The School of Play Curriculum
Primary School Foundation - Grade Two
Week Thirty Four celebrates the life skill of play through movement, imagination, creativity, and connection. Inspired by the adventurous spirit of Mars, students are invited to explore physical challenges, express big ideas, and strengthen social bonds. Each activity encourages students to stretch their bodies, think creatively, and enjoy shared moments of joy. From obstacle courses that spark imaginative storytelling to open-ended drawing tasks that let creativity roam, this week nurtures curiosity, confidence, and playful exploration. Students learn that play is not just an activity, it is a powerful tool for emotional growth, learning, and building friendships.
Together, the week’s activities highlight why play matters. Space Explorer Obstacle Course builds imagination, movement, and teamwork; Draw Your Imagination gives students the freedom to create whatever their minds dream up; Planet Bop combines joyful movement with listening and focus; and Play Pal Pass deepens relationships through gratitude and appreciation. Across the week, students discover that play strengthens connection, boosts well-being, and brings people together. Just like the Playful Astronauts on Mars, students learn that fun fuels growth, creativity shapes new ideas, and play has the power to transform their day.
Weekly Lessons
Space Explorer Obstacle Course
Space Explorer Obstacle Course invites students to step into the shoes of playful astronauts as they travel across a Mars-themed adventure filled with imaginative movement challenges. Using crawling tunnels, lava-jumping paths, balance beams, and spinning meteor zones, students explore how play unlocks creativity, confidence, and joyful energy. This activity connects imaginative role-play with physical movement, allowing students to experience the fun and freedom of pretending to explore the rugged red surface of Mars. It reinforces that play is powerful, helping children grow, learn, and express themselves through curiosity and exploration.
As students rotate through the obstacle course, they practise turn-taking, teamwork, and cheering each other on, strengthening social bonds and positive peer interaction. The adventure encourages children to move their bodies boldly while using their imagination to bring the Mars mission to life, whether they’re jumping over “lava cracks,” crawling through “Mars caves,” or collecting “moon rocks.” By blending movement, creativity, and cooperative fun, this activity highlights the life skill of play taught on Mars, reminding students that play helps us feel connected, energised, and ready for new discoveries.
Respectful Relationships
Belonging & Inclusion
This activity supports students to:
- Feel part of a shared group experience through imaginative play.
- Participate regardless of ability by engaging at their own pace.
- Experience inclusion by cheering for others and being cheered on.
Positive Relationships & Cooperation
Students practise:
- Taking turns and waiting patiently during the obstacle course.
- Supporting peers through encouragement and kind words.
- Playing together in a shared, joyful experience.
Communication & Social Interaction
Through the activity, students:
- Use positive language to encourage classmates (“You can do it!”).
- Respond to simple instructions and group expectations.
- Engage socially through shared storytelling and role-play.
Respect & Care for Others
This activity reinforces respectful behaviour by encouraging students to:
- Move safely and be aware of others in shared spaces.
- Follow agreed rules to keep everyone safe.
- Show kindness and respect while waiting, watching, and cheering.
Self-Regulation & Emotional Awareness
Students develop skills to:
- Manage excitement, energy, and anticipation while waiting their turn.
- Cope with challenges in a playful, low-pressure environment.
- Experience success without competition or comparison.
Confidence & Positive Self-Concept
The obstacle course helps students:
- Build confidence through physical movement and imagination.
- Experience achievement through effort rather than winning.
- Feel proud of participating and trying new challenges.
Empathy & Encouragement
Students are supported to:
- Notice when peers might need encouragement or reassurance.
- Celebrate others’ efforts and successes.
- Understand that everyone experiences play differently.
Play as a Tool for Well-being
This activity highlights that:
- Play supports emotional, social, and physical well-being.
- Shared play strengthens relationships and connections.
- Joyful movement creates a positive classroom culture.
Safe & Supportive Environments
The activity promotes safety by:
- Encouraging clear boundaries and predictable routines.
- Reinforcing trust between students and educators.
- Creating a playful space where mistakes are part of learning.
