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Appendix B - Sample 8-Day Sessions for Learn-to-Swim Classes

Appendix B

Sample 8-Day Sessions for Learn-to-Swim Classes

Water Exploration and Safety Lesson Plans for 8-Day Session

Day 1
  • Introductions/Safety
  • Use a game/song to get the kids into the water
  • Water over the head
    • Parents use a watering can to pour water starting with legs, arms, shoulders, back of head, and then over the head if children are comfortable
  • Use a song to practice blowing bubbles
    • Like "Motorboat" or "Ring Around the Rosie"
  • Introduction to the Front Float position
    • Song or Game
  • Introduction to Back Float position
    • Song or Game
  • Assisted Jumping in
  • Introduction to exiting the pool on their own
    • Song
Day 2
  • Safety
  • Game or song to get the kids into the water
  • Water over the head with watering can
  • Song to practice blowing bubbles
  • Front float position
  • Back float position
  • Introduction to kicking
    • Song or game
  • Assisted jumping in
  • Exiting pool on their own
    • Song
Day 3
  • Safety
  • Game or song to get the kids into the water
  • Water over the head with watering can
  • Song to practice blowing bubbles
  • Front float position with blowing bubbles
  • Add kicking to the front float position
    • Game or song
  • Back float position
    • Song
  • Assisted jumping in
  • Exiting pool on their own
    • Song
Day 4
  • Safety
  • Game or song to get the kids into the water
  • Water over the head with watering can
  • Review bubbles with game
  • Front float position with bubbles
  • Front float position with kicking movement
    • Song or game
  • Back float position
    • Have parents reduce the support given. Move from head on shoulder position to a behind the neck and back support position.
  • Assisted jumping in
  • Exiting pool on their own
    • Song
Day 5
  • Safety
  • Game or song to get the kids into the water
  • Water over the head with watering can
  • Bubbles with game
  • If ready, see if children will put more than the mouth in the water while still blowing bubbles
  • Front float position with bubbles or face in the water if child is ready
  • Front float position with kicking movement
    • Song or game
  • Introduction of arm movement
    • Game
  • Back float position
    • Try adding kicking movement
  • Assisted jumping in
  • Exiting pool on their own
    • Song
Day 6
  • Safety
  • Game or song to get the kids into the water
  • Water over the head with watering can
  • Bubbles with game
  • If ready, see if children will put more than the mouth in the water while still blowing bubbles
  • Front float position with bubbles or face in the water if child is ready
  • Front float position with kicking movement
    • Song or game
  • Front float position with arm movement and bubbles or face in the water
  • Back float position with kicking movement
  • Assisted jumping in
  • Exiting the pool on their own
    • Song
Day 7
  • Safety
  • Game or song to get the kids into the water
  • Water over the head with watering can
  • Bubbles with game
  • If ready, see if children will put more than the mouth in the water while still blowing bubbles
  • Front float position with bubbles or face in the water if child is ready
  • Front float position with kicking movement, arm movement, and bubbles or face in the water
  • Back float position
  • Flipping front to back and back to front
    • Song
  • Assisted jumping in
  • Exiting the pool on their own
    • Song
Day 8
  • Safety
  • Game or song to get the kids into the water
  • Water over the head with watering can
  • Bubbles with game
  • If ready, see if children will put more than the mouth in the water while still blowing bubbles
  • Front float position with kicking movement, arm movement, and bubbles or face in the water
  • Back float position with kicking movement
  • Flipping front to back and back to front
    • Song
  • Assisted jumping in
  • Exiting the pool on their own
    • Song

