Foundations & Water Confidence
Swimming
•Year 2
•12 Lessons
This comprehensive unit introduces Year 2 students to essential swimming skills through a carefully structured progression that prioritises water confidence above all else. The unit creates a safe, supportive environment where students develop fundamental floating, kicking, and arm movements whilst building the emotional resilience needed for lifelong swimming enjoyment. Through playful exploration and skill-building activities, students progress from basic water entry to coordinated stroke development, establishing crucial water safety awareness alongside technical competence.
Lessons in This Unit
12 lessons in this unit
Lesson 1
Big Question:
How can we move safely and confidently in water while keeping our feet on the pool floor?
Key Objectives:
- • To develop confidence when entering and moving in the water
- • To understand and follow pool safety rules and procedures
Lesson 2
Big Question:
How can we move safely and confidently in the water while staying in control?
Key Objectives:
- • To safely enter and exit the pool using correct ladder technique
- • To develop confidence moving in water whilst maintaining contact with pool edge
Lesson 3
Big Question:
How can we move through water safely and confidently without holding on?
Key Objectives:
- • To develop confidence when travelling in the water independently
- • To begin to develop basic floating techniques and body position
Lesson 4
Big Question:
How can we use our breath and body position to feel confident underwater?
Key Objectives:
- • To develop confidence to submerge in water safely
- • To master controlled breathing techniques while submerged
Lesson 5
Big Question:
How can we build confidence when putting our whole body underwater?
Key Objectives:
- • To develop confidence when submerging completely underwater
- • To practise controlled submersion and safe return to standing
Lesson 6
Big Question:
How can we use our muscles and body position to stay afloat in water like a starfish?
Key Objectives:
- • To develop the ability to float on front with correct body position
- • To master floating on back with proper hip lift technique
Lesson 7
Big Question:
How can we develop powerful and controlled kicking to help us swim efficiently and stay safe in water?
Key Objectives:
- • To develop the kicking action on front crawl technique
- • To improve body position and hip lift for better buoyancy
Lesson 8
Big Question:
How can I use my legs powerfully to move through water while controlling my breathing?
Key Objectives:
- • To develop a controlled kicking action from the hips
- • To introduce rhythmic breathing techniques during swimming
Lesson 9
Big Question:
How can we use our arms like powerful paddles to move efficiently through water?
Key Objectives:
- • To develop the fundamental arm action of pulling in swimming
- • To understand how hand position affects movement through water
Lesson 10
Big Question:
How can we combine gliding and arm movements to become stronger swimmers?
Key Objectives:
- • To develop the pulling arm action for effective propulsion
- • To begin developing gliding technique on front
Lesson 11
Big Question:
How can we use our legs and body position to move efficiently on our backs in water?
Key Objectives:
- • To develop effective kicking action whilst floating on backs
- • To demonstrate controlled gliding technique on backs from wall push-off
Lesson 12
Big Question:
How can I swim confidently using all the skills I have learned?
Key Objectives:
- • To consolidate swimming skills learnt throughout the unit
- • To develop confidence and consistency in front and back swimming