Benefits, Safety and Basic Skills of Swimming for Primary 1

Swimming

Performance Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. state the benefits of swimming;
2. explain safety precautions in swimming;
3. perform basic steps of swimming.

What is Swimming?

Swimming is moving the body through water using the arms and legs.

People swim in pools, rivers, lakes, and the sea. It is a fun way to play and exercise in water.

Benefits of Swimming

Swimming is good for the body and mind. It helps people in many ways:

1. To save life: Knowing how to swim can help a person stay safe if they accidentally fall into water. It can also help them assist someone else in trouble, but only with adult supervision.

2. To develop strength: When a person swims, they use many muscles in their arms, legs, and body. This makes the muscles stronger and helps the body grow healthy.

3. To reduce stress: Swimming can make a person feel calm and happy. It helps to relax the body and mind, making a person feel less worried or tired.

4. To improve sleep: After swimming, the body feels tired in a good way. This helps a person to sleep better and wake up feeling refreshed.

Safety Precautions in Swimming

It is very important to be safe when swimming. Following safety rules helps to prevent accidents and makes swimming enjoyable. Important safety tips include:

1. Warm up: Before getting into the water, it is good to do some light exercises like stretching arms and legs. This prepares the body for swimming and helps to prevent muscle cramps.

2. Lifeguard: Always swim where there is a lifeguard. A lifeguard is a trained person who watches swimmers and helps anyone who is in trouble in the water. They wear special uniforms and sit in high chairs so they can see everyone.

3. Safety jacket: Young children or people who are not strong swimmers should wear a safety jacket, also called a life jacket or life vest. This jacket helps them float in the water and keeps their head above the surface.

4. Safety goggles: Wearing safety goggles helps to protect the eyes from water and chlorine. Goggles allow a person to see clearly underwater without their eyes getting irritated.

Basic Steps of Swimming

Learning to swim starts with gaining confidence in the water. These basic steps help a person get used to being in the pool safely.

Adjusting to Water

The first step is to get comfortable with the water. This means slowly getting into the pool and letting the body feel the water temperature.

The procedure involves the following steps:

1. Sit on the edge of the pool with feet in the water.
2. Splash water gently on the arms and face to get used to the temperature.
3. Slowly enter the shallow part of the pool, holding onto the side or an adult.
4. Walk around in the shallow water, feeling the water around the body.

Coming Into and Out of Water

It is important to know how to enter and exit the pool safely and easily.

The procedure for entering and exiting involves the following steps:

1. Entering the water: Always enter the pool feet first in the shallow end. Hold onto the side of the pool or use the steps. Never jump or dive into shallow water.

2. Coming out of the water: Use the steps to climb out of the pool. If there are no steps nearby, hold onto the edge of the pool, push the body up, and swing one leg out first, then the other.

Face Float

The face float helps a person get used to putting their face in the water and holding their breath.

The procedure involves the following steps:

1. Stand in the shallow part of the pool where the water is at chest level.
2. Hold onto the side of the pool with both hands.
3. Take a deep breath and put the face into the water, blowing bubbles slowly.
4. Keep the face in the water for a few seconds, then lift the head out to breathe.
5. Repeat this several times to get comfortable.

Turtle Float

The turtle float helps a person feel how their body floats in the water. It is like a small ball floating.

The procedure involves the following steps:

1. Stand in the shallow part of the pool.
2. Take a deep breath.
3. Bend the knees and bring them close to the chest, hugging them with the arms.
4. Let the body float like a ball, with the back rounded and the face in the water (or just above if using a floater).
5. Hold this position for a few seconds, then slowly stand up.
6. If using a floater, place it under the chest or arms to help stay afloat.