Free 8th Grade Swimming Lesson Plan (Swimming)

Topic: Swimming

Objectives & Outcomes

• By the end of this lesson, students will be able to perform basic water survival skills and be comfortable in deepwater.

Materials

• Swim suits
• Goggles
• Bathing caps
• Floating devices (e.g. kickboard, noodle)
• Water
• ESPN's SportsCenter
• Breath-holding spells

Warm-up

• Have students stretch and do some light calisthenics to get the blood flowing.
• Ask students to share their experiences with swimming. What activities do they enjoy swimming in? What are their fears about swimming?
• Play some music and have students dance in the water.

Introduction

• Introduce the topic of swimming and the purpose of the lesson. Explain that swimming is a valuable skill to have, especially for those who live near water or enjoy water sports.
• Discuss the basic principles of swimming and demonstrate each technique:
• Hold your breath and submerge your entire head into the water.
• Take a deep breath and push off the wall or floor, extending your arms and legs.
• Flutter your fingers to create a stream of bubbles to help you see where you are going.
• Swim using rhythmic arm strokes and leg kicks to propel yourself forward.
• Use your fingers to count out the strokes or kicks for each length of the pool.

Guided Practice

• Divide the students into small groups and have them practice the basic swimming techniques one at a time. Have each student hold their breath and submerge their head into the water, take a deep breath and push off the wall or floor, extend their arms and legs, flutter their fingers to create a stream of bubbles to help them see where they are going, and use their fingers to count out the strokes or kicks for each length of the pool.
• As each student demonstrates the technique, have the other students observe and offer feedback, such as counting out loud or offering encouragement.

Independent Practice

• Have the students work in pairs to practice the basic swimming techniques. Have one student be the swimmer and the other be the observer. The observer should offer feedback to the swimmer on their technique. Once the swimmer has perfected their technique, have them switch roles with their partner.

Closure

• Review the four basic swimming strokes and the proper technique for each.
• Ask the students to share one thing they learned about swimming today.

Assessment

• Observe the students during the independent practice and provide feedback on their technique.
• Collect and review the students' written reflections to assess their understanding of the importance of swimming and their ability to write coherently.