Swimming (Grades 2, 4, 9, 10)

Course Description

This course focuses on improving swimming skill efficiency across multiple strokes, including freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, sidestroke, and elementary backstroke. Students will refine stroke techniques to enhance propulsion, timing, and coordination in the water. The course also emphasizes essential water safety skills, including floating, following pool rules, and using reach or throw techniques for rescues. Additionally, students will explore boating safety principles and gain confidence in water exploration. The course also includes springboard diving, where students will learn forward and backward dives from a 1-meter springboard (Grade 10), focusing on proper body alignment, jump, dive, and tuck positions, and safe water entry. Students develop the skills and knowledge needed for safe and effective participation in a variety of aquatic environments.

Course Big Ideas

Effective swimming relies on proper technique, timing, and coordination in all strokes (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, sidestroke, and elementary backstroke) to maximize propulsion, reduce fatigue, and move efficiently through the water.
Understanding and practicing pool rules, safe behaviors, and water rescue techniques (e.g., reach or throw) helps prevent accidents and promotes personal and group safety in aquatic environments.
Knowledge of boating safety, terminology, and safe practices ensures responsible participation in watercraft activities and reduces the risk of accidents.
Developing confidence and comfort in the water through floating, submersion, exploratory activities, and controlled diving allows swimmers to adapt to diverse aquatic environments safely and independently.

Course Essential Questions

How do safe behaviors, rules, and rescue techniques help prevent accidents and keep everyone safe in and around the water?
How do proper body position, timing, coordination, and force improve swimming efficiency and stroke performance?
How do different swimming strokes and kicking techniques work together to create propulsion and control in the water?
How do teamwork, communication, and understanding rules support safe and effective participation in aquatic games, boating, and group activities, including diving?

Course Competencies

Demonstrate and explain pool safety rules and responsible behaviors to prevent accidents.
Apply reach or throw/don’t go techniques and proper use of flotation devices for water rescue.
Demonstrate proper use and securing of life jackets and perform safe water entries (feet-first jumps).
Enter a canoe using three points of contact and perform controlled capsizes safely.
Demonstrate righting a swamped canoe and using air pockets for buoyancy and safety.
Perform freestyle swimming with proper flutter kick, arm movements, breathing, and body position.
Perform backstroke with proper flutter kick, arm movements, body position, and breathing.
Perform breaststroke using the pull-breathe-kick-glide sequence, including proper outsweep and insweep techniques.
Perform butterfly stroke using undulation, simultaneous arm entry, bent-arm catch and pull, push past the hips, and over-water recovery.
Perform sidestroke using the pull-push-glide sequence.
Perform elementary backstroke using proper kick, pull, recovery, and glide phases.
Demonstrate forward and backward 1-meter springboard dives with proper jump, dive, or tuck positions, maintaining safe water entry and body alignment.
Apply coordination, timing, and control to enhance propulsion, efficiency, and safety in all swimming strokes and diving techniques.
Apply water safety knowledge and boating terminology to support responsible decision-making on the water.
Understand and apply rules, positions, and strategies for water polo and other water-based games.
Demonstrate teamwork, communication, and strategic thinking in aquatic activities, games, and diving scenarios.

Course Assessments

Observation - Formative Self-Assessment
Observation - Formative Critique with Students

Course Units

Grade 2 Swimming Unit

Standards

SHAPE America National Physical Education Standards

Standard 1 Develops a variety of motor skills.
Standard 2 Applies knowledge related to movement and fitness concepts.

PA Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education

10.3.3.A. Recognize safe/unsafe practices in the home, school and community. (general [e.g.,fire, electrical, animals], modes of transportation [e.g.,pedestrian, bicycle, vehicular], outdoor [e.g., play, weather, water], safe around people [e.g., safe/unsafe touch, abuse, stranger, bully])
10.3.3.D. Identify and use safe practices in physical activity settings. (e.g., proper equipment, knowledge of rules, sun safety, guidelines of safe play, warm-up, cool-down)
10.4.3.A. Identify and engage in physical activities that promote physical fitness and health.

