Lesson 4 – 20 minutes
Learning outcomes
- Identify surging, spilling and plunging wave
- Recognise the dangers swimmers can be exposed to with a changing tide
Preparation
WORKSHEET: WAVES
- Pens
- Pencils
- Pictures
- Photos of waves
Discuss
- Ensure each participant has the Waves Worksheet or use other pictures/photos to explain the difference between the following wave types:
- Surging – never break but can knock you over and drag you into deep water.
- Spilling – usually has less force and is good for body surfing.
- Plunging – a larger wave that can dump you onto the bottom with great force.
- Ask participants to identify which wave is safe and which would be dangerous and why.
Safe – spilling waves, they are more gentle and less powerful.
Dangerous – plunging waves, they can dump on you and cause neck injuries. - Explain how tides work (i.e. tides are on a 6-hour high/low pattern caused by the moon’s gravitational pull).
- Explain how tides can have associated dangers (i.e. low tide can expose rocks, sandbars etc that cause different water current patterns)
Activity 1
- Go for a walk along the beach, looking at and discussing the wave types or other potential dangers in the area.
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