1. Village Club New Swimming Lesson Curriculum
Session Intro to Water Aqua Tots 1 Aqua Tots 2
Materials
From family
-Favorite floating
water toy
-cup
-One favorite floating and
sinking toy
-cup/bucket
-One favorite floating and
sinking toy
-cup/bucket
Materials
Supplied
-Colored diving
rings/sticks
-Colored diving
rings/sticks
-Guard tube
-Water noodles?
-Rule and Safety Signs?
-Colored diving
rings/sticks
-Kick boards
-Guard tube
-Water noodles?
-Safety Signs?
Approximate
Age group
6-18 months 1.5-2.5 years of age 2.5-4 years of age
1 - Willing to participate with
parent assistance
- Able to listen and learn to
parent
- Simple understanding of
pool rules (no drinking water,
no jumping in without parent)
- comfortable being held by
parents
- understanding of front
(belly) and back
- understanding of “hold your
breath”
- chin in
- mouth in
-Willing to participate at
poolside
-Able to learn how to follow
simple directions
-Able to learn and apply basic
pool etiquette and safety rules
(walking, splashing, using the
restroom, waiting for a life
guard/asking for permission to
enter the pool, not drinking
pool water/two feet first when
jumping in/water safety signs,
what do they look like and
stand for/no pushing others in
the pool)
-Stretching
-Arm circles (forward and
backward)
-front float
-back float
-front kick
-back kick
-bob
-scoop
- bubbles
-shoulders in
-chin in
-nose in
-face in
-ears in
-head back
-head in
-hold breath
-full body submerge
-confidently going under
-retrieve object without face in
-retrieve object with face in
-stroke form inside and outside
of the pool
-holding on to wall and kicking
-getting in and out of pool
independently
-requesting for help
-Willing to participate with
parent not standing poolside
-Able to cooperate with teacher
and peers
-Able to learn how to follow
directions
-Able to learn and apply basic
pool etiquette rules (walking,
splashing, using the restroom,
waiting for a guard/asking for
permission to enter the pool,
not drinking pool water, two
feet first when jumping in,
water safety signs, what do
they look like and stand for, no
pushing others in the pool )
-Stretching
-Arm circles (forward and
backward)
- front and back float
- can kick on front and back
- front kicks and scoops
- back kicks and back arm
circles
- multiple bobs
- bubbles
-shoulders in
-hold breath
-full body submerge
-confidently going under
-retrieve object with face in
-stroke form inside and outside
of the pool
-holding on to wall and kicking
-getting in and out of pool
independently
- desire to jump in big pool, no
fear
-requesting for help
-helping others