Know

Pool safety rules such as: walking on the pool deck, walking in the locker room, no diving in the shallow end, do not swim underneath the bulkhead, no horseplay, do not enter the water without supervision, swim with a buddy.
Longfellow’s WHALE Tales water safety: swim as a pair with a lifeguard there, don’t just pack it-wear your life jacket, reach or throw-don’t go, think so you don’t sink, do your part, be water smart.

Understanding/Key Learning

Understanding and following water safety rules helps prevent accidents and ensures a safe environment for everyone around pools and other aquatic settings.
Making smart, responsible choices near water—such as swimming with others, using safety equipment, and following supervision—helps protect yourself and others.
Developing basic swimming and floating skills builds comfort, confidence, and the ability to move safely and effectively in the water.
Knowing how to use safety equipment and perform safe rescue techniques enables individuals to respond appropriately during water-related emergencies.

Do

Demonstrate basic freestyle swimming skill with the flutter kick, bent/forward arm stroke, and face in the water.
Demonstrate basic backstroke swimming skill with the flutter kick, straight/backward arm stroke, and ears in the water with the chin out of the water.
Explain pool safety rules and regulations and how they promote pool safety.
Perform reach or throw/ don’t go skill.
Demonstrate how to properly secure the buckles on a life jacket.
Perform a feet first jump into the water with a life jacket.

Unit Essential Questions

Lesson Essential Questions

What are the most important pool rules and why do we have them?
How can I recognize an unsafe situation in or around the pool?
What should I do if someone is in trouble in the water?
Why is the “reach or throw—don’t go” rule important during a rescue?
What is the correct body position for freestyle and backstroke?
What arm and leg movements are needed for efficient strokes?
How does floating help keep me safe in the water?
What can I do to stay calm and balanced while floating?
How can floating help me conserve energy in an emergency?

Standard 1 Develops a variety of motor skills.
Standard 2 Applies knowledge related to movement and fitness concepts.

PA Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education

10.2.6.B. Explain the relationship between health-related information and consumer choices. (dietary guidelines/food selection, sun exposure guidelines/sunscreen selection)
10.4.6.A. Identify and engage in moderate to vigorous physical activities that contribute to physical fitness and health.

Know

Pool safety rules such as: walking on the pool deck, walking in the locker room, no diving in the shallow end, do not swim underneath the bulkhead, no horseplay, do not enter the water without supervision, swim with a buddy.
Differences between the flutter kick, breaststroke kick, and dolphin kick.
Boating safety and terminology: capsize, bow, stern, handle, shaft, blade.
Differences between the proper diving techniques from sitting, kneeling, and standing positions and the safety considerations involved.

Understanding/Key Learning

Understanding and following pool safety rules ensures a safe environment for everyone.
Different swimming strokes require coordination between breathing, arm movements, and specific types of kicks (flutter, breaststroke, and dolphin).
Developing different swimming skills promotes body awareness, endurance, and efficiency in the water.
Safe boating techniques reduce risks and ensure teamwork and communication.
Students will understand how using safe diving techniques from sitting, kneeling, and standing positions helps them enter the water smoothly and safely.

Do

Explain pool safety rules and regulations and how they promote pool safety.
Demonstrate how to enter a canoe with 3 points of contact.
Perform a controlled capsize with assistance.
Demonstrate knowledge of backstroke swimming skill with the flutter kick, straight/backward arm stroke, and ears in the water with the chin out of the water.
Demonstrate knowledge of freestyle swimming skill with the flutter kick, bent/forward arm stroke, and face in the water.
Demonstrate knowledge of the breaststroke kick and arm stroke following the pull-breathe-kick-glide sequence.
Demonstrate knowledge of the dolphin kick and arm stroke with proper undulation of the body, feet together, and arms working simultaneously over the water.
Demonstrate safe and controlled diving from sitting, kneeling, and standing positions with proper body alignment and smooth water entry.

Unit Essential Questions

How do pool safety rules contribute to creating a safe swimming environment for all participants?
What are the key differences between the flutter kick, breaststroke kick, and dolphin kick, and how do they affect swimming efficiency and technique?
How can safe boating practices and proper terminology improve teamwork and prevent accidents on the water?
What techniques and body positions are essential for performing backstroke, freestyle, breaststroke, and dolphin kick effectively?
How do proper body position, technique, and safety practices affect the way we dive from sitting, kneeling, and standing positions?