Preschool Plan for 8-Day Session

Day 1
  • Introductions
  • Use a game to get the kids to get their faces wet
    • Also use this time to see which kids are more willing and which ones are more timid.
  • Introduction of the Front Float
    • Make sure to be positioned correctly.
  • Introduction of the front glide
    • Use fun characters or objects to describe the front glide. For example, superman, rocket ship, or torpedo.
  • Jumping in
    • Make sure the kids are jumping straight out and waiting their turn.
Day 2
  • Introduction of Bobbing
    • Try having the kids do 5 bobs
  • Front Float
  • Front glide
  • Work on kicking for the front glide
    • Again make sure you are in the correct position to assist the kids
  • Play a game with kicking (example Red Light Green Light)
  • Jumping in
Day 3
  • Bobbing - 8 bobs
  • Front Float
  • Front glide
  • Front glide with kick
  • Introduction of the back float
    • Make sure you are positioned to hold from behind the head/neck and not from the side
    • Some kids don't like being on their backs so you can distract them by having them sing the "ABC Song" or "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"
  • Jumping in
Day 4
  • Bobbing - 10 bobs
  • Front float
  • Front glide with kick
  • Back float
  • Introduction of front crawl arms
    • To describe how they should hold their hands you can call them ice scream scoops and the water is the ice cream
    • Participants can toss a toy out into the water and use their scoops to go get it-may need help the first few times
    • Make sure they have correct body position
  • Jumping in
Day 5
  • Bobbing - 10 bobs
  • Front glide
  • Front glide with kick
  • Front crawl arms with kick
    • Make sure they have the correct body position and they are either putting their faces in the water or at least blowing bubbles
  • Back float
  • Introduction of elementary backstroke
    • You can use monkey-airplane-soldier or chicken-airplane-soldier to explain the movements of the arms and legs
  • Jumping in
Day 6
  • Bobbing - 10 bobs
  • Back float
  • Elementary backstroke
  • Back glide with kick
  • Introduction of backstroke arms
    • Hold the child behind the neck and help child with getting the motion of the arms
  • Front crawl
  • Jumping in
Day 7
  • Bobbing - 10 bobs
  • Front glide with kick
  • Front crawl
  • Back glide with kick
  • Backstroke
    • Make sure you are behind the child at the head/neck and not at the side
  • Jumping in
Day 8
  • Bobbing
  • Front glide
  • Back glide
  • Front crawl
  • Backstroke
  • Jumping in and swimming strokes

Beginner Plan for 8-Day Session

Day 1
  • Introductions
  • Use a game to get the kids to get their faces wet
    • Also use this time to see which kids are more willing and which ones are more timid.
  • Front Float
    • Make sure to be positioned correctly when assisting.
  • Front glide
    • Use fun characters or objects to describe the front glide. For example, superman, rocket ship, or torpedo.
  • Jumping in
    • Make sure the kids are jumping straight out and waiting their turn.
Day 2
  • Bobbing
    • Try having the kids do 5 bobs
  • Front Float
  • Front glide
  • Work on kicking for the front glide
    • Again make sure you are in the correct position to assist
  • Use kickboards to practice kicking and blowing bubbles
  • Play a game with kicking (example Red Light Green Light)
  • Jumping in
Day 3
  • Bobbing - 8 bobs
  • Front Float
  • Front glide
  • Front glide with kick
  • Back float
    • Make sure you are positioned to hold from behind the head/neck and not from the side
  • Jumping in
Day 4
  • Bobbing - 10 bobs
  • Front float
  • Front glide with kick
  • Back float
  • Front crawl arms
    • To describe how they should hold their hands you can call them ice scream scoops and the water is the ice cream
    • They can toss a toy out into the water and use their scoops to go get it-may need help the first few times
    • Make sure they have correct body position
  • Jumping in
Day 5
  • Bobbing - 10 bobs
  • Front glide with kick
  • Front crawl arms with kick
    • Make sure they have the correct body position and they are either putting their faces in the water or at least blowing bubbles
  • Back float
    • Introduction of elementary backstroke You can use monkey-airplane-soldier or chicken-airplane-soldier to explain the movements of the arms and legs
  • Jumping in
Day 6
  • Bobbing - 10 bobs
  • Back float
  • Elementary backstroke
  • Back glide with kick
  • Introduction of backstroke arms
    • Hold the child behind the neck and help them with getting the motion of the arms
  • Front crawl
  • Jumping in
Day 7
  • Bobbing - 10 bobs
  • Front glide with kick
  • Front crawl
  • Back glide with kick
  • Backstroke
    • Make sure you are behind the child at the head/neck and not at the side
  • Jumping in
Day 8
  • Bobbing
  • Front glide
  • Back glide
  • Front crawl
  • Backstroke
  • Jumping in and swimming strokes

