break Timer Slides. Every sport unit uses the same Level A/B/C layout, so students know the routine when you move to the next sport.

Written by Jeremy D. Gooch, a transition coordinator with 20+ years in education. Part of the Adapted PE series from The Transition Cliff.

At a glance: grades 6-12, one-page lessons, Level A, B, and C on every lesson table, skill check rubric, class record sheet, and student self-rate cards. 17-page PDF, US Letter. Print and teach; equipment swaps are listed for gyms with very little equipment.