The School of Play Curriculum
Primary School Foundation - Grade Two
Week Twenty-Five brings together movement, mindfulness, and meaningful self-reflection to help students strengthen both their physical and emotional well-being. The fast-paced icebreaker Apple, Orange, and Banana kickstarts the week with laughter, teamwork, and active listening, building group cohesion and boosting energy. Students then explore the emotional benefits of staying active in The Adventure of Exercise, where they reflect on how movement helps them feel strong, energised, and confident. These activities highlight the connection between physical activity and overall happiness, encouraging students to recognise the role exercise plays in their daily lives.
The week also prioritises calmness, emotional expression, and celebrating personal growth. The Big Balloon Meditation guides students through a relaxing and imaginative visualisation that helps release stress, build confidence, and foster a sense of self-worth. To finish, Confidence Certificates give students the opportunity to reflect on something they are proud of and share their achievements with others, reinforcing self-esteem and mutual encouragement within the group. Together, these activities nurture physical fitness, emotional resilience, mindfulness, and social support, creating a balanced, uplifting, and empowering experience for every student.
Weekly Lessons
Apple, Orange and Banana
Apple, Orange and Banana is a lively, fast-paced movement game that gets students laughing, listening, and working together straight away. As they respond to simple verbal cues, stepping forward for apple, stepping back for orange, and spinning for banana, students practise following directions while staying physically active and playful. Standing in a circle with their hands on a classmate’s shoulders helps build instant connection and cooperation, turning the group into one moving, giggling team. The game encourages students to stay alert, react quickly, and enjoy the shared silliness of synchronised movement.
As the pace picks up and combinations like “apple, banana, orange!” start flying, students learn to adapt, stay focused, and support each other to keep the circle flowing smoothly. The game works beautifully as a quick energiser or icebreaker, resetting the classroom mood with movement, joy, and group interaction. With no winners or losers, the emphasis stays on fun, teamwork, and light-hearted participation, helping students feel connected, engaged, and ready for whatever comes next.
Respectful Relationships
Understanding Positive Relationships & Social Awareness
This activity helps students to:
- Recognise how group cooperation strengthens relationships and builds a sense of class unity.
- Become aware of how their actions affect others in the circle, helping them understand social cues and shared responsibility.
- Develop awareness of how working together makes activities safer, smoother, and more enjoyable.
Emotional Literacy, Empathy & Personal Reflection
Through this game, students learn to:
- Notice and manage their feelings during fast-paced social play (e.g., excitement, nervousness, anticipation).
- Reflect on how teamwork, laughter, and quick decision-making make them feel more connected to peers.
- Build confidence by participating in a high-energy activity without judgment or pressure.
Social Skills: Respect, Kindness, Inclusion & Positive Interactions
This activity supports students to:
- Listen respectfully to group instructions and follow cues that impact others around them.
- Participate kindly by keeping the circle intact, supporting peers, and being mindful of spacing and safety.
- Include and encourage classmates by celebrating the fun, helping everyone feel part of the game.
Community Building, Connection & Relationship Strengthening
Students strengthen classroom relationships by:
- Moving together as a unified group, relying on each other to react correctly and safely.
- Bonding through shared laughter, playful mistakes, and collaborative physical movement.
- Building trust and connection through synchronised actions and group rhythm.
Self-Awareness, Identity & Positive Behaviour Choices
This game helps students to:
- Recognise their ability to listen, focus, and adapt quickly under changing conditions.
- Understand how their personal responses (e.g., staying calm, staying engaged) influence group success.
- Practise making positive behaviour choices that support teamwork, safety, and enjoyment.
The Adventure of Exercise
The Adventure of Exercise encourages students to explore the joy of movement and the powerful connection between physical activity and well-being. By reflecting on their favourite ways to stay active, whether it’s running, dancing, kicking a footy, or rolling around on a scooter, they begin to recognise that exercise isn’t just something we do, it’s something that helps us feel strong, energised, and proud of our bodies. Through drawing or writing about their preferred activities, students develop a clearer understanding of what movement feels good for them and why staying active matters.
As students share their reflections, the classroom becomes a celebration of movement: a space where everyone’s preferred way of being active is valued. They discuss the emotions, confidence, and strength that exercise brings, deepening their appreciation for physical well-being. The Adventure of Exercise reinforces that staying active can be fun, personal, and empowering, helping students build lifelong habits that support their physical and mental health.
Respectful Relationships
Understanding Positive Relationships & Social Awareness
This activity helps students to:
- Recognise how staying active supports their overall well-being, which positively affects the way they interact with others.
- Understand that when they feel strong, energised, and confident, they are more likely to engage positively in relationships.
- Appreciate that physical well-being contributes to emotional regulation and healthier social interactions.
Emotional Literacy, Empathy & Personal Reflection
Through this activity, students learn to:
- Identify the emotions connected to movement, such as joy, excitement, calmness, or confidence.
- Reflect on how physical activity can help them feel mentally stronger and more balanced.
- Express their emotional world creatively through colour, drawing, and written reflection, developing deeper self-awareness.
Social Skills: Respect, Kindness, Inclusion & Positive Interactions
This activity supports students to:
- Respect that everyone enjoys different ways of moving and being active.
- Celebrate the diverse strengths, interests, and abilities in their classroom community.
- Share their ideas and feelings in ways that build kindness, understanding, and connection with peers.