Advanced Beginner Plan for 8-Day Session

Day 1
  • Introductions
  • Bobbing - 15 bobs
  • Front glide
    • Use fun characters or objects to describe the front glide. For example, superman, rocket ship, or torpedo.
  • Back glide
  • Front glide with kick
  • Back glide with kick
  • Front crawl - 25 yards
  • Backstroke - 25 yards
  • Jumping in
Day 2
  • Bobbing - 20 bobs
  • Front glide
  • Back glide
  • Front glide with kick
  • Back glide with kick
  • Kicking with kickboard - 50 yards
  • Front crawl - 25 yards x 4
  • Jumping in
Day 3
  • Bobbing - 20 bobs
  • Front glide with kick
  • Back glide with kick
  • Front crawl - 25 yards x 2
  • Backstroke kick with or without kickboard - 50 yards
  • Backstroke - 25 yards x 2
  • Jumping in
Day 4
  • Bobbing - 20 bobs
  • Front crawl - 25 yards
  • Backstroke - 25 yards
  • Elementary backstroke - 25 yards
  • Breaststroke kick with kickboard - 25 yards x 4
    • Watch participants kick and give feedback. Make sure they are correcting any mistakes.
  • Breaststroke arms - 25 yards x 4
    • Can use either pull buoys or noodles so the children can concentrate on their arms only.
  • Jumping in
Day 5
  • Bobbing - 25 bobs
  • Front crawl - 50 yards x 2
  • Breaststroke kick with kickboard - 25 yards Breaststroke arms - 25 yards
  • Breaststroke - 25 yards x 2 or 3
  • Demonstrate the timing of the stroke. Have the participants practice and give them immediate feedback to correct any mistakes. Continue to practice.
  • Backstroke - 25 yards
  • Elementary backstroke - 25 yards
  • Game
Day 6
  • Bobbing - 25 bobs
  • Front crawl - 50 yards
  • Elementary backstroke - 50 yards
  • Backstroke - 50 yards
  • Breaststroke - 25 yards x 2
  • Scissor kick
    • Use a kickboard for support and have them lie on their side. Demonstrate the kick before you have them do it.
  • Sidestroke - 25 yards x 2
    • Demonstrate the arms and then add the kick to it.
  • Game
Day 7
  • Bobbing - 25 bobs
  • Front crawl - 50 yards x 2
  • Backstroke - 50 yards
  • Breaststroke - 50 yards x 2
  • Sidestroke - 50 yards
  • Elementary backstroke - 50 yards
  • Treading water
    • Demonstrate the different kicks that can be used, then have the participants practice
  • Game
Day 8
  • Bobbing - 25 bobs
  • Front crawl - 50 yards
  • Backstroke - 50 yards
  • Elementary backstroke - 50 yards
  • Breaststroke - 50 yards
  • Sidestroke - 25 yards
  • Treading water

Intermediate Plan for 8-Day Session

Day 1
  • Introductions
  • Bobbing - 25 bobs
  • Practice rhythmic breathing using the wall
  • Flutter kick with kickboard working on rhythmic breathing - 25 yards x 2
  • Front crawl with rhythmic breathing - 25 yards x 2
  • Backstroke - 50 yards
  • Breaststroke - 50 yards
  • Elementary backstroke - 50 yards
  • Game
Day 2
  • Bobbing - 25 bobs
  • Kicking with kickboard - 50 yards
  • Use barbells to work on front crawl arms with rhythmic breathing - 25 yards x 2
  • Front crawl with rhythmic breathing - 25 yards x 4
  • Flutter kick on back with or without kickboard - 50 yards
  • Backstroke - 50 yards x 2
  • Game
Day 3
  • Bobbing - 25 bobs
  • Breaststroke kick with kickboard - 50 yards
  • Breaststroke arms with pull buoy - 50 yards
  • Breaststroke - 25 yards x 4
  • Elementary backstroke - 50 yards
  • Front crawl with rhythmic breathing - 50 yards
  • Game
Day 4
  • Bobbing - 25 bobs
  • Sidestroke kick with kickboard - 50 yards
  • Sidestroke - 25 yards x 4
  • Flutter kick with kickboard - 50 yards x 2
  • Front crawl drill
  • Front crawl - 50 yards x 2
  • Game
Day 5
  • Bobbing - 30 bobs
  • Front crawl - 50 yards x 2
  • Backstroke - 50 yards x 2
  • Introduction of dolphin kick
    • Demonstrate dolphin kick. The kick can be practiced with or without a kickboard.
  • Introduction of butterfly arms
    • Demonstrate the butterfly arms and then have the participants practice.
  • Butterfly
    • Demonstrate the full stroke and have the participants try to put it together.
  • Game
Day 6
  • Bobbing - 30 bobs
  • Front crawl - 50 yards x 2
  • Backstroke - 75 yards x 2
  • Breaststroke - 75 yards
  • Treading water
  • Game
Day 7
  • Bobbing - 30 bobs
  • Safety
    • Go over safety poster with rules
    • Do some reaching assists with and without equipment
  • Lifejackets
    • Have all the participants get into the water with lifejackets on and explore moving around in them
  • Front crawl - 75 yards
  • Sidestroke - 50 yards
  • Game
Day 8
  • Bobbing - 30 bobs
  • Front crawl using rhythmic breathing the whole time - 50 yards
  • Backstroke - 75 yards
  • Elementary backstroke - 75 yards
  • Breaststroke - 50 yards
  • Sidestroke - 50 yards
  • Treading water
  • Game

