We couldn’t resist creating some swimming lesson activities based on our favorite stories and want to encourage other swimming teachers to do the same.
Using the power of storytelling is a great way to inspire your swimmers and have fun while learning new skills. As a swimming teacher, you can use themes like this to create a narrative over your whole lesson or as a standalone activity.
It’s time to teach your little dragons how to fly around the pool.
You can adapt this game for different levels by giving swimmers a dragon noodle to ride on if they need support.
This activity can be used for Swim England Learn to Swim Stages 1 -7
Equipment: Floating toys to more around and weighted hoops for higher stages if they are confident going underwater.
Miss Trunchbull is the Headmistress / Principal of Crunchem Hall Elementary School, attended by Matilda. In the book, she is depicted as a ‘gigantic terror, who frightens the life out of pupils and teachers’.
Safety note: Learners do not re-enter the water until told
This activity can be used for Swim England Learn to Swim Stages 1 -7
Equipment: Floatation equipment can be used if required.
To make is it easier, allow the use of steps, beach approach or assistant in the water.
To make it harder, work in deep water and specify a mode of travel.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar, who loves eating begins to look for some food. He eats through increasing quantities. Eventually, the Very Hungry Caterpillar gets a stomach ache and is no longer hungry anymore. The caterpillar spins a cocoon around itself and emerges as a butterfly.
Safety note: Do not use floatation equipment when on the front as it puts a strain on the back.
Teaching tip: The action is continuous, move the head up and down to help undulation, wriggly action like a caterpillar.
This activity can be used for Swim England Learn to Swim Stages 3 and 4
Equipment: Weighted Sink Rings and/or sinking toys to mimic food on the floor.
To make is it easier, reduce the distance to travel, have a noodle around their waist or get participants to hold a ball on their tummy when travelling on their back.
To make it harder, increase the distance to travel or dolphin kick to the pool floor to pick up ‘food’.
A family and their dog go out to hunt a bear. They travel through grass, a river, mud, a forest and a snowstorm, before coming face to face with a bear in its cave. This meeting causes panic and the family run home, across all the obstacles, followed by the bear!
Safety note: Check depth is suitable before surface diving.
This activity can be used for Swim England Learn to Swim Stage 6
Equipment: Weighted Hoops
To make is it easier, use a small course and work in shallow water.
To make it harder, participants can tread water whilst they are waiting for their turn. You can also use two teams and two sets of hoops. The first team to complete the course chooses a favourite activity.