The School of Play Curriculum
Primary School Foundation - Grade Two
Week Twenty-Nine centres on communication, teamwork, empathy, and self-awareness through a series of engaging, reflective, and meaningful activities. Students strengthen their social skills and collaborative abilities through the Guessing Game, which encourages clear communication, critical thinking, and teamwork as they give and receive clues to identify mystery words. Mirror Movement builds coordination, creativity, and focus by inviting students to observe, copy, and lead physical movements in a fun and expressive way. These activities promote trust, connection, and cooperation, helping students practise taking turns, listening actively, and working together with confidence.
Celebrating Differences and Compliment Poster deepens emotional understanding and kindness by encouraging students to reflect on their unique qualities and recognise the strengths in their peers. Through creative self-expression, students celebrate individuality, build empathy, and contribute to a supportive, inclusive classroom culture. As they share compliments, appreciate diversity, and highlight what makes each person special, they develop stronger self-esteem and a greater sense of belonging. Together, the Week Twenty-Nine activities nurture communication, kindness, confidence, and teamwork, skills that strengthen both relationships and well-being in a joyful, playful way.
Weekly Lessons
Guessing Game
Guessing Game is a fun, fast-paced activity that builds students’ communication, observation, and critical thinking skills through playful interaction. As one student tries to guess the word on their forehead, the rest of the group practises giving clear, thoughtful clues without saying the answer directly. This challenges students to think creatively about how they describe ideas and encourages strong listening skills as the guesser pieces together information from multiple hints.
The game also promotes teamwork, turn-taking, and positive social interaction in a low-pressure, laughter-filled environment. Students learn how to support one another by offering helpful clues, staying patient, and celebrating progress rather than competition. Guessing Game is an easy-to-run activity that sparks engagement, strengthens communication, and helps students feel connected while learning through play.
Respectful Relationships
Communication, Listening & Expressing Themselves
The Guessing Game helps students strengthen:
- Clear, respectful communication by giving clues that are helpful without revealing the answer.
- Active listening as they tune in to the clues provided by peers.
- Expressive skills by thinking about how to describe something creatively while still being understood.
Cooperation, Teamwork & Positive Peer Interaction
This activity supports students to:
- Work together to help one another guess the word, building trust and collaboration.
- Take turns fairly and support each other’s learning.
- Encourage peers in a friendly, playful way, creating a positive social environment.
Understanding Perspectives, Empathy & Social Awareness
Through this game, students practise:
- Understanding how others think by considering what clues will make sense to them.
- Showing empathy and patience when teammates struggle to guess the word.
- Valuing others’ efforts and celebrating each correct guess in a supportive, inclusive way.
Problem-Solving, Critical Thinking & Decision-Making
The Guessing Game builds students’ ability to:
- Think critically about the clues they give and the information they receive.
- Analyse and piece together small bits of information to reach a conclusion.
- Make thoughtful choices about how to guide others without giving away the answer directly.
Respect, Positive Behaviour & Creating a Safe Learning Environment
The game reinforces:
- Respectful turn-taking and speaking behaviour.
- Encouraging language and supportive interactions.
- A safe, non-judgmental atmosphere where students feel comfortable guessing, making mistakes, and having fun.
Celebrating Differences
Celebrating Differences supports students to recognise, appreciate, and value what makes themselves and others unique. Through reflection, writing, and drawing, students explore their own strengths, interests, and qualities while also identifying and celebrating the special traits of their friends. This process helps build self-awareness, confidence, and empathy, reinforcing the idea that everyone brings something important and valuable to their community.
The activity fosters inclusivity and respect by helping students understand that differences are not something to hide, but something to celebrate. By sharing and discussing their reflections, students develop a deeper appreciation for diversity and learn how varied personalities, talents, and perspectives make the world a more interesting and positive place. Celebrating Differences creates a safe, affirming space where students feel seen, valued, and encouraged to celebrate one another.
Respectful Relationships
Identity, Personal Strengths & Self-Awareness
This activity supports students to:
- Recognise and celebrate their own unique qualities, talents and personality traits.
- Build confidence by identifying what makes them special and valuing their individuality.
- Develop a positive sense of identity and self-worth through reflection and creative expression.
Understanding Others, Empathy & Appreciating Diversity
Through this task, students practise:
- Noticing and appreciating the qualities that make their friends unique.
- Understanding that everyone has different strengths, experiences, and identities.
- Building empathy by recognising and valuing the ways others contribute positively to their world.
Respect, Inclusion & Valuing Differences
The activity reinforces:
- Respect for diversity by highlighting that differences make communities richer, stronger and more interesting.
- Inclusive thinking by encouraging students to see uniqueness as something to celebrate, not judge.
