The School of Play Curriculum
Primary School Grade 5 & 6
This week weaves together play, physical activity, emotional reflection, and cognitive challenge to create a rich, whole-child learning experience. Students begin with lively group play in Walk, Stop, Name, Clap, Jump, Dance, where quick thinking, coordination, and laughter set the tone for an energetic and connected start to the week. They then shift into thoughtful self-reflection in Looking Back, Looking Forward, using guided prompts to celebrate their achievements and set meaningful goals. This calm, reflective moment helps students recognise their growth and builds confidence in their ability to improve and dream big.
The week continues with playful competition in Chair Tennis, which boosts reflexes, hand-eye coordination, adaptability, and sportsmanship, followed by Roll Emoji Bingo, a gentle and joyful activity that strengthens emotional awareness and communication. By sharing real experiences linked to different emotions, students develop empathy, connection, and the ability to talk about their feelings safely and openly. This week blends physical, cognitive, and emotional learning, helping students understand that success comes from movement, reflection, resilience, and meaningful relationships. Through play and purpose, students finish the week with clearer goals, stronger self-awareness, and deeper connections with their peers.
Courses
Walk, Stop, Name, Clap, Jump, Dance
Walk, Stop, Name, Clap, Jump, Dance is a high-energy icebreaker that builds instant connection, laughter, and engagement across groups of any size. As the game progresses through multiple levels, familiar commands are reversed, swapped, or completely redefined, challenging students to stay focused, adapt quickly, and react with confidence. This escalating chaos creates a playful atmosphere where participants learn to think on their feet, develop cognitive flexibility, and strengthen their physical coordination and reaction skills. The shared unpredictability naturally sparks fun, trust, and creative expression, making it a powerful way to open any session.
Beyond the fun, the game fosters strong social interaction, teamwork, and a supportive group dynamic. Students must listen carefully, respond accurately, and encourage one another as the levels become more challenging. With no winners or losers, the emphasis remains on enjoyment, connection, and letting go of self-consciousness. By the end of the activity, students feel more relaxed, energised, and connected, having built meaningful rapport through shared laughter and collective success.
Respectful Relationships
1. Emotional Literacy
- Encourages awareness of emotions through laughter, fun, and play.
- Students learn to regulate emotions while adapting to new and confusing instructions.
- Builds empathy and connection by sharing positive emotions in a group setting.
2. Personal Strengths
- Promotes perseverance and focus as instructions become more complex.
- Encourages students to recognise strengths such as adaptability, listening, and teamwork.
- Provides opportunities for students to feel confident and celebrate success through participation.
3. Positive Coping
- Teaches resilience and a positive attitude when mistakes happen, laughter replaces frustration.
- Helps students practise coping with change and unpredictability in a safe, playful context.
4. Problem Solving
- Requires critical thinking and quick decision-making as rules reverse and evolve.
- Students must listen carefully, process information, and respond under pressure.
5. Stress Management
- Builds comfort in high-energy situations, supporting calm responses under pressure.
- Encourages self-regulation through movement and laughter, which reduces stress.
6. Help-Seeking
- Fosters peer support, students often help or model actions for others who get confused.
- Normalises seeking and giving help in a non-judgmental, cooperative environment.
7. Gender and Identity
- Provides an inclusive, non-competitive environment where everyone participates equally.
- Allows students to express themselves freely through movement and creativity without stereotypes.
8. Positive Gender Relations
- Builds respectful group dynamics where all voices and actions are valued.
- Reinforces the idea of fairness, mutual respect, and kindness during shared play.
Looking Back Looking Forward
Looking Back, Looking Forward is a reflective activity designed to help students pause, acknowledge their achievements, and recognise the strengths that shaped their past year. Through guided questions, students explore the moments they are proud of, the qualities they value in themselves, and the ways they have grown. This process supports self-awareness, gratitude, and confidence, giving participants space to celebrate who they are and how far they have come. Whether completed individually or in small groups, the activity provides a meaningful way for students to deepen their understanding of their personal journey.
The second half of the activity shifts the focus toward future growth, encouraging students to set clear, realistic, and purposeful goals for the year ahead. By identifying what they want to achieve and why, students build motivation and direction, laying the groundwork for positive development. Sharing reflections in a supportive group setting can strengthen connection and trust, but the activity is equally powerful as a private exercise. Overall, Looking Back, Looking Forward nurtures resilience, optimism, and intentionality, helping students recognise their strengths while shaping a hopeful vision for what comes next.
Respectful Relationships
1. Emotional Literacy
- Encourages students to recognise and express their feelings about past experiences.
- Builds emotional awareness by identifying emotions tied to personal achievements and goals.
- Supports empathy and connection when sharing reflections with peers.
2. Personal Strengths
- Promotes self-awareness by helping students identify strengths and qualities they value in themselves.
- Encourages recognition of how these strengths contribute to success and future aspirations.
- Fosters confidence and pride in individual growth.
3. Positive Coping
- Supports a growth mindset by reflecting on challenges overcome and lessons learned.
- Encourages students to view mistakes as opportunities for learning and future improvement.
4. Problem Solving
- Involves setting achievable goals that require planning and decision-making.
- Promotes critical and creative thinking around personal growth and self-improvement.
5. Stress Management
- Provides a calm, reflective space for students to process emotions and manage self-expectations.
- Encourages forward thinking, reducing anxiety by creating a clear sense of direction.
