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TITLE:  THE FLOATING HEAD

AUTHOR:  Marci Woodruff, MacLaren School, Woodburn, OR

GRADE LEVEL:  Pre K - 3; Swimming

OVERVIEW:  Teaching the backfloat to pre-school age students
requires a "hook" or an inducement for those reluctant ones.
I like to use a little magic.  I call the phenomenon of
backfloating THE FLOATING HEAD.

ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:

Have the students to hold on to the pool gutter with both
hands.

Tell them to press their chests, tummy, and thighs against
the pool wall.

Now, submerge in the water until their chins are at the
surface and their shoulders are well under.

Their lower leg is flexed back so they are in a kneeling
position.

Now, tip their heads back until their ears, hair, and
hairline at their forehead is completely submerged.

This is how the magic works:

By pressing down against the water with the back of their
heads, they can make themselves float.  To test this, have
the students slowly slide first one, then the other hand
into the water.  If they continue to press down with their
head, they will float with "no hands" in a arched back
position.

As they gain confidence, they can push away from the wall,
and eventually glide in the back floating position!

My students just love to do the magic trick!

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