The School of Play Curriculum
Primary School Grade 3 & 4
Week Twenty brings together teamwork, gratitude, empathy, and physical activity in a powerful combination that strengthens both group dynamics and individual well-being. Students engage in a range of interactive experiences that encourage spontaneous collaboration, emotional reflection, and strategic thinking. Through games like Legs Eleven and Skunk Dice Challenge, participants practice quick decision-making, celebrate collective success, and stay physically active in fun, fast-paced ways. The inclusion of reflective activities, such as Happiness Jar Ideas and Empathy Go Fish, allows students to pause and reflect on the positive moments in their lives, deepening their understanding of gratitude, vulnerability, and emotional connection.
Throughout the week, students are encouraged to lean into both the playful and reflective elements of each activity. They strengthen communication skills, explore personal and shared happiness, and learn to support one another through positive interactions. The balance of movement, laughter, strategy, and empathy helps students build confidence and deepen their sense of belonging within the group. By the end of Week Twenty, participants leave with improved teamwork skills, a greater awareness of their own emotional experiences, and a renewed appreciation for the power of gratitude, empathy, and shared celebration.
Weekly Lessons
Legs Eleven
Legs Eleven is a fast, energetic, and laugh-filled connection starter where groups of three work together to reach a spontaneous collective goal, showing exactly eleven fingers without any prior communication. Each round is a fun mix of chance and instinct, as players choose a number of fingers to hold up on the count of three, hoping their random choices perfectly add up to the magic total. The simplicity of the game creates instant engagement, encouraging players to think quickly, adapt on the spot, and enjoy the unpredictability of the challenge.
When a group successfully hits eleven, the celebration becomes just as important as the achievement. Players erupt into a joyful, over-the-top victory moment that brings energy, laughter, and connection to the room. With fast rounds, no equipment needed, and a focus on teamwork and shared success, Legs Eleven is the perfect activity for warming up a group, breaking the ice, and building a positive, playful atmosphere in any setting.
Respectful Relationships
Communication and Empathy
Legs Eleven supports students to:
- Practise active non-verbal communication, noticing others’ patterns and responding intuitively even without speaking.
- Show awareness of group needs, adjusting their choices to help the team reach the goal of eleven fingers.
- Celebrate teammates’ success, showing empathy and appreciation for everyone’s contribution regardless of who “got it right.”
Cooperation and Social Skills
Legs Eleven helps students to:
- Work cooperatively as a team, contributing a number that helps the group reach the collective goal.
- Use fairness and kindness, ensuring everyone takes part, supports each other, and enjoys the game together.
- Share in moments of appreciation, acknowledging when their team succeeds and celebrating the effort put in by all.
Safety and Acceptance
Legs Eleven encourages students to:
- Create a safe and joyful atmosphere, where celebrating loudly and enthusiastically helps everyone feel included and valued.
- Accept differences in choices and outcomes, recognising that each player may approach their decision differently and that this diversity strengthens teamwork.
- Promote equality within the group, as every player contributes equally and has the same chance to help the team succeed.
Happiness Jar Ideas
Happiness Jar Ideas invites students to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the small moments that brighten their lives. Through writing down simple joys, like a laugh with a friend, a proud achievement, or a peaceful moment, students begin to notice and appreciate the positive experiences that might otherwise pass by unnoticed. This gentle reflection helps them build gratitude, boost their well-being, and understand that happiness often comes from everyday moments rather than grand events.
Once students record their happy memories, they add them to a real or imagined Happiness Jar, creating a growing collection of joyful reminders. Sharing these moments with a partner or group strengthens social connection and spreads positivity throughout the classroom. Happiness Jar Ideas encourages students to celebrate joy, appreciate the good in their lives, and recognise the power of sharing happiness with others.
Respectful Relationships
Communication and Empathy
Happiness Jar Ideas supports students to:
- Share positive feelings and experiences, helping others understand what brings them joy.
- Listen actively and empathetically when classmates share their happy memories.
- Recognise the emotional impact of happiness, understanding how joy can spread and influence those around them.
Cooperation and Social Skills
Happiness Jar Ideas helps students to:
- Participate respectfully in group discussions, celebrating each other’s happy moments.
- Strengthen social connections by contributing to a shared jar, wall, or discussion that highlights collective joy.
- Encourage kindness and support, as students learn how sharing happiness can uplift peers and build a positive classroom culture.