6. Help-Seeking
- Normalises seeking feedback, guidance, or encouragement from teachers, peers, or family while setting goals.
- Promotes supportive discussions around shared experiences and personal growth.
7. Gender and Identity
- Allows students to express their individuality and identity through reflection.
- Encourages respect for diverse perspectives and personal journeys when shared in groups.
8. Positive Gender Relations
- Builds respectful communication through sharing reflections and listening to others’ experiences.
- Reinforces mutual understanding, encouragement, and appreciation within the group.
Chair Tennis
Chair Tennis is a fast, simple, and highly engaging game that develops students’ hand-eye coordination, reflexes, and accuracy through fun, small-space gameplay. With only a chair and a ball, students take turns performing controlled underarm tosses, aiming to bounce the ball over the chair and land it between the chair and their opponent. The setup is intentionally minimal, making the game perfect for classrooms, hallways, or indoor spaces where movement is limited. This playful challenge promotes quick reactions, precision, and focus while providing plenty of opportunities for friendly competition and laughter.
Beyond developing physical skills, Chair Tennis reinforces sportsmanship, adaptability, and inclusive play. Students learn to respect their opponent, celebrate great shots, and handle both winning and losing with positivity. With multiple variations, such as softer balls for younger players, increased difficulty for competitive groups, or adapted setups to support different physical abilities, the game encourages creativity and problem-solving as students adjust rules to suit their needs. Chair Tennis is a versatile, fun-filled activity that strengthens coordination, promotes fair play, and ensures everyone stays active and engaged.
Respectful Relationships
1. Emotional Literacy
- Encourages students to recognise and manage emotions during competitive play.
- Builds emotional awareness through handling both success and disappointment respectfully.
- Promotes positive emotional expression through laughter, encouragement, and teamwork.
2. Personal Strengths
- Develops persistence, focus, and coordination as students refine their physical and mental skills.
- Reinforces self-confidence and resilience through repeated practice and effort.
- Encourages students to identify personal strengths like fairness, patience, and adaptability.
3. Positive Coping
- Provides a safe environment to practise managing frustration and disappointment constructively.
- Reinforces using positive self-talk and calm reactions during mistakes or losses.
4. Problem Solving
- Involves adapting strategies to score points and respond to an opponent’s moves.
- Encourages students to think creatively when adjusting game variations for space or ability levels.
5. Stress Management
- Supports physical release of energy, reducing stress through active movement.
- Teaches regulation under pressure by maintaining focus and composure during play.
6. Help-Seeking
- Normalises seeking clarification on rules or assistance in adapting the game for inclusivity.
- Promotes supportive communication and teamwork between players and facilitators.
7. Gender and Identity
- Provides an inclusive space where all students participate equally, regardless of gender or ability.
- Encourages respect for diversity through adapting the game to suit everyone’s strengths.
8. Positive Gender Relations
- Builds respect and fairness in competition, reinforcing the importance of equal opportunity.
- Promotes empathy, kindness, and acknowledgment of others’ efforts throughout gameplay.
Roll Emoji Bingo
Roll Emoji Bingo is a powerful emotional reflection game that blends chance, conversation, and connection through the use of emojis. By rolling two dice to reveal a square on the bingo grid, students are prompted to reflect on a real-life moment connected to the emotion represented by the emoji. They then share that experience with their partner, helping them recall meaningful events from the past six months while building emotional awareness and communication skills. The gameplay is simple yet deeply reflective, making it an ideal activity for fostering emotional literacy and encouraging students to understand their feelings in a structured, supportive way.
Beyond developing emotional awareness, the game strengthens empathy, active listening, and interpersonal connection. Each shared story creates an opportunity for understanding, allowing pairs to connect more deeply while working toward a shared goal, forming a line of five marked squares. With variations suited for students, staff teams, or even therapeutic contexts, Roll Emoji Bingo becomes a versatile tool for promoting emotional intelligence across a range of environments. The activity offers a non-threatening, engaging way for participants to explore their emotions, practise open communication, and build meaningful relationships through reflection and dialogue.
Respectful Relationships
1. Emotional Literacy
- Builds emotional vocabulary and understanding through identifying and reflecting on emojis.
- Helps students connect emotions to real experiences, deepening emotional awareness.
- Encourages regulation and expression of feelings in a safe, structured setting.
2. Personal Strengths
- Promotes self-awareness by recognising emotional responses and personal growth moments.
- Encourages confidence in sharing experiences and appreciating emotional honesty.
3. Positive Coping
- Supports reflection on past emotional experiences, teaching students to process and reframe them positively.
- Encourages healthy emotional expression and communication as coping tools.
4. Problem Solving
- Strengthens reflective thinking as students consider emotional triggers and responses.
- Promotes empathy-based reasoning, understanding how to respond thoughtfully to others’ emotions.
5. Stress Management
- Provides a calm, reflective environment to discuss emotions in a low-pressure, playful format.
- Reduces anxiety through laughter, connection, and sharing in pairs.
6. Help-Seeking
- Normalises talking about feelings and reaching out for support from trusted peers.
- Reinforces the importance of listening and being available for others when they share.
7. Gender and Identity
- Encourages authentic self-expression regardless of gender norms or stereotypes.
- Builds respect for the diversity of emotional experiences across all participants.
8. Positive Gender Relations
- Promotes kindness, empathy, and mutual respect through paired sharing.
- Reinforces active listening and valuing others’ perspectives in conversation.
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