- A classroom culture where everyone’s individuality is acknowledged and valued.
Positive Relationships, Kindness & Supportive Interactions
Students learn to:
- Speak kindly and appreciatively about others.
- Offer positive affirmations that strengthen friendships and peer connections.
- Build relationships based on understanding, encouragement and mutual respect.
Communication, Expression & Sharing Ideas Safely
This task helps students develop:
- Clear communication skills by expressing what makes them and others special.
- The confidence to share personal reflections in a supportive environment.
- Creative expression through writing or drawing as a way to communicate identity and values.
Mirror Movement
Mirror Movement is a creative, movement-based activity that helps students build coordination, flexibility, and body awareness by carefully observing and mirroring another person’s movements. As students act as both the leader and the mirror, they practise focusing on detail, timing, balance, and fluidity, while exploring a wide range of movements in a fun, low-pressure environment. This active observation strengthens concentration and encourages students to stay present and engaged.
The activity also supports creativity, confidence, and leadership, as students take turns guiding others through their own unique movements. By leading and following, students learn to trust themselves, respect others, and move together in sync. Mirror Movement creates a calm yet energising space where self-expression, cooperation, and physical awareness come together through playful movement.
Respectful Relationships
Emotional Literacy, Self-Awareness & Body Awareness
This activity supports students to:
- Tune into their own bodies and emotions through focused, intentional movement.
- Develop awareness of how their body feels, moves, and responds while mirroring someone else.
- Notice how movement can influence mood, calmness, confidence, and presence.
Understanding Others, Empathy & Perspective-Taking
Through mirroring, students practise:
- Paying close attention to someone else’s actions, timing, and physical expression.
- Interpreting another person's body language and responding in a way that shows understanding.
- Building empathy by matching pace, energy, and style in a respectful and cooperative way.
Respectful Interactions, Cooperation & Inclusion
The activity reinforces:
- Respecting others’ ideas by following their lead and treating their movements as important.
- Sharing control fairly by rotating leadership so every student has a voice and a moment to shine.
- Creating a safe, inclusive environment where all movement styles and abilities are valued.
Communication, Non-Verbal Cues & Social Awareness
Students develop skills in:
- Understanding and communicating through non-verbal signals.
- Reading subtle cues such as pace, direction, and intention.
- Practising social awareness as they synchronise movements and stay connected to their partner or group.
Leadership, Confidence & Positive Role Modelling
This activity helps students learn:
- How to lead others with clarity, confidence, and creativity.
- How to support others by following respectfully and staying engaged.
- How to model behaviour that encourages cooperation, patience, and shared success.
Compliment Poster
Compliment Poster is a reflective and creative activity that invites students to pause and notice the positive qualities within themselves and others. By designing a poster that highlights kind words, strengths, and affirmations, students practise self-reflection while learning that everyone has something valuable to offer. The process encourages students to think intentionally about kindness, confidence, and appreciation, helping them build a stronger sense of self-worth and emotional well-being.
As the posters are shared and displayed, the classroom transforms into a space filled with encouragement and positivity. Students experience what it feels like to give and receive genuine compliments, strengthening peer relationships and reinforcing a culture of respect and inclusion. Compliment Poster supports connection, empathy, and belonging, reminding students that kind words have the power to lift others and shape a supportive classroom community.
Respectful Relationships
Emotional Literacy & Self-Awareness
This activity supports students to:
- Identify their own personal strengths and positive qualities.
- Build emotional vocabulary by articulating what they appreciate about themselves.
- Strengthen self-esteem through intentional, positive self-reflection.
Positive Relationships, Kindness & Empathy
Through giving and receiving compliments, students learn to:
- Recognise and appreciate the strengths of others.
- Practise kindness through words that uplift, include, and validate peers.
- Build empathy by understanding how positive affirmations impact others’ feelings.
Respectful Interactions & Inclusive Behaviour
The activity reinforces:
- Respecting and valuing diversity in strengths, personalities, and qualities.
- Contributing to a classroom environment where everyone feels seen, respected, and appreciated.
- Collaborating in a way that promotes psychological safety, trust, and belonging.
Communication & Help-Seeking Behaviours
Students develop skills in:
- Expressing appreciation clearly and kindly through written or artistic communication.
- Interpreting encouraging messages from peers as signs of support and care.
- Feeling more confident to seek help or encouragement in a positive, affirming environment.
Identity, Self-Worth & Personal Strengths
This activity helps students:
- Recognise their unique identity and celebrate what makes them who they are.
- Develop a positive sense of self-worth grounded in authentic qualities.
- Understand that valuing themselves and others is foundational to healthy relationships.
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