The School of Play Curriculum
Primary School Grade 5 & 6
Week Fifteen brings together high-energy movement, teamwork, creative expression, and personal reflection to help students grow physically, socially, and emotionally. Through fast-paced games like Left Right Up Down, students sharpen quick decision-making, agility, and coordination while practising encouragement and good sportsmanship. The physical challenges energise the group and set a fun, connected tone for the session. Students then shift into deeper self-reflection with My Superpowers, identifying the strengths, values, and qualities that make them unique. By designing a superhero character based on these traits, students learn to celebrate who they are and recognise the power of their individual gifts, while also appreciating the strengths of those around them.
The week continues with activities that blend teamwork, creativity, and meaningful dialogue. Four Corners Dice pushes students to work collaboratively, combining fitness challenges with problem-solving as they move around the room completing tasks and supporting their teammates. To conclude, Dice Connection Starter provides a creative space for students to express themselves through drawing, storytelling, or poetry, building deeper connections as they share personal experiences. Together, these activities nurture confidence, communication, self-awareness, and cooperation, helping students grow stronger as individuals and as a community.
Courses
Left Right Up Down
Left Right Up Down is a fast-paced, high-energy partner game that blends quick thinking with physical movement. Players face off in a fun directional challenge where one person points left, right, up, or down while the other moves their head in a chosen direction, creating a split-second moment of suspense. Whether the directions match or not, the result leads to immediate physical activity, keeping the game lively and engaging. This simple structure creates a playful mix of anticipation, reaction, and laughter.
With options that include stationary play or a running variation, the game can easily shift from a warm-up to a full-body fitness challenge. It encourages friendly competition, teamwork, and social interaction, as partners cheer each other on through squats, push-ups, or other chosen exercises. Left Right Up Down is an energetic and adaptable activity perfect for boosting movement, sharpening decision-making, and building connection in any group setting.
Respectful Relationships
1. Emotional Literacy
- Encourages recognition and regulation of emotions such as excitement, surprise, and enjoyment during fast-paced gameplay.
- Builds empathy and awareness as students respond to and connect with their partner’s energy and reactions.
- Promotes emotional expression through shared laughter, play, and positive communication.
2. Personal Strengths
- Highlights quick thinking, focus, and coordination as personal strengths developed through the activity.
- Encourages perseverance and adaptability when mistakes or mismatches occur.
- Builds confidence as students experience success and improvement through effort and teamwork.
3. Positive Coping
- Reinforces humour, connection, and physical play as effective strategies for managing stress or frustration.
- Promotes resilience and optimism when outcomes don’t go as planned.
- Encourages maintaining a positive attitude and sportsmanship in competitive settings.
4. Problem Solving
- Develops quick decision-making and adaptability through rapid directional responses.
- Encourages cognitive flexibility as students adjust strategies and anticipate their partner’s moves.
- Strengthens teamwork and communication when pairs discuss tactics or share encouragement.
5. Stress Management
- Provides a fun, movement-based outlet for energy release and stress reduction.
- Reinforces mindfulness and focus by requiring attention to timing, coordination, and rhythm.
- Promotes laughter and social connection as natural tools for emotional regulation.
6. Help-Seeking
- Normalises learning collaboratively and seeking clarification about rules or strategies.
- Encourages positive peer interaction through feedback, cooperation, and shared fun.
- Reinforces trust and respect between partners as they support one another through active play.
7. Gender and Identity
- Promotes inclusivity and equality by valuing participation, effort, and communication over competition or skill.
- Encourages authentic self-expression through movement, creativity, and laughter.
- Challenges stereotypes by creating a shared space where all students can lead, play, and succeed equally.
8. Positive Gender Relations
- Builds respect, empathy, and kindness through cooperative interaction and encouragement.
- Reinforces fair play, active listening, and appreciation of effort as the foundation of respectful relationships.
- Strengthens group connection by creating a joyful, inclusive environment that celebrates teamwork and shared energy.
My Superpowers
My Superpowers is a reflective and creative activity designed to help students recognise and celebrate their unique strengths. Through guided prompts, students identify their skills, values, talents, and character traits, their personal “superpowers”, and reflect on how these qualities support them in everyday life. This process builds self-awareness and encourages students to take pride in who they are, fostering confidence and a strong, positive sense of identity.