Lesson Essential Questions

What specific behaviors and precautions should swimmers follow to stay safe on the pool deck and in the water?
How do you perform the flutter kick correctly, and how does it support both freestyle and backstroke swimming techniques?
What are the step-by-step movements of the breaststroke kick and arm stroke, and how do they work together in the pull-breathe-kick-glide sequence?
How do you safely enter a canoe using three points of contact, and what should you do to maintain balance and control during a controlled capsize?
What specific body positions and techniques help ensure a safe and controlled dive from sitting, kneeling, or standing?

Standard 1 Develops a variety of motor skills.
Standard 2 Applies knowledge related to movement and fitness concepts.

PA Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education

10.4.9.A. Analyze and engage in physical activities that are developmentally/individually appropriate and support achievement of personal fitness and activity goals.
10.5.9.A. Describe and apply the components of skill-related fitness to movement performance. (agility, balance, coordination, power, reaction time, speed)
10.5.9.C. Identify and apply practice strategies for skill improvement.
10.5.9.F. Describe and apply game strategies to complex games and physical activities. (offensive strategies, defensive strategies, time management)

Know

Pool safety rules such as: walking on the pool deck, walking in the locker room, no diving in the shallow end, do not swim underneath the bulkhead, no horseplay, do not enter the water without supervision, swim with a buddy.
Boating safety and terminology: capsize, bow, stern, port, starboard, handle, shaft, blade.
Propulsive force and the time that it is applied during a swimming stroke results in power to move a swimmer through the water.
Propulsion of the kick in each swimming stroke.
Difference between the entry, catch, pull, finish, and recovery of freestyle.
Difference between the entry, catch, pull, recovery of backstroke.
Differentiate the phases of sidestroke and elementary backstroke.
Rules, game play, and positions of water polo.

Understanding/Key Learning

Understanding and following pool and boating safety rules ensures personal and group safety in and around aquatic environments.
Understanding and performing the upbeat and downbeat of the flutter kick and effective arm movements in different strokes (freestyle, backstroke, sidestroke, and elementary backstroke) highlight how propulsion is created and maintained.
Each stroke has distinct phases (entry, catch, pull, finish, recovery) that must flow together for maximum efficiency.
Knowledge of water polo rules, positions, and gameplay develops teamwork, communication, and strategy in a water-based sport.
Differentiating offense and defense and applying safety and swimming skills in gameplay promotes both skillful and safe participation.

Do

Explain pool safety rules and regulations and how they promote pool safety.
Demonstrate how to enter a canoe with 3 points of contact.
Perform a controlled capsize and utilize the air pocket that forms.
Demonstrate proper force during the upbeat and downbeat of the flutter kick when swimming freestyle and backstroke.
Demonstrate proper freestyle with fingertips entering the water, with a bent elbow, catch and pull through the water, finish to the hips, and recover with the elbow bent to the sky.
Demonstrate proper backstroke with hand entry, bending the elbow to catch the water, pull quick and fast past the hips, and recover with a straight arm.
Perform the sequence of the sidestroke with the pull-push-glide phase of the stroke.
Perform the sequence of the elementary backstroke with the kick, pull, recovery, and glide of the stroke.
Understand the basic rules, positions of players, and offense vs. defense of water polo to apply in game play.

Unit Essential Questions

How do pool and boating safety rules help prevent accidents and ensure the safety of everyone in and around the water?
How does the application of force, timing, and body position create efficient propulsion in different swimming strokes?
What are the key phases of each swimming stroke, and how does proper technique during each phase improve performance and efficiency?
How do teamwork, communication, and knowledge of rules and positions influence success and safety in water polo gameplay?

Lesson Essential Questions

How can following pool and boating safety rules prevent accidents and promote a safe aquatic environment?
How does proper technique, timing, and body position affect propulsion and efficiency in swimming?
What are the phases of each swimming stroke, and how do they work together for effective movement through the water?
How do teamwork, communication, and knowledge of rules contribute to safe and successful water polo gameplay?

