Lesson plan for summer camp, swimming/lifeguarding?

Question

I have a group of 6-12 year olds at a summer camp that need instruction for swimming lessons. I don't need a formal plan, but after being asked to teach swimming lessons on the spot, it was a little rough. I'm a lifeguard of 2 years at several waterparks but have never taught lessons before, and I'd like a general plan of what strokes to teach after the initial evaluation

Answer 1

Each of your groups or levels should have its own goals based on the progression below. Based on the evaluation you will have to determine where to begin the instruction. Also make sure to incorporate games and relay races into your lessons, they are always a big hit and help take the nerves off some of the swimmers.

1. WATER SAFETY (all levels start with this!!!) Learn how to choose and put on a PFD (personal Flotation Device) and how to enter the water while wearing one (arms holding it down). This is basic and easy and sometimes fun. The older more advanced swimmers can jump into the deep water with the jacket, all swimmers should be shown how the PFD will keep them afloat, even those who cannot swim. Go over the buddy system, weather conditions, hazards on the pool deck/dock, what to do if you get a cramp, etc. Basic but important stuff.

2. water comfort - assure all swimmers are comfortable being in the water. Do activities to get them into the water of they are a little apprehensive, work with them on getting comfortable being in the water.

3. bubbles and floating - work on having the swimmers blow bubbles and teach them to float on their backs and eventually fronts. make sure they can put their faces in, incoproate bobs into the lessons. Talk about streamline and show them so they can try it.

3.5 treading - teach them how to tread in water where they cannot touch but you can. Tell them the importance of treading and the risks of panicing. This is a safety/fun lesson.

4. flutter kicks - first kick is flutter, best taught on the back and while holding the wall/laneline/bottom of the shallow lake with head out. Work with kickboards, hold their hands or bodies to help them out, use buoys, whatever you have available, encourage big splashes to get them to use their legs and get them used to kicking

5. front crawl - (freestyle) start with arms in the water, reaching out and pulling like a hybrid of doggy paddle and free. this uses a flutter kick.

6. backstroke - flaoting and kicking can have arms added easily. Start with arms in the water doing a pull like elementray backstroke. Build on that.

7. Elementary Backstroke - chicken/bird/rocket, have them do it on dryland so you can help them understand the motions.

8. Breastroke kick - up,out, together. Use same methods as flutter kick

9. Breastroke pull - make a heart shape, try for long, wide pulls to start out with.

10. Breastroke - put the kick and pull together and work on rhythym, this takes practice for some

11. Dolphin kick - work on using the hips, working the entire body, do dolphin dives, etc. Practice underwater or with a kickboard

12. Butterfly - add the arms, show them the proper stroke, make sure they have enough strength to execute the stroke without injuring themselves!!! Butterfly may take more time, use a lot of drills and be relaxed and encouraging about it. Most swimmers learn butterfly by playing around with it on their own.

13. Turns and flipturns - if you're in a pool add turns for the strokes as the kids learn them. Flip turns for the more advanced kids, open turns for the younger ones.

Hope this helps, good luck! Just follow your instincts and you'll be fine.

Answer 2

This year, we're having all the kids make their own thorny crowns out of razor wire. Also, we're going to have a cross-building contest and the lucky winner actually gets nailed to his or her own cross for the final three days of camp!

Answer 3

I work at the YMCA, and this is the order of strokes we teach. First it is front crawl and back crawl. Then we teach Elementry Backstroke and breast stroke. Then we teach sidestroke and butterfly. Make sure you work on the fundamentals of each stroke, practice kicking, and proper arms. Teach the importance of glidding and floating. Work on rotary breathing and endurance as well.

Answer 4

How are they in the water? Can they swim a length on their own or do they really struggle even putting their face in the water?