Students then bring their superpowers to life by creating a superhero character that represents their unique abilities. Using drawings, symbols, and creative design elements, they transform their strengths into superhuman features, empowering them to visualise the best version of themselves. My Superpowers is a joyful and uplifting activity that promotes confidence, creativity, and meaningful self-reflection, while also providing opportunities to share, celebrate, and appreciate the strengths of others in the group.
Respectful Relationships
1. Emotional Literacy
- Encourages students to recognise and articulate their emotions related to pride, confidence, and self-worth.
- Builds empathy as students appreciate the diverse strengths and values of their peers.
- Promotes emotional awareness through reflection on how personal qualities influence actions and relationships.
2. Personal Strengths
- Highlights and celebrates individual skills, values, and character traits as sources of personal power.
- Encourages students to recognise how their unique strengths contribute to success, happiness, and positive relationships.
- Builds self-confidence and a positive self-image by identifying and creatively expressing personal qualities.
3. Positive Coping
- Reinforces self-belief and optimism as powerful coping strategies during challenges.
- Encourages students to use their identified strengths (e.g., resilience, courage, kindness) to manage difficulties.
- Promotes gratitude and self-compassion by focusing on what makes each student capable and unique.
4. Problem Solving
- Develops reflective thinking by linking personal strengths to real-life problem-solving and growth.
- Encourages students to consider how their “superpowers” can be applied to overcome obstacles or help others.
- Promotes creative thinking and self-reflection as tools for understanding and improving daily interactions.
5. Stress Management
- Builds emotional resilience by helping students recognise inner strengths they can rely on in stressful situations.
- Encourages mindfulness and calm reflection through self-awareness activities.
- Reinforces that self-acceptance and positive self-talk are healthy ways to manage pressure and uncertainty.
6. Help-Seeking
- Normalises discussing personal qualities and seeking encouragement from peers and teachers.
- Reinforces that sharing strengths and vulnerabilities with others fosters connection and trust.
- Encourages students to see help-seeking as a courageous act aligned with self-awareness and personal growth.
7. Gender and Identity
- Promotes inclusivity and equality by celebrating diverse abilities, values, and forms of self-expression.
- Encourages authentic identity formation by allowing students to define what makes them strong and unique.
- Challenges stereotypes by showing that empathy, creativity, and resilience are universal superpowers for all genders.
8. Positive Gender Relations
- Builds mutual respect and appreciation as students celebrate each other’s strengths.
- Reinforces kindness, fairness, and empathy through shared storytelling and positive acknowledgment.
- Strengthens classroom community by fostering an environment of encouragement, affirmation, and pride.
Four Corners Dice
Four Corners Dice is a fast-paced team game that blends physical activity with quick thinking and collaboration. As teams rotate through the four corners of the room, they roll a dice at each station to reveal a movement challenge and a question they must answer together. This combination of physical effort and mental engagement creates an energetic atmosphere where teamwork, communication, and focus are essential.
The aim is to complete as many full laps of the four corners as possible within the set time, with each lap earning a point. Whether teams are running, hopping, skipping, or crawling between corners, the game keeps everyone moving, thinking, and working together. Four Corners Dice is a highly adaptable activity perfect for fitness sessions, classrooms, staff workshops, or team-building environments, offering a fun and dynamic way to build coordination, connection, and problem-solving skills.
Respectful Relationships
1. Emotional Literacy
- Encourages students to recognise and manage feelings of excitement, anticipation, and teamwork during fast-paced group activity.
- Builds empathy and awareness as students cooperate, listen, and respond to one another during challenges.
- Promotes positive emotional expression through shared laughter, communication, and encouragement.
2. Personal Strengths
- Highlights teamwork, leadership, and persistence as personal strengths contributing to success.
- Encourages self-confidence as students take on different roles within their teams and contribute ideas.
- Builds awareness of how individual strengths (e.g., quick thinking, coordination, communication) enhance group outcomes.
3. Positive Coping
- Reinforces perseverance and resilience when faced with challenging physical or mental tasks.
- Encourages positive self-talk and team encouragement as strategies to stay motivated.