Standard 1 Develops a variety of motor skills.
Standard 2 Applies knowledge related to movement and fitness concepts.

PA Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education

10.4.12.A. Evaluate and engage in an individualized physical activity plan that supports achievement of personal fitness and activity goals and promotes life-long participation.
10.5.12.A. Apply knowledge of movement skills, skill-related fitness and movement concepts to identify and evaluate physical activities that promote personal lifelong participation.
10.5.12.F. Analyze the application of game strategies for different categories of physical activities. (Individual, team, lifetime, outdoor)

Know

Pool safety rules such as: walking on the pool deck, walking in the locker room, no diving in the shallow end, do not swim underneath the bulkhead, no horseplay, do not enter the water without supervision, swim with a buddy.
Boating safety and terminology: capsize, bow, stern, port, starboard, handle, shaft, blade.
Rules, game play, and positions of water activities.
Rules, game play, and positions of water polo.
Undulation movement of the butterfly.
Difference between breaststroke kick and butterfly kick.
Outsweep vs. insweep of breaststroke.
Difference between the entry, catch, pull, push, and recovery of the butterfly.
Key elements of a 1-meter springboard dive, including the 1-step approach, hurdle, proper takeoff, body alignment in the jump, dive, or tuck position, and safety considerations for entering the water.
Proper technique and safety considerations for a backward 1-meter springboard dive, including body positioning during the jump, dive, or tuck phases, as well as controlled water entry.

Understanding/Key Learning

Understanding and following safety practices in and around the water helps prevent accidents and promotes responsible behavior during aquatic activities.
Effective swimming and boating require the coordination of body movements, timing, and control to achieve efficiency and balance in the water.
Movement through water depends on how force, resistance, and body position work together to create propulsion and maintain momentum.
Success in aquatic games and group activities depends on collaboration, understanding of rules, and the ability to work effectively with others.
Understanding that mastering proper body alignment, approach, takeoff, and tuck techniques, along with following safety practices, allows them to perform both forward and backward springboard dives with control, efficiency, and safe water entry.

Do

Demonstrate how to enter a canoe with 3 points of contact.
Perform a controlled capsize and how to right a swamped canoe.
Perform the sequence of the breaststroke with the pull-breathe-kick-glide sequence of the stroke.
Demonstrate the correct angles of the outsweep and insweet of the breaststroke.
Apply the undulation movement to the butterfly stroke.
Demonstrate simultaneous arm entry, catch and pull under the water with a bent arm, push the arms past the hips, and recover with both arms over the water for the butterfly stroke.
Apply the knowledge of player position, rules of the game, and skills when participating in water activities and water polo game play.
Demonstrate a 1-meter springboard dive using a 1-step approach with a hurdle, maintaining proper body alignment in the jump, dive, or tuck position, entering the water safely, and following all diving safety rules.
Demonstrate a backward 1-meter springboard dive, executing a controlled jump, proper body alignment during the jump, dive, or tuck, and a safe entry into the water while following diving safety rules.

Unit Essential Questions

How do safe behaviors and decision-making in and around the water help prevent accidents and ensure a positive aquatic experience for everyone?
How do coordination, timing, and control influence efficiency and success in different swimming movements?
How do force, resistance, and body position work together to create smooth and effective movement through the water?
How do teamwork, communication, and knowledge of rules contribute to successful and safe participation in aquatic games and activities?
How does knowledge of boating safety and terminology support responsible decision-making on the water?
How do proper body alignment, approach, takeoff, and safety practices influence the control, efficiency, and safety of forward and backward 1-meter springboard dives?

Lesson Essential Questions

How can following pool and boating safety rules, such as using three points of contact in a canoe or swimming with a buddy, prevent accidents and keep everyone safe?
How do proper timing, coordination, and control of arms and legs improve efficiency and technique in strokes like breaststroke and butterfly?
How does applying the correct force, body position, and stroke mechanics help a swimmer move smoothly and powerfully through the water?
How does understanding water polo rules, player positions, and teamwork strategies promote safe and effective gameplay in aquatic sports?
What specific techniques in body alignment and takeoff in the jump, dive, or tuck position help ensure a safe and controlled forward or backward 1-meter springboard dive?