Natatorium

9th Grade Aquatics

This aquatics unit is taught at the High School Natatorium during the school day. Each class is team taught by the Aquatic Physical Education Teacher and the Ninth Grade Physical Education teacher. This unit involves stroke instruction, cardiovascular workouts, water safety skills, team building activities, introduction to snorkeling and a variety of other water games and sports.

Enduring Student Learning: Major learning goals and sophisticated skills that will be achieved through the student's successful completion of this unit:

1. To have the non-swimming students become more comfortable in the water.

2. By the completion of the unit, the students will be able to perform the front crawl, backcrawl, breaststroke, butterfly and side stroke with greater proficiency.

3. Students will learn various water safety skills such as rescue skills, water safety skills and accident prevention techniques, enabling them to become water safe.

4. Students will be engaged in various water workouts to promote their cardiovascular fitness.

5. Students will be engaged in swimming as a lifelong activity through various activities and games.

Essential Questions Around Which We Will Organize Our Learning:

1. Do students understand the concept of water safety?

2. Do students understand that swimming is a lifelong cardiovascular activity?

3. Are students able to competently demonstrate the five basic strokes with some level of proficiency?

Primary Unit Objectives: Content Knowledge and Skills:

1. Students will be introduced to swimming as a lifelong activity.

2. Students will be able to perform the front crawl, back crawl, breaststroke and sidestroke with some level of efficiency and improvement.

3. Students will be introduced to the butterfly.

4. Students will understand the connection between cardiovascular fitness and swimming through their heart rate analysis.

5. Students will be able to participate in water games and activities.

6. Students will be introduced to the activity of snorkeling.

7. Students will become aware of safety rules and accident prevention techniques.

8. Students will be able to participate in a number of team building activities.

9. Students will become familiar with basic water rescue skills and techniques to increasetheir water safety knowledge.

GRADING:

Based on active participation (75 points) and skills testing (25 points).

Lifeguard Training quizzes and articles/reflection papers for medically excused persons.

Longterm medical excuses may be eligible for Lifeguard Training quizzes and/or alternative physical activity (done at the discretion of the physical education staff).

ATTIRE:

Ladies, a one-piece suit or a two-piece suit covered by a dark t-shirt.

Gentlemen, please wear shorts that tie (elastic will not keep your shorts on).

Long hair must be pulled back.

Goggles are permitted as long as they do NOT cover your nose.

Clothing/Towel may be borrowed once without penalty to your grade.

EXCUSES:

Parental excuse (illness, injury) is good for TWO days.

Days past two warrants a Doctor's (M.D.) excuse or days need to be made-up.

Unexcused absences and no dress days CANNOT be made-up.

Make-ups are 30-minute lap swims between 7:30AM and 8:20AM.

Excuses for not participating due to medical reasons are to be given to your teacher within 48 hours.

In the event that a students will be excused from swimming on any particular day, the student is still required to attend the class and they will be given written material to complete during the class for their daily grade.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES:

You must participate on game days to comply with PIAA regulations.  Please see the student athletes handbook for more information.

Keep valuables locked-up while in class. (You are responsible for your items!)

Shower before you enter pool.

Turn shower off when you are finished.

Bring towels out to the pool in case of emergency.

Keep hair dryers and curling irons at home (shock hazard).

Take everything with you when you leave each day. Locks will be cut off nightly.

Use your time wisely in the locker rooms; we do NOT give late passes.

Please remove shoes must before walking on the deck.

SKILLS AND ACTIVITIES:

Front crawl
Elementary Back stroke
Side stroke
Breaststroke
Lifeguarding Skills and Activities(water safety)
PFD Demonstration and Activities
Treading Water Activities (endurance)
Amazon Challenge (team building)
Canoeing/Kayaking
Water Volleyball
Water Basketball
Inner Tube Basketball
Cardiovascular Workouts
Water Polo (Bring your own horse..no, seriously...)
And others...



Listing of Primary Instructional Materials used in this Unit:

American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor's Manual
American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor's Videos
American Red Cross Lifeguard Training Manual
"Lessons from a Drowning" article and reflection paper
"Spinal Injuries" article and reflection paper
"Rip Currents" article and reflection paper



Supplementary Texts: Aquatic Water Safety Videos:

"Water: The Deceptive Power"
"The Drowning Machine"
"Cold, Wet and Alive"

-these videos will be viewed on days when student pictures are being taken or in the event that there is a thunderstorm and the students cannot be in the water. Also, they can be viewed if there are shortened periods which do not allow enough time for the students to be in the water.