The School of Play Curriculum
Primary School Foundation - Grade Two
Week Twenty-Two invites students into a balanced blend of mindfulness, kindness, physical movement, and emotional reflection. Through playful activities such as Yes, No, Up We Go and Follow the Leader, students practise communication, listening, and creative self-expression while staying physically active and engaged. These games help them recognise similarities with their peers, build confidence through movement, and strengthen social connections in a joyful, inclusive way. Alongside these active components, students also explore emotional awareness and patience, learning how thoughtful actions and kind words create stronger, more supportive relationships.
This week also emphasises gratitude and mindfulness, encouraging students to slow down, reflect, and connect with their inner world. Activities like the Sparkling Water Meditation and Gratitude Walk guide students through calming visualisations and reflective moments outdoors, helping them appreciate their surroundings and recognise the positives in their lives. Through discussions about patience, acts of kindness, and daily gratitude, students build emotional resilience and empathy while deepening their understanding of themselves and others. Together, these experiences create a warm, reflective, and uplifting week that blends movement, mindfulness, kindness, and connection.
Weekly Lessons
Yes, No, Up We Go
Yes, No, Up We Go is a lively, movement-based icebreaker that helps students learn about one another while practising simple yes/no responses. As questions are asked, students stand tall for “yes” and squat low for “no,” creating an energetic rhythm that keeps everyone engaged. The shared movement makes the activity fun and accessible while encouraging students to observe who has similar interests, experiences, and responses. This helps them build early connections and recognise both similarities and differences within the group.
As the game continues, students begin noticing patterns, surprises, and shared moments that spark conversation and curiosity. The physical nature of the activity keeps the atmosphere light and joyful, while the reflection at the end encourages students to think about how it felt to connect, or stand out, from their peers. Yes, No, Up We Go is a simple, high-energy way to build belonging, boost confidence, and create an environment where every student feels seen and included.
Respectful Relationships
Positive Relationships & Social Awareness
This activity helps students:
- Recognise what they have in common with others, strengthening early friendship-building skills.
- Notice similarities and differences respectfully, developing inclusive attitudes.
- Build social confidence through shared responses and group participation.
Communication & Listening Skills
Students practise:
- Listening closely to simple yes/no questions.
- Responding clearly through movement (standing/squatting), reinforcing understanding of verbal communication.
- Following instructions as part of a group is an essential respectful relationships skill.
Identity, Personal Preferences & Self-Expression
This activity encourages students to:
- Reflect on their likes, interests, and experiences.
- Express their identity in a safe, low-pressure way through yes/no choices.
- Understand that everyone has different preferences, and that diversity is normal and respected.
Empathy, Inclusion & Understanding Others
Students develop:
- Awareness of classmates’ interests, backgrounds, and experiences.
- Empathy through noticing who shares common responses and who doesn’t.
- Acceptance of difference by seeing that standing alone or with many peers is equally okay.
Emotional Literacy & Reflection
Through reflection, students learn to:
- Identify emotions that arise when they share similarities or differences with others.
- Recognise feelings of belonging, surprise, connection, or uncertainty.
- Understand how group experiences can impact emotional well-being.
Respectful Classroom Culture & Participation
This activity reinforces:
- A supportive, fun atmosphere where everyone’s contribution is valued.
- Active participation that encourages students to be engaged, observant, and connected.
- Group norms around respecting others’ answers without judgment.
The Superpower of Patience
The Superpower of Patience invites students to slow down and reflect on a time when waiting, breathing, or holding steady made a difference. Through drawing or writing, they explore what patience felt like in the moment, before, during, and after, and how choosing to stay calm or wait their turn helped the situation. This creative reflection helps students recognise patience not just as something adults talk about, but as a real-life skill they already use in friendships, learning, and everyday challenges.
As students share their experiences with a partner, they begin to see how patience shapes positive interactions and supports emotional well-being. Hearing each other’s stories reinforces that everyone faces moments where patience is needed, and that practising it can lead to better outcomes and stronger relationships. The Superpower of Patience is a gentle, thoughtful activity that builds emotional awareness, encourages empathy, and helps students understand that patience is a strength they carry with them, one that can make life feel a little calmer and a lot more connected.
Respectful Relationships
Emotional Literacy & Self-Regulation
This activity helps students to:
- Recognise patience as an emotional strength that helps them manage frustration, waiting, and uncertainty.
- Understand how patient behaviour supports calm, thoughtful responses instead of reactive ones.
- Build awareness of their emotions before, during, and after practising patience.
Positive Relationships & Social Interaction
Through reflection, students learn to:
- Notice how patience makes interactions smoother and more respectful.
- Understand how waiting, taking turns, and giving others time strengthens friendships and trust.
- Appreciate the role patience plays in resolving conflicts and supporting others kindly.
Self-Awareness, Personal Growth & Resilience
This activity encourages students to:
- Reflect on real moments where they showed patience, building insight into their own behaviour.
- Recognise patience as a superpower that helps them handle challenges and grow emotionally.
- Build resilience by understanding that waiting and staying calm can lead to positive outcomes.
