As teachers, we want everyone to have a safe and fun summer. Knowing that drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 5 to 14, we can do our part to help the kids in our care learn vital water safety behaviors. And now is a great time to do that! Check out this “Do Your Part, Be Water Smart” lesson, accompanying water safety worksheets, and caregiver letter from the American Red Cross WHALE Tales program. Teach the lesson as you close out the school year and/or send the worksheets and caregiver letter home in your summer packets to encourage families to discuss water safety before they head out to the water.
“Do Your Part, Be Water Smart” Lesson
The lesson introduces students to basic guidelines and rules to help them be safer in, on, and around the water. It lays out foundational concepts that you should never be in, on, or around the water alone and should only swim in areas designated for swimming and supervised by a capable adult water watcher and, where possible, lifeguards.
And this is just the first of nine available lessons covering content like the importance of lifeguards, wearing a life jacket, and so much more!
Water Safety Worksheets
Start with “Water Smart Matching,” drawing a line from the picture on the left to connect it with the picture on the right that completes the sentence (e.g., This chair needs a … lifeguard.). Next up is “For Water Smart Fun, Rules Rule!” Choose the correct answer from the word bank and write it in the space provided. Then unscramble the letters in the circles to solve the riddle. We also love the coloring sheet that shows water safety rules in action!
Caregiver Letter
Make sure your students’ families get this letter with ideas for supporting them in being water smart at home. Includes questions they can ask their kids!
