The School of Play Curriculum
Primary School Grade 5 & 6
Week Five blends teamwork, physical activity, and creative expression to help students strengthen their connections, sharpen their thinking, and enjoy working together toward shared goals. Through collaborative games and quick-thinking challenges, students learn how to communicate clearly, support one another, and strategise as a team. High-energy movement activities build coordination and fitness, while encouraging students to work cooperatively, celebrate small wins, and stay focused in fun, fast-paced situations.
This week also gives students the opportunity to express themselves creatively and reflect on their role within the group. By drawing, sharing, and discussing personal insights, students gain a deeper understanding of what they bring to the team and what they need from others to thrive. Combined with physical challenges that require planning, trust, and adaptability, Week Five strengthens teamwork, self-awareness, and group cohesion, creating a positive, collaborative environment where every student feels valued and involved.
Courses
Three is a Crowd
Three is a Crowd is a fast-paced, cooperative counting challenge that strengthens teamwork, focus, and communication. Players work together to count as high as possible, but must stay alert for the special “buzz” numbers, multiples of four and any number containing the digit four. Instead of saying those numbers, players stand up and say “buzz,” requiring quick thinking, concentration, and group coordination to keep the count going. Any mistake resets the round, giving the team a chance to reflect before trying again.
The beauty of Three is a Crowd lies in how it transforms a simple counting game into a powerful connection and collaboration activity. As players support each other, communicate clearly, and celebrate small wins, they strengthen social bonds and practise cooperative problem-solving. The game can be adapted for larger groups, new categories, or advanced challenges, making it versatile for classrooms, staff sessions, or team-building events. Filled with laughter, focus, and shared achievement, Three is a Crowd is an engaging way to build teamwork and cognitive agility.
Respectful Relationships
1. Emotional Literacy
- Encourages awareness of emotions through laughter, fun, and light-hearted teamwork.
- Builds empathy as students experience shared success and frustration together when mistakes occur.
- Promotes understanding and expression of emotions such as excitement, nervousness, and pride as the group progresses through the count.
2. Personal Strengths
- Highlights perseverance and concentration as students work to remember and apply the ‘buzz’ rules.
- Encourages recognition of personal strengths such as memory, focus, and patience.
- Builds confidence as students contribute to the team’s success and celebrate milestones together.
3. Positive Coping
- Teaches resilience when mistakes happen by normalising restarts and replacing frustration with laughter.
- Reinforces positive self-talk and group encouragement when the count resets.
- Encourages students to stay positive and composed in the face of setbacks.
4. Problem Solving
- Develops quick decision-making and cognitive flexibility as rules evolve with group size.
- Requires critical listening and adaptation to changing conditions in the game.
- Encourages collective problem-solving as the team works together to identify patterns and strategies.
5. Stress Management
- Builds calm responses in high-pressure moments where focus and timing are key.
- Encourages playful self-regulation through movement and laughter, reducing stress.
- Helps students experience and manage mild tension in a fun, safe environment.
6. Help-Seeking
- Promotes peer support, as players assist others who forget or miss a ‘buzz.’
- Normalises asking for help and learning from each other’s mistakes without judgment.
- Reinforces a supportive group culture where cooperation is valued over competition.
7. Gender and Identity
- Provides an inclusive, non-competitive space where all voices are equal and valued.
- Allows students to participate and express themselves freely through action and play.
- Breaks down stereotypes by focusing on shared contribution rather than individual dominance.
8. Positive Gender Relations
- Builds respect and cooperation through shared goals and mutual encouragement.
- Reinforces fairness, turn-taking, and positive communication between participants.
- Strengthens understanding that everyone’s input matters in achieving collective success.
Four Quadrant Fun
Four Quadrant Fun is a creative and reflective team-building activity that invites participants to express themselves through simple drawings. By dividing a page into four quadrants and illustrating their responses to thoughtful personal questions, players explore who they are, what they need, and what they bring to a group. The drawing-only rule levels the playing field, encouraging creativity, reducing pressure, and allowing participants to communicate ideas, feelings, and personal stories in a non-verbal, engaging way.
Once the drawings are shared, the activity becomes a powerful tool for connection, understanding, and group cohesion. Whether shared in the full group or in smaller teams, participants gain insight into one another’s strengths, interests, and visions, creating a deeper sense of empathy and belonging. The displayed artworks become a visual reflection of the group’s collective identity and aspirations. Adaptable for classrooms, staff teams, or sports groups, and even customisable with alternate creative materials, Four Quadrant Fun is an accessible, meaningful way to build community and spark rich, reflective conversation.
