KS2 · Physical education · Year 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Range of strokes, treading water and signalling for help

Swimming: strokes, distance and safe self rescue

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Your learning goal

I can swim breaststroke and select the most appropriate stroke for the intended outcome.

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Range of strokes, treading water and signalling for help: 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 swim breaststroke and select the most appropriate stroke for the intended outcome.

Key learning points

Move: a circular pulling action and turning the feet out during breaststroke kick will increase propulsion.
Move: quality leg action in a vertical position whilst treading water will maintain the nose and mouth above the water.
Think: different swimming strokes can be selected in relation to energy expenditure, body position and required outcome.
Feel: when playing tag games being honest demonstrates integrity.
Connect: collaborating can help us to identify the most appropriate swimming stroke in different scenarios.

Words to know

breaststroke: a swimming stroke that involves a frog-like kick and a simultaneous arm movement while keeping the body in a horizontal position
energy: the power that makes things move, work or grow
treading water: a skill that allows a person to maintain their head above the water in a vertical position whilst staying in one place

Common mistakes

Breaststroke is always swam with the head up.

Breaststroke can be swam with the head up in a survival situation or with the head submerging and lifting during each arm cycle.

For parents, carers and teachers

Pupils should blow their hands away from themselves when swimming breaststroke, this will ensure that the face is in the water when the arms are recovering back to the start position.