Water Confidence & Play Skills
Swimming
•Year 1
•12 Lessons
This foundational swimming unit introduces Year 1 students to the aquatic environment through a carefully scaffolded progression that prioritises safety, confidence, and enjoyment. The approach emphasises playful exploration and natural movement patterns, allowing students to develop essential water skills whilst building the emotional resilience needed for lifelong swimming participation. Through imaginative language and fish-like movements, students gradually master floating, gliding, and basic propulsion techniques in a supportive, pressure-free environment.
Lessons in This Unit
12 lessons in this unit
Lesson 1
Big Question:
How can we feel safe and confident when we first enter the water?
Key Objectives:
- • To develop confidence when entering and moving in the water
- • To understand basic pool safety and water movement principles
Lesson 2
Big Question:
How can we move confidently and safely in the water while developing our swimming skills?
Key Objectives:
- • To safely enter and exit the pool using proper techniques
- • To develop confidence and movement skills in shallow water
Lesson 3
Big Question:
How can we move through water safely and confidently?
Key Objectives:
- • To develop confidence when travelling in the water
- • To begin to develop floating techniques
Lesson 4
Big Question:
How can we safely explore underwater breathing and moving in different ways?
Key Objectives:
- • To develop confidence to submerge in the water safely
- • To practice regaining feet after submersion
Lesson 5
Big Question:
How can we feel confident and safe when putting our whole body underwater?
Key Objectives:
- • To develop confidence when submerging underwater
- • To practise controlled entry and exit from water
Lesson 6
Big Question:
How can we make our bodies float like a star in the water?
Key Objectives:
- • To develop confidence and technique in floating on front and back
- • To understand how body position and muscle tension affect buoyancy
Lesson 7
Big Question:
How can we use our legs to move through water like a fish?
Key Objectives:
- • To develop the kicking action on front
- • To improve body position and buoyancy control
Lesson 8
Big Question:
How can we use our legs and breathing to move safely through the water?
Key Objectives:
- • To develop controlled kicking action from the hips
- • To introduce basic breathing techniques while maintaining body position
Lesson 9
Big Question:
How do we use our arms to pull ourselves through the water like fish swimming in the sea?
Key Objectives:
- • To develop the arm action of pulling in swimming
- • To understand how cupped hands help move water efficiently
Lesson 10
Big Question:
How can we use our arms like powerful paddles to move through the water?
Key Objectives:
- • To develop the pulling arm action for front crawl stroke
- • To begin developing gliding skills on front with correct body position
Lesson 11
Big Question:
How can we use our legs to propel ourselves backwards through the water whilst maintaining a straight body position?
Key Objectives:
- • To develop the kicking action whilst floating on backs with support
- • To practise gliding backwards from the wall in a streamlined position
Lesson 12
Big Question:
How can we bring together all our swimming skills to move confidently in the water?
Key Objectives:
- • To consolidate swimming skills learnt throughout the unit
- • To develop confidence and consistency in front and back swimming