Develop an understanding of surf life saving in Australia
Identify the surf club as a welcoming place
Recognise the importance of beach safety signage
Identify and understand safety signage on their beach
Preparation
Organise one or more lifesavers and some lifesaving equipment to show/demonstrate during the lesson.
Speak to the patrol captain before the lesson so that they are available to assist with your group. Worksheet: Signs of the times
Take note of beach signage in and around your beach.
Discuss
Welcome all the participants and parents to the junior program and surf club.
Introduce (from those available) the main people involved in running the junior program or the club.
Discuss some of the history of surf life saving in Australia and in particular the history of your club – include any interesting facts you might know.
Activity 1
Take your group of participants and parents on a tour of the surf club and surrounding environment.
Point out areas of interest and importance at your surf club e.g. showers/toilets, club hall, equipment shed, patrol room etc.
Discuss
Start the lesson by discussing why signage is used at the beach (, i.e. general beach users, tourists, people from non-English speaking backgrounds, environment, safety).
Activity 2
Get participants together and take them on a tour around the beach, looking for signage that provides the public with information, points out hazards or prohibited warnings etc.
At each sign you find, discuss:
What the sign is designed to achieve (information, warning, instruction).
Whether the sign is effective or not, why?
The types of individual signage shown on the sign that could be placed along the beach and where they would be placed, eg ‘Rip’ signs are placed in front of rips.
Activity 3
Take your group of participants and parents on a tour of the surf club and surrounding environment.
Point out areas of interest and importance at your surf club e.g. showers/toilets, club hall, equipment shed, patrol room etc.
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