Project description

The Kassel Wave is a flagship project of the City of Kassel and the University of Kassel, carried out in close collaboration with all elementary schools in Kassel. At the heart of the project is a one-week intensive swimming program in which every second-grade student will participate between 2026 and 2030. The project week takes place at the Auebad and combines 90 minutes of guided swimming instruction each day with structured theory sessions in the classroom. Up to 2,000 girls and boys benefit each school year; over four sessions, more than 8,000 children will be reached.

The technical and organizational implementation rests on two pillars. First, elementary school teachers contribute their experience in classroom management and child-centered teaching methods. Second, the Institute for Sports and Sports Science at the University of Kassel contributes the latest findings from the European research network ALFAC (Aquatic Literacy for All Children). Students accompany the classes as instructors, assess learning levels using standardized tests, and develop tailored instructional sequences. This creates a cycle of theory and practice from which both the school and the university benefit equally: The children receive qualified instruction, while the students acquire practical professional skills.

The swimming sessions are based on a multi-stage learning model ranging from water familiarization to water safety (The Owl and Swimming). In addition, the theoretical modules impart fundamental knowledge about swimming rules, current hazards, and self-rescue and rescue of others. In this way, the children develop not only motor skills but also comprehensive aquatic literacy, which encompasses cognitive, psychological, and social aspects of safe behavior in and around water. Special attention is given to risk factors such as overconfidence, peer pressure, or underestimating water depths. Through role-playing, hands-on activities, and short film clips, students learn to recognize dangerous situations and respond appropriately.

To ensure that even children who are afraid of water and participants with disabilities can learn without fear, we rely on differentiated learning paths, individually tailored flotation aids, and support from specialists trained in special education. This inclusive approach ensures that all children are supported according to their individual needs. We make all teaching materials—from assessment forms to instructional videos—available as open educational resources, so that schools can seamlessly continue their regular swimming instruction based on this foundation.

The Kassel Wave program creates an excellent foundation for swimming instruction in grades 2 through 4, strengthens the children’s health and safety skills, and at the same time establishes a model for successful cooperation between universities and schools that can be replicated nationwide.