Unified Physical Education Starts Here
The following resources are provided for educators, students, and Special Olympics Programs to get the most out of the Unified Physical Education Playbook. These resources were created specifically for use in US-based schools and to be implemented as a part of the broader Special Olympics Unified Champion School® program.
Unified Physical Education Playbook
The Unified Physical Education (UPE) Playbook is a practical, educator-focused guide created to support inclusive physical education for every learner. It draws from years of real-world classroom experience and was developed in collaboration with educators, school leaders, and advocates committed to building environments where all students can thrive.
What is Unified Physical Education?
Unified PE is designed to intentionally bring together a proportional number of students with and without intellectual disabilities (ID) as equals, in a universally-designed physical education setting where all participants earn the same credit for physical education. Unified PE is an instructional strategy supported by Special Olympics and is rooted in the belief that every student should have a meaningful way to participate, lead, and grow.
Unified PE Playbook Resources
Find the resources referenced in the Playbook below.
- Assessment Tools
- Educator Planning Tools
- Fitness & Wellness
- Inclusive Youth Leadership & Reflection Tools
Assessment Tools
Educator Planning Tools
Fitness & Wellness
Inclusive Youth Leadership & Reflection Tools
- Young Athletes (General Resources for Ages 2 – 7)
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Young Athletes (Year Long Lesson Plans for Ages 2 – 7)
Young Athletes is an innovative sports play program designed for students aged 2 – 7 years and takes place around the world. The program includes active games, songs, and other play activities that help children develop motor, social, and cognitive skills. These lesson plans are designed with the elementary school classroom in mind as it is an opportunity for students of all ability levels to come together to grow and develop in friendship, leadership, and sports skills.
- Young Athletes American Indian and Alaska Native Implementation Guide (Ages 2 – 7)
- Junior Athletes (Resources & Activities for Ages 6 – 12)
- Unified Classroom (Lessons, videos & materials for all Grade Levels)
Partnerships & Research
Partnership
SHAPE America Partnership
For more than 50 years, SHAPE America- Society of Health and Physical Educators and Special Olympics have joined forces to support inclusive physical education and fitness programs nationwide. SHAPE America’s National Physical Education Standards have served as the foundation for well-designed physical education programs across the country, just as the SHAPE America National Health Education Standards serve as the foundation for effective skills-based health education. The SHAPE America landing page for the Special Olympics partnership can be found here: https://www.shapeamerica.org/Unified
Research
Examining Unified Physical Education from the Teacher’s Perspective
Dive into this University of Virginia study on Unified Physical Education (Ford & Block, 2025). Based on interviews with teachers from across the U.S. who oversee Unified PE in their schools, this study begins to uncover the challenges in some traditional PE settings and the positive impact that Unified PE can have.
See the Work in Action
Find the videos referenced in the Playbook below.
Outreach and Messaging
The following resources can be used to provide introductory information and messaging about Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools, as well as evidence-based research of the impact of UCS programming.