Safety and Acceptance
Happiness Jar Ideas encourages students to:
- Create an emotionally safe environment, where sharing happy moments feels comfortable and valued.
- Appreciate differences in what brings others joy, learning that everyone’s experiences and sources of happiness are unique and important.
- Promote a sense of belonging, contributing to a group activity that celebrates the positive moments within the whole class or team.
Skunk Dice Challenge
Skunk Dice Challenge is a high-energy mix of strategy, movement, and risk-taking where players roll dice to build up points, while trying to avoid the dreaded “one.” Each roll brings both opportunity and danger: players must decide whether to bank their points or push their luck and roll again. Along the way, they perform exercises based on the numbers rolled, turning every turn into a blend of fitness, focus, and fast decision-making. The combination of mental calculation and physical movement keeps the game exciting, unpredictable, and engaging from start to finish.
As teams progress through the S-K-U-N-K rounds, they experience the thrill of scoring big, the disappointment of rolling a “one,” and the fun of working together to complete exercises and strategise their next move. The game naturally builds teamwork, communication, and friendly competition as partners cheer each other on, choose when to take risks, and celebrate successful rounds. Skunk Dice Challenge is the perfect blend of fitness, numeracy, and fun, an energising activity that strengthens both body and mind while keeping players laughing, moving, and fully engaged.
Respectful Relationships
Communication and Empathy
Skunk Dice Challenge supports students to:
- Communicate clearly with teammates when calculating scores, deciding whether to roll again, or completing exercises.
- Listen actively to team members’ ideas and strategies, showing understanding and encouragement.
- Recognise how emotions such as excitement, disappointment, and anticipation affect themselves and others during the game.
Cooperation and Social Skills
Skunk Dice Challenge helps students to:
- Work together by making shared decisions about risk-taking, point strategies, and exercise completion.
- Support and motivate one another through each round, building trust and strengthening group teamwork.
- Demonstrate fairness, respect, and positive sportsmanship, celebrating their team’s efforts regardless of the outcome.
Safety and Acceptance
Skunk Dice Challenge encourages students to:
- Create a safe and supportive space where everyone can participate confidently in both the fitness and strategy elements.
- Accept mistakes, such as rolling a “one”, as part of the game, normalising setbacks and encouraging resilience.
- Appreciate that all team members contribute in different ways, valuing diverse strengths such as speed, strategy, maths skills, or encouragement.
Empathy Go Fish
Empathy Go Fish is a powerful twist on the classic card game, designed to gently guide players into meaningful conversations about empathy, vulnerability, and personal growth. As players make matches, they respond to reflective prompts that invite them to share real experiences, moments of kindness, courage, challenge, pride, and support. The game transforms simple card-matching into an opportunity for emotional awareness, encouraging players to reflect on their feelings, recognise their strengths, and explore times when they have been vulnerable or shown empathy toward others.
Through shared storytelling and active listening, players build deeper emotional connections in a safe, supportive environment. The focus is not on competition but on understanding and connection, helping participants practise empathy, develop self-awareness, and strengthen relationships. Whether used in classrooms, workshops, or support-focused sessions, Empathy Go Fish creates a warm, inclusive atmosphere where players feel seen, heard, and valued.
Respectful Relationships
Communication and Empathy
Empathy Go Fish supports students to:
- Share personal experiences of vulnerability, kindness, and personal growth in a thoughtful and respectful way.
- Listen deeply and without judgment as classmates describe moments of challenge, support, or emotional learning.
- Recognise and understand the emotions of others by hearing real stories of empathy, courage, and connection.
- Build emotional awareness by reflecting on how their own experiences have shaped who they are.
Cooperation and Social Skills
Empathy Go Fish helps students to:
- Participate respectfully in turn-taking gameplay while engaging in meaningful conversation.
- Strengthen social connections by sharing authentic experiences during matched pairs.
- Encourage and support classmates as they answer vulnerable prompts, fostering trust and positive group relationships.
- Work collaboratively when played in teams, helping one another form pairs and reflect on shared themes.
Safety and Acceptance
Empathy Go Fish encourages students to:
- Create an emotionally safe environment where sharing vulnerable moments feels valued and supported.
- Appreciate that everyone’s life experiences, emotions, and challenges are different, and all are valid.
- Develop a sense of belonging by engaging in a shared activity that celebrates openness, honesty, and emotional connection.
- Normalise conversations about emotions, making it easier for students to seek help or express themselves in future.
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