Swimming: Meaning and Types of Swimming Strokes, and Safety Rules for Swimming Primary 4 (Basic 4) Third Term Week 5 Physical and Health Education

SWIMMING: MEANING AND TYPES OF SWIMMING STROKES, SAFETY RULES FOR SWIMMING

PHYSICAL AND HEALTH EDUCATION (PHE)

PRIMARY 4 – THIRD TERM – WEEK 5

THEME – GAMES AND SPORTS (SWIMMING) 

PREVIOUS LESSON – Volleyball: Meaning of Volleyball and Basic Skills Involved in Volleyball Primary 4 (Basic 4) Third Term Week 4 Physical and Health Education

TOPIC – SWIMMING 

LEARNING AREA

1. Introduction

2. Meaning and Types of Swimming Strokes

3. Safety Rules for Swimming

4. Practical Demonstration of Swimming Basic Strokes

5. Summary

LEARNING OBJECTIVES 

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

1. Define swimming.

2. Explain the importance of swimming.

3. Mention the common types of swimming strokes.

4. Describe each swimming stroke.

5. State the safety rules for swimming.

ENTRY BEHAVIOUR

Pupils have previously learned about volleyball and other physical activities that help to keep the body healthy, strong, and active.

This lesson builds on that knowledge by introducing swimming, another important physical activity that promotes fitness, coordination, good health, and water safety. Pupils will also learn the different swimming strokes and the safety rules they must follow while swimming.

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

The teacher will teach the lesson with the aid of:

1. Pictures or charts of swimming strokes

2. Swimming costume

3. Swimming cap

4. Goggles

5. Float board or kickboard

6. Whistle

7. Video clips of swimming

8. Whiteboard and marker

METHOD OF TEACHING

Choose a suitable and appropriate methods for the lessons.

Note – Irrespective of choosing methods of teaching, always introduce an activities that will arouse pupil’s interest or lead them to the lessons. 

REFERENCE MATERIALS

1. Scheme of Work

2. 9 – Years Basic Education Curriculum

3. Course Book

4. All Relevant Material

5. Online Information

CONTENT OF THE LESSON

INTRODUCTION

Have you ever seen people moving through water using their arms and legs? That activity is called swimming. Swimming is not only a sport but also an important life skill that helps people stay safe in water.

In this lesson, pupils will learn the meaning of swimming, the types of swimming strokes, and the safety rules they should always follow before and during swimming.

MEANING OF SWIMMING

Swimming is the act of moving through water by using the arms, legs, and body. It is a sport, a recreational activity, and an important life skill that helps people stay safe in water.

BASIC TYPES OF SWIMMING STROKES

1. Freestyle (Front Crawl) – Freestyle is a swimming stroke in which the swimmer moves one arm after the other while kicking the legs continuously.

2. Breaststroke – Breaststroke is a swimming stroke in which both arms and both legs move together at the same time.

3. Backstroke – Backstroke is a swimming stroke performed while lying and swimming on the back.

4. Butterfly Stroke – Butterfly stroke is a swimming stroke in which both arms move together over the water while the legs perform a dolphin-like kick.

PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATION OF SWIMMING STROKES

The teacher demonstrates each swimming stroke on land or in a shallow swimming pool before allowing pupils to practise.

1. Freestyle (Front Crawl)

• Stand in a swimming position.

• Stretch one arm forward while the other arm moves backwards.

• Move the arms alternately.

• Kick the legs continuously.

• Turn the head sideways to breathe.

2. Breaststroke

• Stretch both arms forward together.

• Pull both arms backwards in a circular motion.

• Bend the knees and kick both legs outwards like a frog.

• Bring the legs together after each kick.

• Raise the head to breathe.

3. Backstroke

• Lie on the back.

• Move one arm over the head while the other arm pulls through the water.

• Kick the legs continuously.

• Keep the face above the water.

4. Butterfly Stroke

• Stretch both arms forward together.

• Swing both arms over the water at the same time.

• Perform a dolphin-like kick with both legs together.

• Lift the head slightly to breathe.

GROUP PRACTICAL ACTIVITIES

The teacher divides the pupils into small groups and asks each group to:

1. Demonstrate the arm movements for the freestyle stroke.

2. Practise the frog kick used in the breaststroke.

3. Demonstrate the body position for the backstroke.

4. Practise the arm and leg movements of the butterfly stroke.

5. Identify each swimming stroke correctly.

6. Observe all swimming safety rules during the activity.

The teacher supervises the pupils, corrects mistakes, and ensures that all demonstrations are carried out safely. 

SAFETY RULES FOR SWIMMING

1. Always swim under the supervision of a trained adult or lifeguard.

2. Never swim alone.

3. Obey all swimming pool rules.

4. Do not run around the swimming pool.

5. Enter the water carefully.

6. Do not push others into the water.

7. Wear proper swimming clothes when swimming.

8. Use a life jacket or float if you cannot swim well.

9. Do not swim during a thunderstorm.

10. Leave the pool immediately if instructed by the lifeguard.

IMPORTANCE OF SWIMMING

1. It keeps the body healthy and fit.

2. It strengthens the muscles.

3. It improves breathing and heart health.

4 it helps people learn water safety.

