Despite the tips recommend on this lesson plan, your goal for a new transitional class should be for Smiles and High Fives! Stop or change what you are doing if it is not getting a positive reaction!
1. Safe Entry and Travel to the Dock with Teacher
Why: To ensure that all students enter the pool and monkey walk to the dock safely.
How: Students may walk from the stairs to the wall, grab on and monkey walk to the dock, or students sit on the edge of the pool, roll to their bellies and slide in. You may practice this all at once or one at a time depending on the comfort of the class. Once they are all hanging onto the wall they can monkey walk as a group to the dock.
2. Conditioning
Why: To increase breath control and prepare students to submerge.
How: Use a cup to gently pour water over the student’s heads. Use a que such as 1 – 2 – 3 or ready set go and then gently pour the water from the back of the student’s head to the front. Let the water wash over their face and encourage them to close their eyes and mouths to practice breath control.
3. Whack the Whale
Why: To swim supported or independently to a target!
How : Place a foam whale on the edge of the pool as a target to indicate where you would like the student to swim too. Supporting them under the shoulders or encouraging them to swim independently have them swim to the whale target, knock the whale over and monkey walk back to the dock.
4. Fall, Turn and Climb (with Assistance)
Why: To prepare students for how to react if they were to fall into the pool.
How: Have students monkey walk to a designated area and climb out of the pool. Once there have them sit on the edge of the pool. Position yourself to the front or side of the student and one at a time assist them with falling in, submerging, swimming to safety and climbing out.
5. Safe Exit with Teacher
Why: To ensure that all students exit the pool safely.
How: Place all student onto the wall and have them monkey walk as a group to their destination. Once there, assist them with climbing out of the pool using the elbow, elbow belly and knee technique.
Props
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- Watering Can
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- Cups
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- Bath Buddies
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- Sinking Shells
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- Sinking Shells
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- Sinking Octopus
Dock Arrangements
In a Corner – 1 dock for continuous movement. Kick to the Wall, Monkey Walk Around the Corner and walk across the dock.
At the Stairs – 1 dock for continuous movement. Kick to the dock, walk across the dock and monkey walk back to the stairs (or move in reverse).