Communication, Sharing & Empathy
Students practise:
- Sharing their experiences with a partner and listening respectfully to others’ stories.
- Understanding different situations where patience is needed and how it affects the people involved.
- Developing empathy by seeing how patience supports both themselves and others.
Creativity, Expression & Meaning-Making
This activity allows students to:
- Express their experience of patience through drawing or writing.
- Use creative visuals (such as emotional faces) to communicate how they felt through the process.
- Connect emotions, behaviour, and outcomes in a meaningful and accessible way.
Sparkling Water Meditation
Sparkling Water Meditation invites students into a calming, imaginative adventure designed to help them slow down, breathe deeply, and reconnect with a sense of joy and wonder. As they visualise secret gardens, sparkling waterslides, dolphins, and playful octopuses, students practise mindfulness in a way that feels fun, safe, and emotionally nourishing. The guided journey encourages them to relax their bodies, focus their minds, and experience positive emotions such as excitement, confidence, and calm.
Through gentle storytelling and creative visualisation, students learn how imagination can be a powerful tool for managing stress and building emotional well-being. After returning from the guided adventure, they reflect on how the meditation made them feel, often calmer, lighter, and more energised. Sparkling Water Meditation becomes a coping strategy they can return to anytime they need to reset or soothe big feelings, making mindfulness accessible, enjoyable, and empowering for young learners.
Respectful Relationships
Emotional Literacy & Self-Regulation
This meditation supports students to:
- Recognise and manage strong feelings by using deep breathing and visualisation to calm their bodies and minds.
- Understand how guided imagery can help regulate emotions and reduce stress or overwhelm.
- Build self-awareness by noticing how they feel before, during, and after the meditation experience.
Positive Coping & Personal Well-Being
Through guided relaxation, students learn to:
- Use mindfulness strategies to manage worries, tension, or emotional overload.
- Develop healthy coping habits they can return to whenever they feel stressed or unsure.
- Experience a sense of calm, confidence, and emotional uplift through positive internal imagery.
Imagination, Meaning-Making & Personal Strengths
This activity encourages students to:
- Use their imagination to create a personalised calming space that supports emotional well-being.
- Explore inner strengths such as bravery, joy, optimism, and curiosity through the story’s journey.
- Build confidence by engaging in a positive visualisation where they feel safe, capable, and proud.
Relationships, Empathy & Social Connection
Students also learn to:
- Visualise supportive friendships, teamwork, and connection as they imagine sliding with friends and playful dolphins.
- Recognise the emotional value of safe, trusting relationships, real or imagined, in helping them feel calm and supported.
- Share reflections afterwards, practising listening, empathy, and understanding others’ emotional experiences.
Mindfulness, Calmness & Emotional Safety
This meditation helps students to:
- Build their capacity to slow down, breathe, and find internal calm in moments of challenge.
- Experience emotional safety through a guided, predictable, peaceful narrative.
- Strengthen habits that support mental well-being, grounding, and relaxation in classroom life.
Gratitude Walk
Gratitude Walk is a calm, uplifting activity that encourages students to slow down, notice their surroundings, and reflect on what they appreciate in their lives. As they walk outdoors, whether around the school grounds, a playground, or a nearby natural space, students practise mindfulness by paying attention to small, meaningful details: the warmth of the sun, the colours of the trees, the sound of birds, or the simple joy of walking with friends. This gentle focus on the present moment helps students cultivate a deeper sense of appreciation and emotional well-being.
Throughout the walk, students pause to share something they are grateful for, creating moments of connection and collective positivity. By expressing gratitude out loud, they strengthen their communication skills and begin to recognise how appreciation can brighten their mood and strengthen relationships. Gratitude Walk is a simple, powerful practice that builds mindfulness, joy, and gratitude, reminding students that the world around them is full of things worth noticing and celebrating.
Respectful Relationships
Emotional Literacy & Self-Awareness
This activity supports students to:
- Recognise positive emotions that arise when noticing things they appreciate.
- Develop awareness of how gratitude can shift their mood and mindset.
- Reflect on internal feelings of calm, joy, or connection during the walk.
Positive Coping & Well-Being
Through mindful appreciation, students learn to:
- Use nature-based mindfulness as a strategy to reduce stress and feel grounded.
- Practise slowing down and tuning into the environment to improve emotional regulation.
- Understand that gratitude is a powerful tool for building resilience and optimism.
Social Awareness, Empathy & Relationship Building
The Gratitude Walk promotes connection by helping students to:
- Listen to and appreciate the things others value.
- Recognise similarities in what brings others joy or comfort.
- Build a sense of belonging through shared gratitude moments.
Help-Seeking, Support & Community Strengthening
This activity also reinforces:
- The idea that gratitude fosters positive classroom culture and stronger relationships.
- That expressing appreciation aloud helps others feel seen and valued.
- That supportive environments grow when students recognise and celebrate the good around them.
Mindfulness, Calmness & Emotional Safety
Students practise:
- Being fully present through sensory observation, seeing, hearing, and feeling the environment around them.
- Finding calm in nature and learning how outdoor spaces can become emotional “reset” zones.
- Using gratitude as a grounding practice during moments of stress, worry, or frustration.
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