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Adapted Aquatics for a Beginning Swimmer with Asperger’s Syndrome
A Sample Lesson Plan - By Francesca Turchiano, B.S., PTA

Introduction:

This lesson plan was designed for a young child who has no experience with a swimming pool and water. Specifically, this is for a 3 ½ year old child who is very scared of the water. The child has been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome and has issues socializing with other children her age. The lesson plans are designed for one-on-one interaction with the child. Other children will be introduced to the child to help with social interactions in the pool setting.

The child has no water experience prior to water lessons, due to her fear of water and poor social skills. The child's therapy needs include decreasing her fear of water, and learning basic skills needed to progress to future swimming lessons. Therapy needs also include development of social skills in the calm setting of the pool, and learning to relax in the water.

The follow article (accessed through the link below) provides lesson plans for eight swimming sessions. Each session takes approximately 30 minutes, and the child will meet 3-4 times a week for approximately two weeks. The child will be meeting one-on-one with instructors in the pool. There will be no other children nearby during the session until the child becomes more adjusted to the setting.

Lessons follow similar structures each session with a natural progression of each activity, as each skill is mastered and interactions become more fun within the child's comfort level due to her autistic characteristics.

LESSON 1 - Introduction to pool and pool environment and moving in the pool
Objectives:
Demonstrate ability to enter and exit pool safely; demonstrate ability to move in the water with enjoyment.

Equipment:

Intro/Activities	Teaching Objectives	Equipment
Ladder entry	Hold handles One step at a time Watch feet on steps	Supervision needed
Pool side entry	Sit on edge of pool with feet in water Turn on stomach with hands on side Slide down with feet along wall	Show with confidence
Monkey Crawl	Shoulder under water Hands on side of pool Feet on wall and crawl	Demonstration, stand close to child
Walk along wall with two hands then with one	Shoulders under water Hands on side of pool Feet on floor and step sideways	Demonstration, stand close to child
Simon Says with following commands: chin in water, ear in water, wash face, blow bubbles, spin around	Near side of pool Follow lead of teacher Use sound effects and toys to encourage children	Demonstration, close by child, use basic movements
Ladder exit	Slowly with hands on handles, one step at time	Supervision

LESSON 2
Learn pool environment and Introduction to skills for submersion, water adjustment

Objectives:
Demonstrate safe entry and exit methods appropriate to the environment; Demonstrate confidence with water on face; Participate with enthusiasm

Intro/Activities	Teaching Objectives	Equipment
Ladder entry	Hold handles One step at a time Watch feet on steps	Supervision needed
Monkey Crawl	Shoulder under water Hands on side of pool Feet on wall and crawl	Demonstration, stand close to child
Two hand movements Little/big steps, hopping and bopping, little jumps	Shoulders under water Both hands then one hand on the side of pool	Demonstration, close to child, movement skills, encourage funny noises
No Hands movement (same as above)	Shoulders under water, no hands on side of pool	Stand by assistance, encourage confidence
Simon Says (Submerge head, kangaroo, blow on hands and water)	Shoulders under water, next to side of pool	Provide noodles
Fun Splashing (elephant and watering can)	Sprinkle water over arms, faces Cup hand in water and throw water over shoulders	Have child face teacher and encourage them to splash teacher
Ladder exit	Slowly with hands on handles, one step at time	Supervision

LESSON 3
Independent movement, development of skills in preparation for submersion introduction to breath control, water adjustment

Objectives:
Move across the pool with little to no assistance; Work with partner in water safely; Demonstrate blowing bubbles into the water

Intro/Activities	Teaching Objectives	Equipment
Ladder entry	Hold handles One step at a time Watch feet on steps	Supervision needed
No Hands movement (same as above) jumping, bopping, arm swings, walking along side of pool	Shoulders under water, no hands on side of pool	Stand by assistance, encourage confidence
Fun Splashing (elephant and watering can) Add more incentives	Sprinkle water over arms, faces Cup hand in water and throw water over shoulders	Have child face teacher and encourage them to splash teacher
Ping Pong Partner Passing with breath control (blow across to partner) while on kick board	Get with partner, not holding on the side (can use noodle or kickboard), shoulders under water, slow	Get with partner and each need a ping pong ball, kickboards
Simon Says (washing face, look at toes, take a breath under water, hide under water)	Shoulders under water, next to side of pool	Instructor calling out commands
Follow the leader with walking around pool area	Move slowly near partner	Close supervision Encourage use of space
Ladder exit (continue from follow the leader)	Slowly with hands on handles, one step at time	Supervision

LESSON 4
Develop independent movement in pool; improve skills for submersion and breath control

Objective
Move independently throughout pool; Work with partner in the pool; Blow bubbles into the water; Breath control underwater

Intro/Activities	Teaching Objectives	Equipment
Ladder entry	Hold handles One step at a time Watch feet on steps	Supervision needed
No Hands movement (same as above) jumping, bopping, arm swings, walking along side of pool	Shoulders under water, no hands on side of pool	Stand by assistance, encourage confidence
Washing Machine (hopping and twisting)	Shoulders under with arms moving horizontally across water surface	Noodles if needed
Swimming kicks from side of pool (kickboards too) Kicking with kickboards	Hold onto side of pool, child works on kicking legs under water (progress to kickboard)	Assistance, demonstrations by instructor, kickboard for child
Ping Pong Partner Passing with breath control (blow across to partner)	Get with partner, not holding on the side, shoulders under water, slow	Get with partner and each need a ping pong ball See who can blow ping pong furtherest
Simon Says (put head under water, blow bubbles under water, jump up and down)	Shoulders under water, next to side of pool	Instructor calling out commands
Follow the leader with walking around pool area, kicking feet and waving arms	Move slowly near partner	Close supervision Encourage use of space
Ladder exit (continue from follow the leader)	Slowly with hands on handles, one step at time	Supervision