Advanced Plan for 8-Day Session

Day 1
  • Introductions
  • Bobbing - 30 bobs
  • Flutter kick with kickboard - 50 yards x 2 using rhythmic breathing
  • Front crawl - 50 yards x 2
  • Flutter kick on back - 50 yards x 2
  • Backstroke - 50 yards x 2
  • Game
Day 2
  • Bobbing - 30 bobs
  • Flutter kick with kickboard - 50 yards x 2 with rhythmic breathing
  • Front crawl - 50 yards x 3
  • Breaststroke kick with kickboard - 50 yards x 2
  • Breaststroke - 50 yards x 3
  • Game
Day 3
  • Bobbing - 30 bobs
  • Flutter kick on back with or without board - 50 yards x 2
  • Backstroke - 50 yards x 3
  • Sidestroke kick with kickboard - 50 yards x 2
  • Sidestroke - 50 yards x 3
  • Game
Day 4
  • Bobbing - 30 bobs
  • Front crawl - 50 yards x 3
  • Elementary backstroke - 50 yards x 3
  • Dolphin kick with or without board - 25 yards x 2
  • Butterfly - 25 yards x 2
  • Treading water
  • Game
Day 5
  • Bobbing - 30 bobs
  • Front crawl - 75 yards x 2
  • Flutter kick with board - 75 yards x 2
  • Front crawl arms with pull buoy - 50 yards x 2
  • Front crawl - 50 yards x 2
  • Treading water
  • Game
Day 6
  • Bobbing - 30 bobs
  • Backstroke - 100 yards
  • Backstroke kick - 25 yards x 4
  • Breaststroke - 100 yards
  • Breaststroke kick - 25 yards x 4
  • Butterfly - 25 yards x 2
  • Dolphin kick - 25 yards x 2
  • Game
Day 7
  • Bobbing - 30 bobs
  • Safety
    • Go over safety poster with rules
    • Do some reaching assists with and without equipment
  • Lifejackets
    • Have participants get into the water with lifejackets on and explore moving around in them
  • Front crawl - 50 yards x 2
  • Backstroke - 75 yards
  • Breaststroke - 50 yards
  • Butterfly - 25 yards
  • Game
Day 8
  • Bobbing - 30 bobs
  • Front crawl - 100 yards
  • Backstroke - 100 yards
  • Breaststroke - 100 yards
  • Sidestroke - 100 yards
  • Elementary backstroke - 100 yards
  • Treading water

