Primary Teaching Resources

Bring Surf Lifesaving into your classroom using our free tools and resources for primary teachers.

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.

Key beach safety messages included in each unit

  • Find the red and yellow flags and swim between them
  • Look for and read the safety signs
  • Ask a lifesaver or lifeguard for safety advice
  • Go swimming with an adult
  • Signal for help when you get into trouble in the water
  • Dangers of rip currents

This unit delves into the amazing world of the beach, ocean and inland waterways and lays a foundational knowledge of coastal and inland water environment safety. Explore the features of our waterways and coastlines, uncover hazards and learn how to keep safe and mitigate risks all while having fun and enjoying all that our amazing natural environments have to offer.

ES1-week1-image

In this unit students will uncover the hazards in our waterways and coastlines and will learn how to keep safe when enjoying them. Students will explore ocean creatures big and small and they will learn how humans are the key to ensuring our marine environment is conserved for future generations.

Stage-1-unit-outline

The beach, coastline and inland waterways are a source of inspiration, a place of discovery and at times generating myths and uncertainties that can alter the confidence and ability to make informed safety decisions by those who are using the beach and waterways. Students will conduct daily investigation of the conditions of the beach, discover how river systems form and create a water safety prevention strategy.

S2-wek1-image-1200w

In this unit students will conduct daily investigations of the conditions of the beach, discover how river systems form and use 'real world" water safety scenarios to create a strategy to manage and remove the danger or risk to make a safe situation.


Stage-3-unit-outline

We're bringing you all the latest beach and coastal education related news, programs and resources for NSW teachers via our On Patrol newsletter.

Learn more about our programs for primary students:

Beach to Bush 2021

For the first time Beach to Bush 2021 was brought to schools virtually with over 7000 students meeting our dedicated lifesavers.

Creatures Big & Small (K-2)

Come and explore the ocean and beach with a real lifesaver and learn about the amazing creatures that live within the sea in our FREE virtual sessions.

Lifesaver @ My School (K-6)

Our Lifesaver @ My School program brings our qualified lifesavers right into your classroom! Students from K to 6 will learn about beach and ocean safety.

Ocean Myth Busters (3-6)

Come and explore some of the greatest myths of the ocean and coast with a real lifesaver in our FREE virtual sessions.

Sporting Schools (K-6)

The Sporting Schools program is for all primary school students K-6 keen to learn water and beach skills through Surf Life Saving. The program brings schools and sports together to help Aussie children get active.

NSW Teachers School Newsletter

On Patrol Newsletter with the Surf Life Saving NSW Community Education team! Bringing you all the latest beach & coastal education related news, programs and resources for NSW teachers and schools.

Primary Teaching Resources

Curriculum linked unit outlines with a 3 week staged based lesson plan for teachers to download.

Early Stage 1

This curriculum based Early Stage 1 Unit Outline includes a 3 week, staged based, lesson plan and activities for teachers to download.

Stage 1

This curriculum based Stage 1 Unit Outline includes a 3 week, staged based, lesson plan and activities for teachers to download.

Stage 2

This curriculum based Stage 1 Unit Outline includes a 3 week, staged based, lesson plan and activities for teachers to download.

Stage 3

This curriculum based Stage 3 Unit Outline includes a 3 week, staged based, lesson plan and activities for teachers to download.

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