Draw Your Imagination
Draw Your Imagination invites students into a world of limitless creativity, where anything they imagine can come to life on the page. With no rules or restrictions, this open-ended art experience celebrates the Mars theme of bold play and exploration. Students are encouraged to draw, paint, or create whatever their minds dream up, magical creatures, new planets, space machines, or colourful stories from their imagination. This freedom nurtures creativity, autonomy, and joy, allowing students to explore their thoughts and feelings through artistic expression.
As students create, they experience the delight of play through art, discovering the fun of making something uniquely their own. When finished, they can share their masterpieces with the group, practising communication, confidence, and storytelling. The activity becomes a vibrant celebration of imagination, showing students that play isn’t just something we do, it’s something we create. Draw Your Imagination helps children see that their ideas are powerful, exciting, and worth sharing, just like the Playful Astronauts learn on the energetic planet Mars.
Respectful Relationships
Belonging & Inclusion
This activity supports students to:
- Feel valued for their ideas, regardless of what they choose to create.
- Experience inclusion through open-ended participation with no “right” or “wrong” outcome.
- See that everyone’s imagination is different and equally important.
Positive Self-Concept & Confidence
Students develop:
- Confidence in their own ideas and creative choices.
- A sense of pride in expressing something personal and original.
- Trust in their ability to create without external rules or expectations.
Respect for Individual Differences
Through open-ended art, students learn to:
- Appreciate that peers imagine and create in different ways.
- Respect diverse perspectives, styles, and ideas.
- Understand that creativity looks different for everyone.
Autonomy & Personal Agency
This activity encourages students to:
- Make independent decisions about what and how they create.
- Take ownership of their learning and expression.
- Experience control and freedom within a safe, supportive environment.
Communication & Expression
Students practise:
- Sharing ideas visually through colours, shapes, and images.
- Using words (if they choose) to explain their artwork.
- Listening respectfully when others share their creations.
Emotional Safety & Well-being
The activity supports emotional well-being by:
- Removing pressure to perform or meet expectations.
- Allowing creativity as a calming and joyful outlet.
- Creating a safe space where ideas are welcomed, not judged.
Empathy & Appreciation of Others
Students are encouraged to:
- Show curiosity about others’ artwork and ideas.
- Celebrate peers’ creativity with kindness and encouragement.
- Recognise effort rather than comparison.
Play-Based Connection
This activity reinforces that:
- Play strengthens connection and joy in shared spaces.
- Creativity is a powerful way to connect without words.
- Play helps build positive classroom relationships naturally.
Safe & Supportive Learning Environment
The experience promotes safety by:
- Normalising experimentation and mistakes.
- Encouraging exploration without fear of failure.
- Supporting a classroom culture built on trust and openness.
Planet Bop
Planet Bop is an energetic, space-themed movement game that blends music, imagination, and quick-thinking fun. Each planet is linked to a different physical action, and students must listen carefully to perform the correct move, jumping for Mars, spinning for Earth, waving like Neptune’s ocean, stretching tall like Jupiter, and more. It’s a playful challenge that strengthens memory, coordination, and focus, all while keeping students active and engaged.
The game captures Mars’ powerful, playful energy by encouraging students to move freely, laugh loudly, and enjoy the thrill of reacting fast. With upbeat music, imaginative actions, and a whole-class sense of adventure, Planet Bop helps students experience the joy of learning through movement. It invites them to listen, respond, and express themselves while building a strong, connected classroom community through fun.
Respectful Relationships
Belonging & Connection
This activity supports students to:
- Feel part of a shared group experience through synchronised movement and play.
- Experience joy and belonging by laughing, moving, and responding together.
- Build positive peer connections through shared fun rather than competition.
Positive Relationships & Cooperation
Students practise:
- Playing safely alongside others in a shared space.
- Taking turns when leading or calling out planets.
- Cooperating by following group cues and respecting others’ movement space.
Self-Regulation & Impulse Control
Planet Bop encourages students to:
- Listen carefully and respond at the right time.
