KS2 · Physical education · Year 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Front paddle and floating
Swimming: an introduction to core aquatic skills and survival swimming
Learn it. Recall it. Make it stick.
IllumED Slides
IllumED · 1/10
Your learning goal
I can experiment using different travel techniques to know how to travel forwards through water.
1 of 10
Front paddle and floating: slides adapted from the imported teaching text; recall questions created from its keywords, learning points and common mistakes. Self-check practice, with no automatic grading or XP. Answers stay on this page and are cleared when you leave.
What you’ll learn
I can experiment using different travel techniques to know how to travel forwards through water.
Key learning points
- Move: swimming using the front paddle requires reaching and pulling with the arms whilst kicking with the legs.
- Move: swimming forwards requires us to pull the water backwards.
- Think: using the correct technique with our head, arms and feet enables us to travel through the water.
- Feel: showing confidence in our swimming technique will help to improve performance.
- Connect: showing empathy and encouragement helps others with their technique.
Words to know
- front paddle
- the activity of moving on our fronts using our feet to kick and arms to pull
- kicking
- movement of legs which produces propulsion
- pulling
- a method to move the water backwards to travel forwards
Common mistakes
Pupils swim front paddle with their head out of the water.
Get pupils to lean forwards to ensure their chin or face is in the water.
For parents, carers and teachers
- Flotation equipment can be used throughout the lesson to support non-swimmers.