Beached whales

Lesson 7 – 20 minutes

Sit the participants in a group on the beach facing out to sea.
Discuss the water and surf by asking the following questions:
- Who likes swimming in the sea? (Note those that don’t raise their hand so you can watch them later in the lesson).
- What is different about swimming in the sea, than swimming in the pool? (The sea has salt water and waves, the pool has fresh water and no waves).
- Discuss what a participant should do if they are not enjoying being in the water. (Tell an Age Manager, parent, helper, water safety personnel who will help you).

Take the participants on a short beach run to warm up.
Snake the run into ankle deep water as you run around (but don’t stop and go into the water).

Line up the participants on the edge of the water facing out to sea.
Get the participants to hold hands and walk into the water slowly.
When in ankle deep water stop and tell the participants to jump the waves as they get to them, do this for ten or so waves.
Tell the participants that on the count of 3 they need to sit down in the water.
Once sitting down get the participants to roll over onto their stomachs.
Get them to stay in that position until a number of waves have washed over their body.
Ask the participants to stand and turn to face out to sea again.
Walk further into the water until knee deep.
Repeat activity (sit, roll over, have waves wash over them).