- Promotes enjoyment and laughter as healthy outlets for managing energy and competition.
4. Problem Solving
- Develops critical and creative thinking as teams collaborate to answer questions and complete movements efficiently.
- Encourages decision-making and adaptability in responding to dice outcomes and challenges.
- Strengthens communication and cooperation through shared reasoning and teamwork under time constraints.
5. Stress Management
- Provides an active, movement-based outlet to reduce stress and promote wellbeing.
- Reinforces calm focus and teamwork during rapid decision-making.
- Promotes mindfulness through body awareness, teamwork, and physical engagement in a fun context.
6. Help-Seeking
- Normalises asking teammates for help when solving questions or completing tasks.
- Encourages clear communication and supportive collaboration within teams.
- Reinforces that seeking assistance strengthens teamwork and trust.
7. Gender and Identity
- Promotes inclusivity and equality by ensuring all students can contribute regardless of ability or background.
- Encourages confidence and authentic participation in a supportive, non-judgmental environment.
- Challenges stereotypes by celebrating cooperation, intelligence, and physical ability equally among all participants.
8. Positive Gender Relations
- Builds respectful interactions through shared effort, fairness, and empathy.
- Reinforces positive sportsmanship and teamwork between peers of all genders.
- Strengthens group cohesion and respect through encouragement, communication, and shared achievement.
Dice Connection Starter
Dice Connection Starter is a reflective, creative, and connection-building activity designed to help participants learn more about themselves and one another. By rolling a dice to select questions from four different categories, players explore personal experiences, values, memories, and aspirations. They then express their answers creatively, through drawing, storytelling, poetry, or another artistic medium, encouraging deeper self-awareness and imaginative self-expression.
Once participants have created their chosen piece, they share it within a small group, transforming the game into a powerful tool for connection, communication, and vulnerability. Dice Connection Starter promotes a supportive and inclusive environment where group members gain meaningful insights into each other’s lives. It’s a versatile activity ideal for classrooms, workshops, team-building, or youth programs, fostering empathy, creativity, and stronger social bonds.
Respectful Relationships
1. Emotional Literacy
- Encourages students to identify and articulate emotions connected to personal experiences and reflections.
- Builds empathy by allowing students to listen to and appreciate the unique stories, thoughts, and creative expressions of others.
- Promotes emotional awareness through self-reflection and sharing in a safe, supportive environment.
2. Personal Strengths
- Highlights creativity, self-expression, and reflection as valuable personal strengths.
- Encourages recognition of individual qualities, talents, and experiences that make each student unique.
- Builds confidence and self-awareness as students share personal stories and insights with their peers.
3. Positive Coping
- Reinforces reflection, creativity, and communication as healthy outlets for emotional expression.
- Encourages gratitude and optimism by prompting students to focus on meaningful experiences and connections.
- Promotes vulnerability and openness as positive, strength-based approaches to connection and understanding.
4. Problem Solving
- Develops critical and creative thinking as students choose how to interpret and express their responses.
- Encourages self-reflection as a form of internal problem-solving and personal growth.
- Promotes listening and understanding as tools for resolving misunderstanding and fostering stronger connections.
5. Stress Management
- Provides a calm, reflective space for mindfulness and emotional processing through creative expression.
- Reinforces the use of storytelling, drawing, and writing as methods for relaxation and emotional release.
- Encourages positive connection and laughter, which help reduce stress and promote wellbeing.
6. Help-Seeking
- Normalises sharing personal experiences and feelings as part of building trust and mutual understanding.
- Encourages supportive peer relationships through active listening and empathy.
- Reinforces that openness and communication help strengthen relationships and create emotional safety.
7. Gender and Identity
- Promotes inclusivity and equality by valuing each student’s authentic self-expression and story.
- Encourages confidence in identity formation through reflection on personal experiences and values.
- Challenges stereotypes by providing an open platform for diverse perspectives and creative expression.
8. Positive Gender Relations
- Builds mutual respect, understanding, and appreciation through shared storytelling and reflection.
- Reinforces kindness, empathy, and fairness in group communication and feedback.
- Strengthens class culture by celebrating individuality while fostering unity and connection.
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