2. -helping others
2 - Able to practice 2 hand
floating assist on back (just a
few seconds)
- Able to practice 2 hand
floating assist on front, face
up
- attempt bubbles
- can hold breath when out of
the water
- chin, mouth, ears in
-Willing to participate with
parent near and watching
-Able to cooperate with teacher
-Able to learn and follow
simple directions with support
- Able to learn and apply basic
pool etiquette rules (same as
above)
-Build on the skills from
session 1 based on how far
instructor got and how the
students are learning
-Willing to participate without
parent assistance with some
activities
-Able to cooperate with teacher
and peers
-Able to learn and follow
directions with support
-Able to learn and apply basic
and pool etiquette rules (Same
as above and taking turns,
hands to self, patience, offer
encouragement, and sharing)
-Build on the skills from
session 1 based on how far
instructor got and how the
students are learning
3 - Able to practice2 hand
floating assist on back (about
6 seconds)
- Able to practice 2 hand
floating assist on front, dip
face
- blow bubbles
- can hold breath in the water
- chin, mouth, ears, nose in
-Willing to participate with
parent near and not always
watching
-Able to cooperate with teacher
and peers
-Able to learn and follow most
simple directions
-Able to learn and apply basic
and pool etiquette rules (Same
as above plus taking turns,
hands to self, patience, offer
encouragement, and sharing)
-Build on the skills from
session 2 based on how far
instructor got and how the
students are learning
-Willing to participate without
parent support with most
activities
-Able to cooperate with teacher
and peers
-Able to learn and follow most
directions
-Able to learn and apply basic
and pool etiquette rules (Same
as above and listening to
others, focusing on task)
-Build on the skills from
session 32 based on how far
instructor got and how the
students are learning
4 - able to practice 2 hand
floating assist on back (10+
seconds)
- Able to practice 2 hand
floating assist on front, full
face in water
- blow bubbles (5+ seconds)
- can hold breath (5+
seconds)
- chin, mouth, ears, nose, eyes
in
-Willing to participate with
parent not engaged
-Able to cooperate with teacher
and peers
-Able to followmost simple
directions
-Able to learn and apply basic
and pool etiquette rules (same
as above plus focusing on one
task at a time)
-Build on the skills from
session 3 based on how far
instructor got and how the
students are learning
-Independent participation in
all activities
-Able to cooperate with teacher
and peers
-Able to followmost directions
-Able to learn and apply basic
and pool etiquette rules (Same
as above)
-Build on the skills from
session 3 based on how far
instructor got and how the
students are learning
Songs/Activities to consider (but not limited to) for teaching students the above skills:
(*Songs may be modified to fit the activity/skill)

3. Jumping into the pool:
● 5 Little Ducks go out to Play
○ Five little ducks went swimming one day,
Around the pool and far away.
Mother duck said, 'QUACK, QUACK, QUACK, QUACK!'
And only four little ducks came waddling back!
● 5 little monkeys
● Pop! Goes the weasel
In the water songs:
● Hokey Pokey
○ can be an in-water game or a way to enter/get used to the water
● If you’re happy and you know it
● It’s raining, its pouring
● Babies in the pool
○ To the tune of Wheels on the Bus
● Motor Boat
○ Motor boat, motor boat go so slow,
Motor boat, motor boat go so fast,
Motor boat, motor boat step on the gas
● Itsy Bitsy Spider
Submersion:
● London Bridges
● Ring Around the Rosie
● Hickory Dickory Dock
● Teddy Bear
○ Teddy bear, teddy bear, up and down
Teddy bear, teddy bear, turn around
Teddy bear, teddy bear, to and fro
Teddy bear, teddy bear, under we go
Floating:
● Pancake song
○ I'm a little pancake on my back,
I'm a little pancake nice and flat,
Flip me over and swim me back.
Bubbles:
● Wheels on the Bus
● Puffer Trains
○ Down at the station, early in the morning,
See the little Puffer trains all in a row.
Here comes the driver to start up the engine,
PUFF PUFF,PEEP PEEP off we go!
Activities:
● Safer Kids Song by Jim Reiser
● Red light, green light
● Imagination Safari
● Simon Says
● I Spy (safety trick: lifeguard, mommy, etc)
● Super hero belly float
● Hunting toys

4. ● Kickboard practice
● Kicking along the wall
● Scoop practice
● Ball play- large inflatable beach ball?
● ____ to this wall if ___
○ Scoop to this wall if you are wearing red
Helpful Tips for Swim Instructors:
1. Introduce self to students and parents
2. Ice breakers and get to know each other for first few days
3. Provide verbal and/or nonverbal cues when instructing students to do something and
transitioning into the next activity
4. Keep routines and a schedule (warm up activity, skills, wrap up activities)
5. Use same terminology
6. Demonstrate first, assist second, encourage independent work third
7. Simple directions, repeat (3)
8. Use visuals and demonstrations
9. Use signal phrases
10. Use students to model/teach, rotating your selection each time
11. Take notes on what skills you need to revisit for the next day
12. Praise and encourage by making statements like, “I noticed…” vs. “good job” all of the time (IE: I
noticed you followed… you remembered to…your arms did come out of the water…)