Community Building, Connection & Relationship Strengthening
Students strengthen classroom relationships by:
- Sharing their favourite activities and learning more about what makes each classmate feel happy and strong.
- Contributing to a collective conversation about well-being, creating a sense of shared values and positive habits.
- Recognising movement as something they can enjoy together in supportive, encouraging ways.
Self-Awareness, Identity & Positive Behaviour Choices
This game helps students to:
- Explore what types of movement make them feel most like themselves.
- Understand the physical and emotional benefits of choosing to stay active.
- Build personal responsibility for their well-being by identifying healthy habits that support their body and mind.
The Big Balloon Meditation
The Big Balloon Meditation invites students into a gentle, imaginative journey designed to help them slow down, breathe deeply, and let go of worries in a peaceful and creative way. By visualising their breath as a colourful balloon and imagining their worries floating far away, students learn how mindfulness can help them release tension and calm their minds. The soothing imagery of clouds, sunlight, and loved ones offering support helps them feel safe, grounded, and cared for throughout the experience.
As the meditation continues, students are guided to reflect on their strengths, uniqueness, and self-worth, fostering a deep sense of confidence and love. The activity encourages them to recognise that they are special and supported, helping build emotional resilience and positive self-esteem. The Big Balloon Meditation is a nurturing practice that supports mindfulness, emotional regulation, and self-compassion, leaving students feeling calm, valued, and ready to take on the rest of their day with a peaceful, happy heart.
Respectful Relationships
Understanding Positive Relationships & Social Awareness
This activity supports students to:
- Recognise how their emotions affect their interactions with others.
- Understand that releasing stress or worry helps them respond more kindly and calmly in relationships.
- Build awareness of how feelings of safety, love, and support improve their ability to connect with others.
Emotional Literacy, Empathy & Personal Reflection
Through this meditation, students learn to:
- Identify and name their emotions, particularly worries, fear, calmness, and confidence.
- Practise emotional regulation by using breathing and visualisation to let go of difficult feelings.
- Reflect on their own strengths and unique qualities, building positive self-identity and emotional resilience.
Social Skills: Respect, Kindness, Inclusion & Positive Interactions
The meditation helps students to:
- Recognise that everyone experiences worries and emotions, building empathy for others.
- Understand the importance of kindness toward themselves, which supports kindness toward peers.
- Strengthen respectful behaviour by calming their bodies and minds before engaging with others.
Community Building, Connection & Relationship Strengthening
Students deepen classroom connection by:
- Sharing reflections in a safe and supportive group environment.
- Understanding how feeling calm, loved, and confident helps them contribute positively to the class.
- Developing trust as they witness others also participating in mindfulness and emotional release.
Self-Awareness, Identity & Positive Behaviour Choices
This activity encourages students to:
- Reflect deeply on who they are, what makes them special, and the love/support in their lives.
- Make positive choices about how they manage stress, frustration, or overwhelming emotions.
- Build a strong sense of self-worth, which guides respectful behaviour and healthy relationship choices.
Confidence Certificates
Confidence Certificates is a simple, uplifting activity that encourages students to pause and recognise the progress they’ve made, whether it’s trying something new, overcoming a challenge, or simply giving their best effort. By reflecting on achievements both big and small, students begin to build a stronger sense of self-worth and confidence. Creating and decorating their own certificates allows them to take ownership of their accomplishments in a tangible, celebratory way, helping them see that every step forward matters.
This activity also strengthens the classroom community, as students share their certificates and celebrate one another’s successes. Hearing peers speak proudly about their efforts fosters empathy, encouragement, and mutual support. As students reflect on how they achieved their goals and what they might work toward next, they develop a growth mindset and a deeper appreciation for perseverance. Confidence Certificates is a joyful way to highlight progress, promote self-belief, and cultivate a classroom culture where effort and achievement are recognised and celebrated.
Respectful Relationships
Emotional Literacy, Self-Awareness & Personal Strengths
This activity helps students to:
- Identify their personal strengths, skills, and achievements, building stronger emotional awareness.
- Reflect on moments of growth, bravery, or perseverance, strengthening their understanding of their own capabilities.
- Develop a positive internal voice by acknowledging successes, both big and small.
Confidence, Resilience & Growth Mindset
Through reflecting on their achievements, students learn to:
- Celebrate progress rather than perfection, reinforcing a healthy growth mindset.
- Recognise that effort, persistence, and small improvements all contribute to confidence.
- Understand how recognising their own success helps them approach future challenges with optimism.
Respect, Encouragement & Positive Peer Interactions
This activity supports students to:
- Show respect and encouragement by celebrating the successes of others.
- Demonstrate empathy as they listen to peers share achievements and respond with kindness and support.
- Contribute to a classroom environment where everyone feels valued, acknowledged, and uplifted.
Positive Classroom Culture & Community Connection
Confidence Certificates help students to:
- Experience a shared celebration that strengthens classroom unity and belonging.
- Understand that confidence grows not only from personal success, but also from being recognised within a supportive community.
- Model positive behaviour by acknowledging others’ accomplishments and showing genuine pride in their peers.
Identity, Self-Worth & Positive Behaviour Choices
This activity encourages students to:
- Build a strong sense of identity grounded in their strengths, efforts, and unique qualities.
- Feel proud of who they are and what they contribute to the class, promoting healthy self-worth.
- Make positive choices that reflect confidence, kindness, and continued personal growth.
.avif)
