Splash and Learn

Overview

This 30-minute swimming session for Year 0-1 students (age approximately 5-6 years) is designed according to the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh, focusing on building water confidence, basic floating, and kicking skills. The teacher will be in the pool with 17 students, ensuring safety and personalised guidance.

Curriculum Alignment

• Health and Physical Education Learning Area (NZ Curriculum Refresh 2023)
  • Strand: Movement Concepts and Motor Skills
  • Achievement Objective: "Use fundamental movement skills in a variety of movement contexts with developing control and coordination."
  • Key Competencies: Participating and Contributing, Managing Self
  • Focus: Develop water confidence, fundamental swimming movements such as floating and kicking, and safe behaviours in and around water.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate comfort and confidence in water through supported immersion and blowing bubbles.
• Show basic floating on front and back with teacher support.
• Perform simple kicking actions to propel themselves in water.
• Understand crucial water safety rules for themselves, including staying close to the teacher and listening carefully.

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Lesson Breakdown (30 minutes)

Time	Activity	Description	Curriculum Links
0-5 minutes	Welcome and Warm-up: Water Play and Breath Control	In shallow water, children explore the water with their hands and feet. Teacher models blowing bubbles into water to encourage breath control and water confidence.	Movement concepts, motor skills, water safety awareness
5-15 minutes	Basic Floating Practice	Teacher supports each child individually practising balancing on front and back. Use floating aids if necessary. Games like "Superman Float" to engage interest.	Fundamental movement skills, developing control
15-25 minutes	Kicking Techniques	While holding the pool edge or teacher’s hands, children practice kicking legs, focusing on straight legs and pointed toes. Use games like "Kick to the wall" to motivate.	Motor skills coordination, participation, contributing
25-30 minutes	Cool-down & Safety Chat	Gentle movement in water - walking and stretching arms. Gather circle, recap safety: listening to teacher, staying close, no running by pool. Reinforce learning with simple Q&A.	Managing self, safety competence, reflection on learning

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Detailed Activity Notes

Warm-up: Water Play and Breath Control

• Purpose: To acclimate children to the water environment, reduce fear, and introduce controlled breathing.
• Teacher role: Demonstrate blowing bubbles and encourage children to imitate. Use playful songs or rhymes about blowing bubbles.
• Tips: Keep the tone positive and supportive; keep every child in sight and comfort level considered.

Floating Practice

• Supported front float: Teacher cradles chest while child lies face down. Use encouragement and gentle praise.
• Supported back float: Teacher supports back and head.
• Game idea: “Superman float” - children pretend to be flying superheroes while floating.
• Key learning: Balance and trust in water with adult support.

Kicking Techniques

• Focus: Legs straight, kicking from hips, toes pointed.
• Practise: Holding teacher's hands or pool edge; facing forward to see kicks.
• Game idea: “Kick to the wall” – kick legs to move towards pool wall.
• Support: Continuous verbal encouragement and physical support where needed.

Cool-down & Safety Chat

• Gentle movement: Slow walking in water and arm stretches to relax muscles.
• Safety review: Use simple, clear language to remind children of pool rules.
• Reflection: Ask students “What did you like about today?” or “What new thing did you learn?” to deepen engagement and language skills.

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Assessment

• Observation during activities of water confidence (e.g., willingness to put face in water, accepting floating support)
• Teacher notes on each student's ability to float with support and kick effectively.
• Student responses during cool-down Q&A to evaluate understanding of safety rules.

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Considerations

• Safety first: Ensure constant teacher supervision; water depth appropriate for children’s height.
• Inclusive teaching: Adapt activities for all abilities, and encourage peer support.
• Use positive reinforcement throughout to build confidence.
• Over time, aim to reduce support as children's skills grow.

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This swimming session fosters early water safety and fundamental aquatic skills in an engaging, developmentally appropriate way as prescribed by the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh (Health and Physical Education strand) ensuring a solid foundation for lifetime water enjoyment and safety.