- Control their bodies when freezing or switching movements.
- Manage excitement while staying safe and respectful.
Respect for Others & Shared Spaces
Through movement-based play, students learn to:
- Be aware of others’ bodies and personal space.
- Move with care to avoid bumping or rushing peers.
- Adjust their energy to suit the group and environment.
Confidence & Participation
Students are supported to:
- Join in regardless of skill level or confidence with movement.
- Take creative risks through playful actions and imagination.
- Build confidence by successfully remembering and performing actions.
Communication & Listening Skills
This activity develops:
- Active listening through responding to planet names and instructions.
- Non-verbal communication through movement and gesture.
- Understanding that listening is a key part of positive relationships.
Emotional Well-being & Joyful Engagement
Planet Bop promotes well-being by:
- Encouraging laughter, playfulness, and positive emotions.
- Offering a healthy outlet for physical energy.
- Helping students associate movement with fun and connection.
Play as a Social Skill
Students learn that:
- Play helps people connect, cooperate, and feel good together.
- Shared games strengthen friendships and classroom culture.
- Enjoying play together builds trust and positive relationships.
Safe & Supportive Environment
The activity reinforces safety by:
- Clearly modelling movements and expectations.
- Encouraging safe choices during energetic play.
- Normalising mistakes as part of learning and play.
Play Pal Pass
Play Pal Pass is a joyful, connection-building activity that invites students to celebrate the fun and friendship found in play. By pairing up and sharing something they enjoy about playing with their partner, students practise gratitude in a simple, meaningful way. Whether it’s laughing together, taking turns, or building with blocks, this activity encourages children to notice what makes their play special and to express appreciation openly. The playful spirit of Mars inspires the energy of this experience, reminding students that play becomes even more powerful when shared with others.
As students rotate partners, they build confidence in speaking kindly, strengthen their listening skills, and form positive bonds with a variety of classmates. The uplifting exchanges help create a warm classroom culture where kindness, playfulness, and connection are celebrated. “Play Pal Pass” not only teaches students how to express gratitude but also shows them that being appreciated and appreciating others are essential parts of joyful, cooperative play.
Respectful Relationships
Belonging & Connection
This activity supports students to:
- Feel a sense of belonging by forming positive one-to-one connections with peers.
- Experience inclusion through shared play and kind exchanges.
- Strengthen classroom relationships by recognising the value of playing together.
Positive Relationships & Friendship Skills
Students practise:
- Identifying what makes a good play partner.
- Expressing appreciation for others’ behaviours during play.
- Building friendships through kind words and shared experiences.
Empathy & Perspective-Taking
Play Pal Pass encourages students to:
- Consider how their play behaviours affect others.
- Reflect on what others contribute to enjoyable play.
- Understand how kind words can make someone feel valued and included.
Communication & Active Listening
Through structured sharing, students learn to:
- Communicate positive thoughts clearly and respectfully.
- Listen attentively when others are speaking.
- Respond appropriately to kind feedback from peers.
Respect & Mutual Appreciation
This activity reinforces:
- Respect for peers through positive language and actions.
- Acknowledgement of effort, kindness, and cooperation in play.
- Mutual appreciation as a foundation for healthy relationships.
Confidence & Social Courage
Students are supported to:
- Build confidence in speaking kindly about others.
- Receive compliments with pride and gratitude.
- Participate in social exchanges even when feeling shy or unsure.
Self-Awareness in Social Play
Play Pal Pass helps students to:
- Reflect on what they enjoy in shared play experiences.
- Recognise their own role in making play positive and fun.
- Develop awareness of behaviours that support cooperation and fairness.
Gratitude & Kindness in Action
Students practise:
- Expressing gratitude for everyday interactions.
- Recognising that small, kind words can strengthen relationships.
- Viewing kindness as an active part of play and friendship.
Safe & Supportive Classroom Culture
The activity contributes to a positive environment by:
- Normalising kind language between peers.
- Encouraging respectful turn-taking and listening.
- Reinforcing that everyone has something positive to offer.
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