By Susana Soares, Gonçalo de Oliveira Carvalhas Gonçalves, Nelson Sousa Barbosa, Tiago José Marçal Cardoso Teixeira
I CAN Improve motor coordination and movement memory in the water
I KNOW Understand movement sequences and the importance of focus
I FEEL Build social connections, reduce anxiety, and increase confidence within the group
The student can reproduce and add movements correctly.
The group maintains the sequence for several rounds, adding a new element to each one.
Type of equipment: Rings
Environment: Shallow pool, allowing children to reach the rings easily.
Space: Enough area to form a circle, ensuring that students are not too close to each other to avoid collisions.
Type of organization: In groups of approximately 6 to 12 participants to ensure interaction and keep the activity dynamic.
Arrangement: Students form a circle in the pool to observe each other’s movements easily. This can be done within a lane for a more structured setup, or by removing one of the lane dividers for more space.
Skill level: Can be mixed, as the activity does not require a high technical level, allowing everyone to participate.
Instructor position: Inside or outside the pool, depending on the level of supervision needed. For less experienced students, the instructor may enter the pool to provide assistance.
The activity will last 5 to 15 minutes, depending on the size of the group and the level of student engagement.
Basic motor skills: Ability to perform simple movements in the water, such as arm strokes, diving, or jumping.
Coordination and balance: Maintaining control of the body while performing different movements in the pool.
Attention and memory: Remembering and correctly reproducing the movement sequence created by the group.
Creativity: Inventing new movements to add to the sequence.
Social skills: Collaborating with peers, respecting each other’s turn, and creating a fun and inclusive environment.
Students form a circle in the pool, ensuring everyone has enough space to move. The exercise is explained to the group. The first student chooses a simple and fun movement (e.g., splashing arms in the water or doing a funny dive). The next student repeats the previous movement and adds a new one. The sequence grows as each student adds a movement. If a student makes a mistake or forgets a movement, they either dive to the bottom of the pool or retrieve a ring placed in the area. Mistakes are not a problem—the goal is to create a relaxed, fun environment and develop social skills.
Additional instructions:
Challenge students with more complex movements, like turns, jumps, or imitating sea animals. Optional rule: after several rounds, ask each student to add a movement based on a theme (e.g., a marine animal or nature-related movement).
Optional variations:
Variant 1: Right-side movement (MS)
Variant 2: Left-side movement (MI) coordinated with the right side (MS)
Tips and suggestions:
Encourage a positive environment—praise effort and participation instead of pointing out mistakes.
Start with simple movements so everyone can participate confidently. Gradually introduce more creative or challenging movements.
Explain that mistakes are part of learning, and the most important thing is to have fun. If a student forgets a movement or does it incorrectly, encourage them to continue with the game.
