The purpose of this study was to explore ways of implementing a basic survival swimming program for elementary school students. To achieve the goal, a qualitative action research was conducted with elementary school students in a swimming pool in Cheongju city, Chungbuk province. The study was carried out through participant observation, interview with research participations, collecting and analysis of journal etc. The basic survival swimming program was developed effectively through four sessions of circulating process of action and reflection. Through action research for development, the program was improved with based on play and various teaching strategies were applied to increase the effectiveness. Finally, this study provided not only a specific basic survival swimming program, but also how to run the program and the characteristics. The program was developed properly based on games in order to reduce fear of water and acquire survival skills. The study explored seeking the essence of swimming, providing various levels of play, securing enough time in water, providing repeated success experience, organizing classes according to students’ levels and the operational principles of creating a pleasant atmosphere. This study is valued as an example of a survival swimming program that will run under various circumstances.