5. It provides fun and relaxation.

6. It builds confidence and coordination.

WEEKLY ASSESSMENT: TEST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS/ASSIGNMENT

A. Multiple Choice Questions

1. Swimming is the act of ______.

A. running on land

B. moving through water using the arms and legs

C. jumping over a net

D. riding a bicycle

2. Which of the following is a type of swimming stroke?

A. Breaststroke

B. Dribbling

C. Serving

D. Heading

3. Which swimming stroke is performed while lying on the back?

A. Butterfly stroke

B. Freestyle

C. Backstroke

D. Breaststroke

4. Which of the following is a safety rule for swimming?

A. Swim alone at all times.

B. Run around the swimming pool.

C. Push others into the water.

D. Swim under the supervision of an adult or lifeguard.

5. Which swimming stroke uses both arms together and a dolphin-like kick?

A. Backstroke

B. Butterfly stroke

C. Freestyle

D. Breaststroke

B. Fill in the Blanks

6. ______ is the act of moving through water using the arms and legs.

7. The swimming stroke performed while lying on the back is called ______.

8. The ______ stroke uses a frog-like leg kick.

9. A trained person who watches over swimmers is called a ______.

10. We should never ______ alone.

C. True or False

11. Swimming is a good form of exercise. ______

12.Freestyle is a type of swimming stroke. ______

13. It is safe to swim without an adult or lifeguard. ______

14. Running around a swimming pool is dangerous. ______

15. Wearing proper swimming clothes is a safety rule. ______

D. Match Column A with Column B

Column A – Column B

16. Freestyle – A. Swimming on the back

17. Breaststroke – B. Fast swimming stroke

18. Backstroke – C. Frog-like kick

19. Butterfly stroke – D. Dolphin-like kick

20. Lifeguard – E. Keeps swimmers safe

ANSWER KEYS

1. B – Moving through water using the arms and legs

2. A – Breaststroke

3. C – Backstroke

4. D – Swim under the supervision of an adult or lifeguard

5. B – Butterfly stroke

6. Swimming

7. Backstroke

8. Breaststroke

9. Lifeguard

10. Swim

11. True

12. True

13. False

14. True

15. True

16. B – Freestyle → Fast swimming stroke

17. C – Breaststroke → Frog-like kick

18. A – Backstroke → Swimming on the back

19. D – Butterfly stroke → Dolphin-like kick

10. E – Lifeguard → Keeps swimmers safe

SUMMARY

In this lesson, pupils learned that swimming is the act of moving through water using the arms, legs, and body. They also learned that swimming is a sport, a recreational activity, and an important life skill.

The pupils learned the four common swimming strokes, namely:

• Freestyle (Front Crawl)

• Breaststroke

• Backstroke

• Butterfly Stroke

They also learned the safety rules for swimming, such as:

• Swimming under the supervision of a trained adult or lifeguard.

• Never swimming alone.

• Obeying swimming pool rules.

• Avoiding running around the pool.

• Wearing proper swimming clothes and using a life jacket or float when necessary.

Finally, pupils understood that swimming improves physical fitness, builds confidence, teaches water safety, and helps to prevent accidents in and around water.

PRESENTATION

To deliver the lesson, the teacher adopts the following steps:

Step 1: Introduction – The teacher displays pictures or a video of people swimming and asks pupils if they have ever seen or participated in swimming.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils observe the pictures or video and share their experiences.

Step 2: Meaning of Swimming – The teacher explains the meaning of swimming and discusses its importance.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils explain the meaning of swimming in their own words.

Step 3: Types of Swimming Strokes – The teacher explains the four common swimming strokes:

• Freestyle (Front Crawl)

• Breaststroke

• Backstroke

• Butterfly Stroke

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils identify and mention the different swimming strokes.

Step 4: Demonstration of Swimming Strokes – The teacher demonstrates the arm and leg movements of each swimming stroke on land or in a shallow pool.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils imitate and practise the movements of each swimming stroke.

Step 5: Safety Rules for Swimming – The teacher explains the safety rules that must be followed before and during swimming.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils mention and discuss important swimming safety rules.

Step 6: Group Practical Activity – The teacher divides pupils into groups to practise the basic movements of the swimming strokes and identify the safety rules.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils demonstrate the swimming strokes and explain the safety rules in groups.

Step 7: Lesson Summary – The teacher reviews the meaning of swimming, the types of swimming strokes, and the safety rules.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils summarize the lesson by answering oral questions.

Step 8: Evaluation – The teacher asks oral and written questions and observes pupils as they demonstrate the swimming strokes.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils answer the questions and demonstrate the basic swimming movements correctly.

CONCLUSION

To conclude the lesson for the week, the teacher revises the entire lesson and links it to the following week’s lesson.

NEXT LESSON

Pathogens and Diseases: Meaning and Types of Pathogens, Meaning and Types of Diseases Primary 4 (Basic 4) Third Term Week 6 Physical and Health Education

LESSON EVALUATION 

Teacher asks pupils,

1. What is swimming?

2. Mention four types of swimming strokes.

3. Explain the meaning of freestyle (front crawl).

4. What is breaststroke?

5. Describe backstroke.

6. Explain the butterfly stroke.

7. State five safety rules for swimming.

8. Why is it important to swim under the supervision of a trained adult or lifeguard?

9. Mention three importance of swimming.

10. Demonstrate the arm and leg movements of any two swimming strokes correctly.