Swim safe outdoors
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can swim in a pool and replicate the techniques and knowledge necessary for swimming safely outdoors while demonstrating and understanding of the water safety code.
Key learning points
- Move: the heat escape lessening position involves keeping the head up and hugging bent legs with your arms.
- Move: survival strokes are often swum with the head up and slowly to conserve energy.
- Think: the second message of the water safety code is ‘stay together - within arm's reach’.
- Feel: floating on your back for long periods of time requires focus and control.
- Connect: in a group rescue position it is important to support injured or weaker swimmers.
Keywords
Red beach flag - dangerous conditions, do not enter the water
Cold water - waters around the UK that are cold enough to induce the cold shock effects, even in high summer
Common misconception
Cold water shock only occurs in the winter.
Cold water shock can occur all year round in waters around the UK.
Teacher tip
Activities can be made harder by getting pupils to create turbulent water by pushing vertical floats through the water.
Equipment
noodles; personal floatation devices
Content guidance
Additional qualification required
Risk assessment required - physical activity
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What do you need to swim repetitive swimming sets?
Q2.How should you finish a breaststroke race?
Q3.How do you signal for help in water?
Q4.When might you need to swim head up breaststroke?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What can occur if swimming in cold water?
Q2.Who may need extra support in a group rescue scenario?
Q3.What is the second message of the water safety code?
Q4.What position can be used to reduce heat loss in cold water?
To help you plan your all physical education lesson on: Swim safe outdoors, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your all physical education lesson on: Swim safe outdoors, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom.
Explore more key stage 2 physical education lessons from the Swimming: water polo, artistic swimming and rookie lifeguard unit, dive into the full physical education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.