Category: Independent Challenge
Core Skill: blowing bubbles / going underwater.
Name: Floating toy hurricane
Level 1 class (going underwater), 5 participants, 1 teacher
Assume we have a small pool, water none of the class can touch the bottom in, a platform for the participants to stand in, and a range of toys available. Our goal will be to encourage the participant to go underwater up to their eyes. Criteria for success will be that the participants all play the game, and some will get their eyes underwater, some will get their noses in the water, and some will refuse to put anything more than their chins in.
Rotate the bench so it faces the wall, Place a bucket or a bin near the side of the pool where the participants can reach it and place toys inside of it (may need to be on side). Gather a large number of floating toys in one small area. Have participants use their air, or blow on the toys to “be the hurricane, or tornado” to blow the toys around their bench area. Instructor should make sure none stray off bench, and if they do bring them back. Give extra praise to the participants that actually put their lips in the water or underwater to create bubbles when they are moving the toys with their “wind” breath. After toys are scattered. Each participant needs to clean up the storm and get the toys. They should do the following for each toy they retrieve:
- Check underwater to make sure nothing sank
- Put eyes underwater
- If they don’t, then put chin in the water to “see” if anything sank
- Walk to the toy as if they’re a motor boat moving slowly
- Make bubbles and a low rumble noise as they approach by putting mouth underwater and going “bub, bub, bub, bub” as if mouth is the motor running.
- After getting a toy, tow it to the bucket for cleanup by walking backwards (towing the toy to safety).
You can make this a personal challenge by allowing one person to go at a time and cycle through until everyone is finished.
Or you can turn this into a competitive game if your swimmers are bit more comfortable. They can all move on their own and fill their own buckets. When all the toys or floating items are cleaned up after the hurricane, the person with the most wins. During this version the instructor should be watching for participants to go underwater, do the bubbling noises, and walking backwards to tow the toys. The instructor should also be encouraging the participants to check and see if anything sank and encouraging to go underwater to look.
Better swimming.
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