Humans have looked to animals to develop most of their swimming techniques, which include the doggy paddle, the butterfly stroke, and the floating suit made out of jellyfish. Emulate animalian style with today’s Groupon to British Swim School. Choose between two options:

• For $61, you get group swimming lessons twice a week for one month at the downtown Chicago location, including registration (a $146 value).
• For $50, you get group swimming lessons twice a week for one month at the Oakbrook or Elmhurst locations, including registration (a $135 value).

A water-survival instructor for more than three decades, Rita Goldberg established British Swim School after a career on Great Britain's national swim team. Children ages 3 months (with a parent) and up can hone their gill skills during the school's 30-minute swimming lessons. Beginners start by learning how to float on their backs—a crucial technique that lets swimmers rest, breathe, and spot life-preserver-shaped clouds. Classes, which are taught year-round in heated, indoor pools, consist of small groups of students learning techniques from the basic to the more advanced freestyle and breaststroke.