Respectful Relationships
1. Emotional Literacy
- Encourages students to express and communicate feelings visually, expanding emotional vocabulary through imagery.
- Builds self-awareness by prompting reflection on personal needs, emotions, and visions.
- Fosters empathy as students interpret and respond to peers’ drawings with curiosity and understanding.
2. Personal Strengths
- Promotes recognition of individual strengths, talents, and unique contributions to the group.
- Encourages self-confidence by highlighting what each student “brings” to the class or team.
- Supports appreciation of others’ strengths, reinforcing respect and admiration for diversity within the group.
3. Positive Coping
- Provides a creative outlet for students to express feelings and ideas safely, supporting emotional regulation.
- Encourages mindfulness and relaxation through art, reducing stress and promoting focus.
- Reinforces positive thinking and self-expression as healthy coping strategies in social settings.
4. Problem Solving
- Engages students in reflective problem-solving as they consider personal and collective needs within the group.
- Encourages creative thinking to visually represent complex ideas or emotions.
- Builds communication skills through discussion, helping students articulate solutions to shared challenges.
5. Stress Management
- Offers a calm, enjoyable, and low-pressure creative activity that supports relaxation and emotional balance.
- Encourages students to use drawing as a strategy for managing thoughts and emotions.
- Builds comfort with self-expression, helping reduce anxiety about sharing personal reflections.
6. Help-Seeking
- Promotes a culture of openness and trust where students can share needs and ask for support from peers.
- Normalises expressing what one needs from the group, reinforcing healthy communication patterns.
- Encourages listening and responding supportively to others’ requests for help or understanding.
7. Gender and Identity
- Provides an inclusive, identity-affirming space for students to express individuality and personal stories.
- Encourages respect for diverse perspectives, experiences, and interests.
- Allows freedom from stereotypes by focusing on self-expression and creativity rather than comparison or competition.
8. Positive Gender Relations
- Builds respect and understanding through shared storytelling and attentive listening.
- Reinforces fairness, empathy, and appreciation of differences during group sharing.
- Strengthens class unity by encouraging mutual respect, acceptance, and kindness in discussions and displays.
Dice Combos
Dice Combos is a high-energy partner workout that blends fitness, strategy, and teamwork into one fast-paced game. Working in pairs, players roll dice to complete numbered sequences before sprinting to the points station, where they earn scores by rolling two-digit combinations and completing the corresponding exercises. Each movement requires shared effort, with partners splitting repetitions and strategising whether to go for higher-rep, higher-point combinations or faster, lower-rep bursts. The constant rotation between static holds, dice rolls, movement, and teamwork keeps every minute engaging and physically challenging.
As the game unfolds, communication and cooperation become essential to performing well and maximising scores within the ten-minute limit. Partners must coordinate their decisions, support each other through tough exercises, and adapt their strategy on the fly to optimise points without burning out. The result is a dynamic workout experience that builds endurance, strengthens relationships, and adds a playful, competitive twist to traditional fitness activities. Adaptable for children, athletes, or team-building groups, Dice Combos is an exciting and versatile way to promote physical activity, strategic thinking, and collaborative problem-solving.
Respectful Relationships
1. Emotional Literacy
- Encourages students to recognise feelings of excitement, challenge, and achievement during physical play.
- Builds awareness of emotions that arise from teamwork, competition, and shared success or setbacks.
- Promotes empathy and emotional regulation as partners support one another through demanding exercises.
2. Personal Strengths
- Highlights physical and mental strengths such as endurance, resilience, and determination.
- Encourages students to notice and celebrate their own and their partner’s strengths in communication, strategy, and persistence.
- Builds confidence as students contribute effort and skill to achieve team success.
3. Positive Coping
- Teaches students to stay positive and composed under physical and time-based pressure.
- Reinforces persistence and a growth mindset when mistakes or fatigue occur.
- Promotes supportive self-talk and partner encouragement as strategies for overcoming challenge.
4. Problem Solving
- Develops critical and strategic thinking as pairs decide how to maximise points and efficiency.
- Encourages collaborative decision-making to balance risk and reward when choosing exercises.
- Strengthens communication and reasoning as students evaluate and adapt their strategies in real time.
