Beginners Swimming
Swim short distances unaided between 5 & 20 metres using one consistent stroke. Propel themselves over longer distances with the assistance of swimming aids. Move with more confidence in the water, including submerging themselves fully. Enter and exit the water independently.
Knowledge Organiser
Prior Learning
Has swum short distances, between 5 & 10 metres and propelled themselves forward using swimming aids. Moved around the pool with feet touching the ground. Played games, including putting face in the water, splashing and attempting to float.
Unit Focus
Swim short distances unaided between 5 & 20 metres using one consistent stroke. Propel themselves over longer distances with the assistance of swimming aids. Move with more confidence in the water, including submerging themselves fully. Enter and exit the water independently.
We are learning...
- to keep our balance by pushing and pulling against the water.
- to lift our feet off the ground and make shapes in the water.
- to use our hands to move forward.
- to put our faces in the water.
- to stand again after floating on our front.
- to stand again after floating on our backs.
- to swim a short distance on our backs with a float.
- to push and glide from the side of the pool.
- to use the ‘sculling’ technique to swim on our backs.
- to use ‘doggy paddle’ to swim a short distance on our front.
- to move from a glide into a doggy paddle.
- to swim as far as we are able on our front and back.
Equipment
Floats, noodles, armbands, floating toys such as spinning eggs, whiteboard and pen.
Vocabulary
Swim, kick, front, back, arms, legs, lie on front back, breath, splash, sculling, doggy paddle, prone, supine, glide, stroke, float, pace.
Key Questions
- How long could you glide for when your partner counted?
- Did they improve their distance, and with which stroke?
- What will help you to move faster when you are sculling on your back?
Assessment Overview
Head – Move with more confidence in the water, including submerging themselves fully.
Hand – Apply basic arm and leg action to ‘doggy paddle’.
Heart – Aware of other children around them in the pool.
Diagram
Lesson Overview
Beginners Swimming Lesson 2
- Lift feet from the ground while supported
- Begin to lift feet and make shapes independently
We are learning: to lift our feet off the ground and make shapes in the water Activity: Making shapes
Beginners Swimming Lesson 1
- Move around the pool on feet in a variety of ways
- Follow a partner and copy movements
We are learning: to keep our balance by pushing and pulling against the water.
Activity: Assessment for learning 1.
Beginners Swimming Lesson 3
- Move forward consistently covering distance 5—10 m
- Attempt to take feet off the ground while propelling forward
We are learning: to use our hands to move forward. Activity: Pull and glide to the side
Beginners Swimming Lesson 4
- Place face in the water and hold breath for several seconds
- Submerge face and splash water on the face
We are learning: to put our face in the water Activity: Egg splash
Beginners Swimming Lesson 5
- Float in a prone position without holding on to side/float
- Regain to standing from prone
We are learning: to stand again after floating on our front. Activity: Pirate ship
Beginners Swimming Lesson 6
- Float in the supine position
- Regain to standing from supine
We are learning: to stand again after floating on our back Activity: Pirate ship
Beginners Swimming Lesson 7
- Swimming short distance on back with a float
- Attempt correct leg kick action on back
We are learning: to swim a short distance on our back with a float. Activity: Partner swim
Beginners Swimming Lesson 8
- Push and glide on the front with float
- Push, glide on the front without float (face in water)
We are learning: to push and glide from the side of the pool Activity: Push, glide, kick
Beginners Swimming Lesson 9
- Using the sculling technique to move on back
- Combining hands and feet to swim on back
We are learning: to use the ‘sculling’ technique to swim on our back. Activity: Octopus and Minos
Beginners Swimming Lesson 10
- Swimming on the front using the doggy paddle
- Attempt swimming without floatation aids
We are learning: to use ‘doggy paddle’ to swim a short distance on our front. Activity: Doggy in the water
Beginners Swimming Lesson 11
- Push from side transition and into the doggy paddle
- Push from the side and shift into swimming on the back
We are learning: to move from a glide into doggy paddle. Activity: Assessment for Learning 1
Beginners Swimming Lesson 12
- Attempt a max effort swim for time or distance on back and front
We are learning: to swim as far as we are able on our front and back. Activity: Assessment for learning 2.