Class: Primary 2
Term: 2nd Term
Week: 5
Age: 6 years
Duration: 40 minutes
Subject: Basic Science and Technology
Curriculum Theme: Physical and Health Education
Previous Lesson: Introduction to water safety
Topic: Basic Skills in Swimming
Content/Learning Area:
- Breaststroke
- Butterfly Stroke
- Backstroke
- Freestyle (Front Crawl)
- Dog Paddle
- Entering and Exiting the Water (Diving)
Performance Objectives
By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:
- Cognitive Domain:
- Explain the basic swimming strokes (Breaststroke, Butterfly, Backstroke, Freestyle).
- Describe the importance of swimming skills for personal safety.
- Affective Domain:
- Appreciate the role of swimming in physical health and safety.
- Express a positive attitude towards learning swimming.
- Psychomotor Domain:
- Demonstrate basic swimming techniques (floating, kicking, arm movements).
- Attempt basic swimming skills in a guided practice.
- Social Domain:
- Share experiences with peers about swimming and water activities.
- Work together during group discussions and practical activities.
Reference Materials
The following resources were used in planning this lesson:
- 9 – Years Basic Education Curriculum
- Abuja Educational Resource Centre Scheme of Work
- NAPPS National Unified Scheme of Work
- Course Book
- Online Information from Swimming 101: The four strokes | NBC Olympics
- Relevant Textbooks
Instructional Materials
The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:
- Pictures or diagrams of swimming strokes
- Flipcharts or whiteboard
- Markers
- Imaginary swimming pool layout
- Cones or markers for practical demonstration
Rationale for the Lesson
Understanding basic swimming skills is crucial for personal safety around water and can also be a fun and healthy recreational activity. It’s important to teach children swimming skills at an early age to build confidence and ensure they can handle water-related situations safely.
Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge
Students should have a basic understanding of water and a willingness to learn. They should be familiar with the concept of safety in and around water.
Content of The Lesson
Basic Skills in Swimming
Swimming is an important life skill. There are several basic swimming skills that everyone should learn to ensure they can swim safely and efficiently. Some of the key basic skills in swimming are:
1. Floating
Floating is when you stay on top of the water without sinking. It’s like lying down on your back or tummy and letting the water help you stay up. You need to stay calm and keep your body straight to float.
2. Kicking
Kicking is when you move your legs to help you move through the water. You kick your legs up and down, like pretending to kick a ball, but in the water. This helps you go faster!
3. Breaststroke
In the breaststroke, you move your arms in a big circle in front of you while your legs do a frog-like kick. You pull your arms in, then push them out, while your legs make a circle under the water. This is a slower swimming style but good for beginners.
4. Butterfly Stroke
The butterfly stroke is when you move both arms in a big circle at the same time while your legs kick together like a dolphin. It’s a fast swimming style but can be tricky to learn.
5. Backstroke
In the backstroke, you swim on your back while your arms move in circles above your head, and your legs kick like the flutter kick. You swim backward, and it’s the only stroke you do on your back.
6. Freestyle (Front Crawl)
In freestyle, you swim on your tummy, and your arms move in circles while your legs kick fast like a flutter kick. This is the fastest swimming style and helps you move quickly in the water.
7. Dog Paddle
The dog paddle is an easy swimming style where you paddle your arms and kick your legs, just like a dog swimming. It’s a great way to move in the water when you’re just starting to swim.
8. Entering and Exiting the Water (Diving)
It’s important to know how to get into the water and out of the water safely. You can enter the water by walking slowly in or by diving in. When you want to get out, use the pool ladder or the edge of the pool to climb out safely.
Instructional Procedures
To deliver this lesson, the teacher will adopt the following steps:
| Content Development | Time | Teaching Method | Teaching Strategy | Teacher’s Activity | Pupils’ Activity | Learning Point |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1: Introduction | 5 mins | Introduction | Set induction | Discuss the importance of swimming for safety. Ask pupils if they know any swimming strokes. | Share thoughts on swimming and known strokes. | Swimming is a crucial life skill. |
| Step 2: Explanation | 10 mins | Demonstration | Visual demonstration | Explain and demonstrate basic swimming strokes: breaststroke, butterfly, backstroke, freestyle. Use pictures/diagrams. | Watch and observe the demonstration attentively. | Learn the basic swimming strokes. |
| Step 3: Practical Demonstration | 10 mins | Guided Practice | Hands-on practice | Guide pupils through practical demonstration of swimming strokes in an imaginary pool. | Attempt the strokes with guidance. | Practicing basic swimming techniques. |
| Step 4: Group Activity | 10 mins | Group Discussion | Collaborative learning | Organize a discussion on what they’ve learned, encouraging questions and sharing. | Discuss and share their experiences. | Swimming techniques can be learned through practice and discussion. |
| Step 5: Note Taking | 2 mins | Writing | Reflection | Summarize key points of the lesson. Provide notes for students to copy. | Copy the notes into their notebooks. | Remember key swimming skills for safety. |
| Step 6: Evaluation | 5 mins | Question and Answer | Evaluation | Ask questions to test students’ understanding of swimming strokes and safety. | Answer questions individually. | Ensure comprehension of the swimming skills. |
| Step 7: Conclusion | 3 mins | Recap and Reflection | Wrap-up | Recap the lesson, emphasizing practice and safety. Encourage further learning. | Share reflections on the lesson. | Swimming is a fun and life-saving skill. |
Lesson Evaluation
To evaluate the learning, the teacher asks pupils to:
- Name at least three basic swimming strokes discussed in class.
- Why is it important to learn swimming skills?
- Can you explain one safety tip for swimming?
Differentiation
For pupils with difficulties in understanding the strokes, provide visual aids and give extra practice during the guided demonstration. For more advanced learners, encourage them to try more advanced techniques and share their understanding with others.
Note for Teachers
Be sure to make the lesson as engaging as possible, especially since swimming can be a very fun subject for young learners. If you don’t have access to a pool for practical demonstrations, you can still use an imaginary pool and ensure students are actively engaged in movement. Keep reinforcing the importance of water safety.
Good luck and happy teaching!