5. Stress Management
- Provides an active outlet for managing physical energy and emotional stress through movement.
- Encourages calm focus and breathing techniques during high-intensity challenges.
- Helps students recognise signs of physical or mental fatigue and apply healthy ways to regulate and recover.
6. Help-Seeking
- Normalises asking for help or clarification from a partner during challenging tasks.
- Reinforces teamwork through mutual support, cooperation, and encouragement.
- Builds trust as students rely on and assist one another to complete exercises safely and effectively.
7. Gender and Identity
- Provides an inclusive environment where strength, fitness, and strategy are celebrated equally among all students.
- Challenges gender stereotypes by valuing cooperation, communication, and fairness over competition or dominance.
- Encourages mutual respect and appreciation of diverse abilities and contributions.
8. Positive Gender Relations
- Builds respectful interactions through fair play, shared goals, and equal participation.
- Reinforces communication that is supportive, respectful, and encouraging between partners.
- Strengthens group harmony and positive connections built on mutual trust and teamwork.
Dice Eliminator Partner Challenge
Dice Eliminator Partner Challenge is a fast-paced, cooperative game that blends teamwork, strategy, and physical activity into one engaging experience. Working in pairs, players roll two dice, complete the corresponding challenge linked to the total, and eliminate numbers from 2 to 12 on their game sheet. Each roll brings a new task, ranging from physical movements to fun problem-solving challenges, requiring partners to communicate, support one another, and stay fully engaged. The constant mix of action and teamwork makes every moment energetic and unpredictable, keeping players motivated as they try to eliminate all numbers before other teams.
Success in the game relies heavily on strategic thinking, collaboration, and persistence. Teams must decide the best approach to completing each challenge efficiently while maintaining a positive and cooperative partnership. If they roll a number already completed, a quick star jump keeps the energy high before trying again. The race to clear the entire sheet encourages communication, laughter, and active participation, making this game ideal for fitness sessions, classrooms, or team-building environments. Adaptable for educational, fitness, or collaborative settings, Dice Eliminator Partner Challenge offers a fun, versatile, and highly interactive way to build teamwork and physical engagement.
Respectful Relationships
1. Emotional Literacy
- Encourages awareness of emotions such as excitement, frustration, and accomplishment during gameplay.
- Builds empathy as students experience and respond to their partner’s emotions throughout the challenges.
- Promotes regulation and positive expression of feelings through active play, communication, and reflection on teamwork outcomes.
2. Personal Strengths
- Highlights individual and shared strengths such as persistence, adaptability, and problem-solving.
- Encourages students to recognise what they and their partner bring to the team, whether it’s leadership, focus, humour, or encouragement.
- Builds confidence through shared success and acknowledgment of effort and determination.
3. Positive Coping
- Helps students practise resilience when rolls don’t go their way or challenges are repeated.
- Reinforces maintaining a positive attitude, laughter, and teamwork under pressure.
- Encourages constructive coping strategies like cheering each other on or resetting calmly after setbacks.
4. Problem Solving
- Strengthens critical thinking as students strategise the best ways to eliminate numbers efficiently.
- Encourages pairs to discuss, plan, and adapt tactics collaboratively.
- Promotes analytical thinking through quick mental calculations and evaluating challenge options.
5. Stress Management
- Teaches students to stay calm, composed, and focused while managing the excitement and competition of the game.\
- Provides a fun, physical outlet for energy and tension through movement and laughter.
- Encourages self-regulation and mindfulness during active play, especially when faced with repetition or difficulty.
6. Help-Seeking
- Normalises asking for clarification or assistance from peers or teachers when unsure of a rule or challenge.
- Encourages peer support and cooperative encouragement within teams and between groups.
- Reinforces that seeking help and offering guidance are part of positive, respectful collaboration.
7. Gender and Identity
- Fosters inclusivity and equal participation by pairing students in mixed teams where all contributions are valued.
- Promotes respect and fairness, breaking down stereotypes around competition, strength, or ability.
- Encourages every student, regardless of identity, to take on equal roles in communication, strategy, and physical activity.
8. Positive Gender Relations
- Builds mutual respect through shared effort, communication, and trust between partners.
- Reinforces positive language, encouragement, and sportsmanship throughout the game.
- Strengthens understanding of teamwork based on equality, fairness, and kindness, not dominance or comparison.
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