Adult 1 Plan for 8-Day Session

Day 1
  • Introductions
  • Front Float
    • Make sure to be positioned correctly when assisting.
  • Front glide
    • Use fun characters or objects to describe the front glide. For example, superman, rocket ship, or torpedo.
  • Jumping in
    • Make sure the students are jumping straight out and waiting their turn.
Day 2
  • Bobbing
    • Try having the students do 5 bobs
  • Front Float
  • Front glide
  • Work on kicking for the front glide
    • Again make sure you are in the correct position to assist
  • Use kickboards to practice kicking and blowing bubbles
  • Holding onto the wall with two hands and kicking
  • Jumping in
Day 3
  • Bobbing - 8 bobs
  • Front Float
  • Front glide
  • Front glide with kick
  • Back float
    • Make sure you are positioned to hold from behind the head/neck and not from the side
  • Jumping in
Day 4
  • Bobbing - 10 bobs
  • Front float
  • Front glide with kick
  • Back float
  • Front crawl arms
    • To describe how they should hold their hands you can call them ice scream scoops and the water is the ice cream
    • They can toss a toy out into the water and use their scoops to go get it-may need help the first few times
    • Make sure they have correct body position
  • Jumping in
Day 5
  • Bobbing - 10 bobs
  • Front glide with kick
  • Front crawl arms with kick
    • Make sure they have the correct body position and they are either putting their faces in the water or at least blowing bubbles
  • Back float
    • Introduction of elementary backstroke You can use monkey-airplane-soldier or chicken-airplane-soldier to explain the movements of the arms and legs
  • Jumping in
Day 6
  • Bobbing - 10 bobs
  • Back float
  • Elementary backstroke
  • Back glide with kick
  • Introduction of backstroke arms
    • Hold the student behind the neck and help them with getting the motion of the arms
  • Front crawl
  • Jumping in
Day 7
  • Bobbing - 10 bobs
  • Front glide with kick
  • Front crawl
  • Back glide with kick
  • Backstroke
    • Make sure you are behind the student at the head/neck and not at the side
  • Jumping in
Day 8
  • Bobbing
  • Front glide
  • Back glide
  • Front crawl
  • Backstroke
  • Jumping in and swimming strokes
  • Lifejackets
    • Have all the participants get into the water with lifejackets on and explore moving around in them

Adult 2 Plan for 8-Day Session

Day 1
  • Introductions
  • Bobbing - 25 bobs
  • Practice rhythmic breathing using the wall
  • Flutter kick with kickboard working on rhythmic breathing - 25 yards x 2
  • Front crawl with rhythmic breathing - 25 yards x 2
  • Backstroke - 50 yards
  • Breaststroke - 50 yards
  • Elementary backstroke - 50 yards
  • Jumping in
Day 2
  • Bobbing - 25 bobs
  • Kicking with kickboard - 50 yards
  • Use barbells to work on front crawl arms with rhythmic breathing - 25 yards x 2
  • Front crawl with rhythmic breathing - 25 yards x 4
  • Flutter kick on back with or without kickboard - 50 yards
  • Backstroke - 50 yards x 2
  • Jumping in
Day 3
  • Bobbing - 25 bobs
  • Breaststroke kick with kickboard - 50 yards
  • Breaststroke arms with pull buoy - 50 yards
  • Breaststroke - 25 yards x 4
  • Elementary backstroke - 50 yards
  • Front crawl with rhythmic breathing - 50 yards
  • Jumping in
Day 4
  • Bobbing - 25 bobs
  • Sidestroke kick with kickboard - 50 yards
  • Sidestroke - 25 yards x 4
  • Flutter kick with kickboard - 50 yards x 2
  • Front crawl drill
  • Front crawl - 50 yards x 2
  • Jumping in
Day 5
  • Bobbing - 30 bobs
  • Front crawl - 50 yards x 2
  • Backstroke - 50 yards x 2
  • Introduction of dolphin kick
    • Demonstrate dolphin kick. The kick can be practiced with or without a kickboard.
  • Introduction of butterfly arms
    • Demonstrate the butterfly arms and then have the participants practice.
  • Butterfly
    • Demonstrate the full stroke and have the participants try to put it together.
  • Jumping in
Day 6
  • Bobbing - 30 bobs
  • Front crawl - 50 yards x 2
  • Backstroke - 75 yards x 2
  • Breaststroke - 75 yards
  • Treading water
  • Jumping in
Day 7
  • Bobbing - 30 bobs
  • Safety
    • Go over safety poster with rules
    • Do some reaching assists with and without equipment
  • Front crawl - 75 yards
  • Sidestroke - 50 yards
  • Jumping in
Day 8
  • Bobbing - 30 bobs
  • Front crawl using rhythmic breathing the whole time - 50 yards
  • Backstroke - 75 yards
  • Elementary backstroke - 75 yards
  • Breaststroke - 50 yards
  • Sidestroke - 50 yards
  • Treading water
  • Jumping in
 
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