LESSON 5
Finish with independent submersion and introduce floating techniques

Objectives:
Independently go under water; Hold breath under water and blow bubbles; Float with noodle; Enter in pool from side

Intro/Activities	Teaching Objectives	Equipment
Side of pool entry	Sit at edge of pool with feet in water Roll onto stomach and push feet into water first Hold on to side if needed	Supervision needed
Floating with life jacket or noodles	Have child gain trust with floating, stand by child and place noodles in place	Instruct child to relax and float with support
Washing Machine (hopping and twisting, arm movements)	Shoulders under with arms moving horizontally across water surface
Swimming kicks from side of pool	Hold onto side of pool, child works on kicking legs under water	Assistance, demonstrations by instructor
Ping Pong Partner Passing with breath control (blow across to partner)	Get with partner, not holding on the side, shoulders under water, slow	Get with partner and each need a ping pong ball See who can blow ping pong furtherest
Jack in the box (Popping in and out of water with head going under)	Shoulders under water, next to side of pool, or with noodles	Play music then stop (like musical chairs)
Follow the leader with walking around pool area, kicking feet and waving arms and then pool exit	Move slowly near partner	Close supervision Encourage use of space

LESSON 6
Work on floating and treading water

Objectives:
Float in water with or without noodle; Demonstrate treading water; Safely slide in pool

Intro/Activities	Teaching Objectives	Equipment
Side of pool entry Slide on mat into pool	Place mat at edge of pool with water to allow child to slide	Have someone in the pool ready to catch child and another out of pool allow
Floating with life jacket or noodles	Have child gain trust with floating, stand by child and place noodles in place	Instruct child to relax and float with support
Movements while floating (using arm and legs rhythmically back and forth)	Floating in a supine position with either noodle or just stand by assistance	Encourage child to make an snow angel in the water
Kick board kicking and move across pool	Hold onto kickboard or noodle away from edge	Assistance, demonstrations by instructor
Jack in the box (Popping in and out of water with head going under)	Shoulders under water, next to side of pool, or with noodles	Play music then stop (like musical chairs)
Follow the leader with walking around pool area, kicking feet and waving arms and then pool exit	Move slowly near partner	Close supervision Encourage use of space

LESSON 7
Continue with floating and treading water, front and back tow

Objectives:
Slide into pool; Float on back and stomach with and without assistance; Tread water for a few seconds without assistance

Intro/Activities	Teaching Objectives	Equipment
Side of pool entry Slide on mat	Place mat at edge of pool with water to allow child to slide	Have someone in the pool ready to catch child and another out of pool allow
Floating with life jacket or noodles	Have child gain trust with floating, stand by child and place noodles in place	Instruct child to relax and float with support
Front tow-child held by instructor and is lead into a floating position and pulled	Instructor gently hold child under arms and walks backward	Allow child to kick feet under water
Back tow- child held by instruction on his or her back	Instructor hold child securely, shoulders under water	Allow child to kick feet
Slowly progress front and back tow to floating independently	Slowly release hold on child to allow child to float alone	Encourage arm and leg movements
Treading water-kicking legs and moving arms across water	Have child position self away from sides and keep head and shoulders above water	Stand by for assistance
Follow the leader with walking around pool area, kicking feet and waving arms and then pool exit	Move slowly near partner	Close supervision Encourage use of space

LESSON 8
Introduce and master front and back glides, slide entry into pool

Objectives:
Independently enter and exit pool; Demonstrate a front and back glide; Participate in games in pool with enthusiasm

Intro/Activities	Teaching Objectives	Equipment
Side of pool entry Slide on mat	Place mat at edge of pool with water to allow child to slide	Have someone in the pool ready to catch child and another out of pool allow- child be able to enter pool independently
Floating	Have child gain trust with floating, stand by child and place noodles in place	Instruct child to relax and float with support
Front tow/back tow progress into a treading activity	Instructor gently hold child under arms and walks backward	Allow child to kick feet under water
Front glide with face in water	Child pushes off wall to instructor about 3-5 feet	Keep shoulders under water, act like a speeding rocket, add a competition
Back glide with shoulders under water	Instructor behind child for support and have child push off wall with feet and use arms for balance	Encourage child to stretch then have child push off floor of pool
Baseball with push off and glides to move around pool	Hit ball with bat and push off to first base	Supervise child with other children during game
Slide in entry and step exits to music (Jump in if ready)	Have child exit pool independently and slide into pool (or jump)	Stand by supervision while child self directs entry
Follow the leader with walking around pool area, kicking feet and waving arms and then pool exit	Move slowly near partner	Close supervision Encourage use of space

Adapted Aquatics for a Beginning Swimmer with Asperger’s Syndrome A Sample Lesson Plan - By Francesca Turchiano, B.S., PTA

Adapted Aquatics for a Beginning Swimmer with Asperger’s Syndrome
A Sample Lesson Plan - By Francesca Turchiano, B.S., PTA