Primary Teaching Resources
Bring Surf Lifesaving into your classroom using our free tools and resources for primary teachers
Primary School Years (5-12 years)
In primary years, children learn about their roles within family, friends, and the community. They seek to connect with peers and develop self-care and mutual support skills. The beach and Surf Life Saving community offer a rich theme for exploring self-awareness, environmental awareness, and community values. This setting helps children discuss safety, respect, inclusion, and strategies to navigate challenging situations, fostering a sense of safety for themselves and their community.
Key beach safety messages
- Swim between the red and yellow flags
- Ask for advice: Lifesavers and lifeguards
- Read safety signs
- Swim with an adult
- Signal for help: Raise one arm!
- Beware of rip currents
Primary Unit Outlines
Our team of educators and teachers have created curriculum aligned unit resources for Early Stage 1 to Stage 3 to assist teachers integrate beach and coastal safety activities into your lesson plans in an easy and simple way. These units are complemented by our primary virtual and incursion programs.
Each unit is stage based and has a 3 week curriculum lesson plan and is supported by activity sheets and resources.
Early Stage 1
This unit introduces the beach, ocean, and inland waterways, building foundational knowledge of safety in these environments. You’ll explore the features of coastlines and waterways, identify hazards, and learn how to stay safe while minimizing risks
Stage 1
In this unit, students will identify hazards in waterways and coastlines and learn safety practices for enjoying them. They'll explore ocean creatures of all sizes and discover how humans play a crucial role in conserving the marine environment for future generations
Stage 2
In this unit, students will investigate daily beach conditions, learn how river systems form and develop a water safety prevention strategy
Stage 3
In this unit, students will conduct daily investigations of beach conditions, learn how river systems form and use real-world water safety scenarios to develop strategies for managing and mitigating risks, ensuring safe situations