Teacher Resources

If you are a Grade 3 teacher and your students are participating in the Swim to Survive School Grant Program, you are in the right place. We are thrilled to provide you with all the tools you need to deliver Water Smart drowning prevention education to your students and important information for parents about Swim to Survive.

There are three aspects to the Lifesaving Society's Swim to Survive program:

1. Three in-water lessons - 1 hour each in length
2. Three in-classroom curriculum-based lessons
3. Parent education about Swim to Survive

We expect that you will teach the three in-classroom lessons. For lesson plans and other resources, please email our Public Education Coordinator, Bianca Fazzari.

Classroom Curriculum-Based Lesson Timeline

Week 1

Parent/Guardian information and permission

• Copy and send home the “Dear parent/guardian” letter about the program (available in 9 languages online).
• Send home your school board’s Field Trip form to get parent/guardian permission.

Program information for students

• Share with your students the three minute Swim to Survive video on YouTube (also available in eight additional languages).

Week 2

In-class Lesson #1 – “Be Water Smart”

Week 3

In-class Lesson #2 – “Act right on or near ice”

• Display the poster linked below “recommended minimum ice thickness for new clear hard ice” (1 provided) and hand out cards for students to take home (35 provided).

Week 4–6

Parent/Guardian communication

• Send home parent/guardian handouts “Can your child survive an unexpected fall into deep water?” (35 individual copies provided.  Available in nine additional languages online).

In-water lessons #1–3

• Students learn the three essential skills needed to survive an unexpected fall into deep water (roll tread and swim 50 metres) from a certified instructor (approximately one hour per session).

Week 7

In-class Lesson #3 – “Live Water Smart” and Summative Task

Parent/Guardian communication

• Copy and send home the “Dear parent/guardian – program completed” letter (available in nine additional languages online).

Teacher Evaluations of the Program

• Your feedback is important to us. Please access the program evaluation.

Additional Classroom Teacher Resources

Swim to Survive Video - click here to watch

Parent Communications (information to send home to parents):
Parent Letters

Ice Thickness Poster (PDF)

Classroom Teacher Survey