Objective

By the end of this lesson, the student will be able to understand basic swimming concepts, such as floating, kicking, and the importance of water safety, while having fun through imaginative play.

Materials and Prep

• No special materials are needed for this lesson.
• Ensure a safe space for play, preferably near a pool or a large container of water (like a kiddie pool).
• Be aware of the basic rules of water safety to explain to the student.

Activities

• Imaginative Play: Swimming Animals - Pretend to be different swimming animals like fish, dolphins, or frogs. Move around the space like these animals while making the sounds they make.

• Floating Fun - Lay on your back on a soft surface and pretend to float in the water. Talk about how we need to relax to float and imagine the sun shining down.

• Kick, Kick, Splash! - Practice kicking legs while sitting on the edge of the pool or in a safe space. Count how many kicks you can do and make big splashes with your hands!

• Water Safety Song - Create a simple song about water safety. Sing together and incorporate actions like “stop” for when you see water and “go” for when it’s safe.

Talking Points

• "Do you know what animals swim in the water? Let’s pretend to be them!"
• "When we float, we need to relax like a big, fluffy cloud. Can you be a cloud?"
• "Let’s kick our legs like a big fish! Can you make a big splash?"
• "Always remember, we need to be safe around water. What do we say when we see water?"