LESSON #1 VALUE OF THE DAY: Respect (Respect equipment, staff, and each other) EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Single float belts or noodles and toys Name Games/Songs Jump and Cheer (one at a time) Jump in and cheer! Shout you re name if you re here! Name Association: Ask each child to come up with an action in the water (splashing, bubbles, jumping, scooping arms, etc) and when you say their name, everybody does that action! Splash It: Ask each child to say their name. Splash for each syllable as you all say it together. Also, get them to try saying each other s names underwater. Welcome and introductions/attendance Discuss pool rules, diving rules Jump in 10 Bobs, deeper water (all the way under) Front float Back float Front paddle to a toy Back paddle Front alternating paddle, 25 yards w/ifd Back alternating paddle, 25 yards w/ifd Front alternating paddle, 15 yards w/o IFD Back alternating paddle, 15 yards w/o IFD Work on trying to extend their reach while paddling, or even get arms out of the water a little bit with front and back paddle Elementary Back Stroke Introduce yourself to children and parents. Use single float belt or noodle if necessary Kids shouldn t need floatation every class. Remember, Rays should be able to swim at least 10 meters without flotation the first class. Try various arm and leg positions to help with floating, like bent knees or arms up over head. Work on front, back, more than one time each. Do several times of shorter distances, then one time with a longer distance. Choice of Game Review names of students individually and ask: What was the best thing in class today? Update skills checklist after speaking with parents.
LESSON #2 Games/Songs The Grand O Duke of York: The Grand ol Duke of York, he had 10,000 men. He marched them out of the pool (pull self onto side) and then he marched them down again (submerge). And when you re up you re up (pull up) and when you re down your down (submerge) and when you re only half way up, you re neither up (pull out) nor down (submerge). Treasure Hunt: Hunt for sunken treasure at the bottom VALUE OF THE DAY: Caring (share something nice they did today) EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Float Belts; Dumbbells; Dive Rings Elevator Rides: Use the Shepard s Crook and allow children to sit in it. Lower them down and back up. Pool Rules/Diving Rules Review Jump in Front float work on breathing to float longer Back float work up to 30 seconds Back Paddle Front Paddle Front paddle 25 yds Back paddle 25 yds Practice rhythmic breathing on the wall as needed, then with swim trainer 2 x 15 yards Front paddle w/breathing 15 yds (2-3 times) Surface dives & swim underwater Do you know all the kids names? Talk about body position for floats. Where does the tummy go? The head? Arms and legs? Talk about what kids arms and legs should be doing for swimming and what the strokes should look like. Have kids PUSH the swim trainer; don t hang on it. Hanging can make you go backwards! If kids don t quite get the breathing, have them practice it on the wall before using swim trainer. Use IFDs as needed for longer distances. Choice of Game Review names of students individually and ask: What s 1 thing each child enjoyed in class?
LESSON #3 VALUE OF THE DAY: Honesty (Self reflection- At the end of class ask them what skills they ve mastered and what they still need to practice. EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Float Belts; Barbells; Noodles Games & Songs Hula Hoop: Have students jump into a hula hoop for a change. Popcorn: As a class repeat this before jumping (It s getting hot! It s getting Hotter! It s getting really hot! It s going to POP!) Ring Around the Rosie: Ring Around the Rosies, a pocket full of posies, SPLASHES SPLASHES we all fall down! The cows are in the meadow eating butter cups SPLASHES SPLASHES we all jump UP! Front float Back float Jump in 10 bobs Front glides Rhythmic breathing Front alternating paddle, 2 x 20 yds, 2 x 25 yds Back alternating paddle, 2 x 20 yds, 2 x 25 yds : Front alternating paddle 2 x 20 yds Front alternating paddle w/ breathing 2 x 15 yds Back alternating paddle 2 x 15 yds Front alternating paddle, 2 x 20 yds, 2 x 25 yds Back alternating paddle, 2 x 20 yds, 2 x 25 yds Treading water, 20 sec Do you know all the kids names? Use Talk to the fish, listen to the fish or breathe in, blow bubbles, breathe in, blow bubbles to help kids get the rhythm down Use IFDs to teach front and back symmetrical paddle. Front Symmetrical: make a heart, break the heart Back Symmetrical: little bird, big bird, flap Treading water: riding a bike, hands spread frosting on a cake Use noodles as needed for longer distances. Choice of Game Section
LESSON #4 VALUE OF THE DAY: Responsibility- Children should help with clean-up after class. EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Shepherd s Crook Games & Songs Fireman s Pole: Have children climb down the pool, let go and swim back to the surface. Pool Limbo: Have children duck from side to side under a pole. Diving dolphins swim through a hula hoop Follow the Leader: Allow each child to be the leader and choose some skills that they are good at. Front float Back float Jump in deep water Work on longer and longer floats; up to 30 seconds each side. Treading water Front alternating paddle 3 x 20 yds, 2 x 25 yds Back alternating paddle 3 x 20 yds, 2 x 25 yds Front symmetrical paddle 2 x 15 yds, 1 x 25 yds Back symmetrical paddle 2 x 15 yds, 1 x 25 yds Front alternating paddle 2 x 25 yds Front alternating paddle with breathing 4 x 15 yards Back alternating paddle 4 x 15 yards Front symmetrical paddle 3 x 15 yds Back symmetrical paddle 3 x 15 yds Side paddle 3 x 15 yds To tread, tell a story around the circle or have each child talk about how they can be responsible before they come to class Let kids experiment with different kinds of kicks or hand movements to see what keeps them up best. Use flotation as needed for long distances. Note any skills that students have difficulty with. Talk about different kicks and hand movements for treading water. As students become more comfortable with the strokes, add more lengths, more distance, or both Why is a PFD orange? When should they be used? Climb up and down pole in deep water Choice of Game Use shepherd s crook, put dive ring at bottom.
LESSON #5 VALUE OF THE DAY: Respect: Tell of a time that someone did something to you that wasn t very respectful. EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Noodles; Rescue Tube; Ring, PFDs Games & Songs London Bridges: Make bridges with the arms or with large plastic hula hoops to go under or through. Play London Bridges Falling Down. Make the arms just low enough where they have to get their faces wet. Add these words :London bridge is all washed out, etc. Here s a fish that we have caught, etc. In the water it must go, etc.) Diving rings put as many diving rings as there are children in the water. Each child can go bring back a ring Front float 30 seconds Back float 30 seconds Jumps Front symmetrical paddle 25 yds (IFD if necessary) Back symmetrical paddle 25 yds Front symmetrical paddle 3 x 15 yds Back symmetrical paddle 3 x 15 yds Back alternating paddle 2 x 25 yds Front alternating paddle 25 yds Front alternating paddle & breathing 2 x 15 yds Do a variety of jumps: pencil, bent knees, cannonball, pike and touch toes, etc. Play Follow the leader For longer distances (full lengths) use the least amount of flotation necessary. For shorter distances, do without. Practice again any skills not yet checked off the skill sheet. NEW SKILL(S) & Discuss boating safety Reaching/throwing assists Treading water PFDs: Practice front and back floats, then swim with PFD on front and back, 25 yards each Talk about and practice HELP position Enter and exit watercraft safely Choice of Game Free Time In Zero Depth section Use noodles,, or rescue tubes and a ring buoy Work on treading longer amounts of time Why is a PFD orange? When should they be used? HELP: Wearing PFD, pull knees to chest, arms by sides. Calling for help: 911, adult, lifeguard
LESSON #6 LAST DAY OF CLASS VALUE OF THE DAY: Caring (say a nice thing to someone before you go home) EQUIPMENT NEEDED: PFDs Words to Encourage Floating o Be like a cloud o Be light as a feather o Be the letter T o Take a nap o Be an airplane o Look for the birds in the sky o Make your hands like wet spaghetti on a fork NEW SKILL(S) Talk about when to call for help from a lifeguard, adult or using 911 Front float 30 seconds + Back float 30 seconds + Jumps Front alternating paddle 25 yds Front alternating paddle & RB 4 x 15 yds Front symmetrical paddle 3 x 15 yds Back symmetrical paddle 3 x 15 yds Back alternating paddle 3 x 15 yds Treading water, 30 seconds Intro to dives (sitting dives/kneeling dives) Front alternating paddle with breathing 4 x 15 yds Back alternating paddle 4 x 15, 1 x 25 yds Front symmetrical paddle 4 x 15, 1 x 25 yds Back symmetrical paddle 4 x 15, 1 x 25 yards Ask kids their least favorite stroke; do that one again. Then, ask their favorite stroke and do that one again. Choice of Game After reviewing each stroke, help the kids choose the one(s) they need most to work on to do again. Then, choose their favorite to do again. To tread, tell a story around the circle or have each child talk about how they can be honest with their parents or friends. Practice anything not yet checked off on report card Give Report Card to Parent and remind them of registration and start dates of the next session. Clean up after yourself.