The School of Play Curriculum
Primary School Grade 5 & 6
Week Thirteen brings together gratitude, connection, physical activity, and kindness in a beautifully balanced and energising way. Through activities like Gratitude Counting and Getting Dicey With It, students combine movement with mental focus, squatting, counting, predicting outcomes, and responding quickly, all while reflecting on the positive aspects of their lives. These interactive games strengthen concentration, coordination, and strategic thinking, giving students the chance to work in pairs, build rapport, and stay physically active. The physical challenges are purposeful, helping students maintain focus while strengthening communication and teamwork.
This week also places a strong emphasis on emotional well-being, kindness, and meaningful reflection. Activities such as Get Sticking and Master Chef Group Gratitude help students express appreciation for the important people in their lives, practise empathy, and recognise the impact of small positive actions. By writing heartfelt notes, sharing gratitude reflections, and acknowledging the contributions of others, students deepen their social connections and develop greater emotional awareness. The combination of movement, gratitude, and kindness helps students build strong interpersonal skills, nurture a positive mindset, and cultivate habits that support long-term well-being, both within the classroom and in their daily lives.
Courses
Gratitude Counting
Gratitude Counting is a simple yet powerful partner activity that blends physical movement with meaningful reflection. Partners take turns counting aloud while holding a squat position, standing up only when they reach a multiple of three or a number containing the digit three. Each time they stand, they pause to share something connected to the gratitude theme rolled on the dice, whether it’s people they appreciate, memorable moments, skills they value, or acts of kindness they’ve witnessed. This creates a rhythm of movement, mindfulness, and connection that keeps students physically engaged while strengthening their emotional awareness.
The game encourages students to focus, listen, and communicate while building deeper social connections through the use of each other’s names and personal reflections. As the count climbs, so does the challenge, making it a fun and energising way to cultivate gratitude in any classroom or group setting. Gratitude Counting promotes a positive mindset, encourages meaningful conversations, and adds a playful twist that makes reflection active, engaging, and memorable.
Respectful Relationships
1. Emotional Literacy
- Encourages recognition and expression of emotions associated with gratitude, happiness, and appreciation.
- Builds empathy as students listen to and connect with their partners’ gratitude reflections.
- Promotes emotional awareness by combining physical engagement with positive reflection and mindful conversation.
2. Personal Strengths
- Highlights qualities such as focus, perseverance, and self-awareness through mindful participation.
- Encourages students to recognise personal strengths and life experiences they feel grateful for.
- Builds confidence and self-worth by acknowledging achievements, relationships, and meaningful moments.
3. Positive Coping
- Reinforces gratitude as a key coping strategy for managing stress and maintaining optimism.
- Encourages reflection on positive aspects of life as a way to reframe challenges and cultivate resilience.
- Promotes laughter, connection, and gratitude sharing as healthy emotional outlets.
4. Problem Solving
- Develops cognitive flexibility through multitasking between counting, movement, and reflection.
- Encourages focus and attention to detail during gameplay, fostering mental agility.
- Promotes reflective thinking about how gratitude and awareness can support wellbeing and relationships.
5. Stress Management
- Combines movement, mindfulness, and reflection to promote calmness and reduce stress.
- Encourages focus on breathing and body awareness during squat holds, enhancing concentration.
- Reinforces the emotional benefits of gratitude and positive thinking for reducing tension and anxiety.
6. Help-Seeking
- Normalises open communication and sharing emotions in a safe, supportive environment.
- Encourages connection and empathy between partners, building trust and social understanding.
- Reinforces that discussing positive experiences helps strengthen peer relationships and wellbeing.
7. Gender and Identity
- Fosters inclusivity and equality by creating a reflective space where all voices are valued.
- Encourages authentic self-expression through personal gratitude sharing without judgement.
- Challenges stereotypes by integrating emotion, mindfulness, and movement equally for all students.
8. Positive Gender Relations
- Builds respect and understanding through active listening, appreciation, and kindness.
- Reinforces fairness, encouragement, and celebration of others’ experiences.
- Strengthens group cohesion by promoting positive communication, empathy, and mutual respect.
Get Sticking
Get Sticking is a heart-warming kindness activity where students write thoughtful messages on sticky notes and leave them in unexpected places to brighten someone’s day. By choosing people who have positively influenced their lives, such as teachers, friends, parents, or others in their community, students practise gratitude and kindness in a simple yet powerful way. The act of crafting personalised messages encourages them to reflect deeply on the positive qualities and contributions of others, helping them recognise how supported, loved, and connected they truly are.
Once the notes are written, the magic happens in “Sticky Surprise Mode,” where students secretly place their messages for recipients to discover. This playful and meaningful element fosters excitement, empathy, and joy as students imagine the happiness their surprises will create. The activity concludes with a brief reflection, allowing students to appreciate the emotional impact of their kindness, both on others and on themselves. Get Sticking is a beautiful blend of gratitude, connection, and creativity that leaves every environment a little brighter.
Respectful Relationships
1. Emotional Literacy
- Encourages students to recognise and express positive emotions such as gratitude, appreciation, and joy.
- Builds empathy by prompting students to consider how their kind words might make others feel.
- Promotes emotional awareness and reflection as students acknowledge the people who have positively influenced their lives.
2. Personal Strengths
- Highlights compassion, creativity, and generosity as key personal strengths in building positive relationships.
- Encourages self-confidence and pride through the act of expressing gratitude and kindness.
- Reinforces students’ understanding that small actions can have a meaningful and lasting impact on others.
3. Positive Coping
- Promotes kindness and gratitude as positive strategies for improving mood and managing stress.
- Encourages focusing on appreciation and connection rather than negativity or frustration.
- Reinforces that expressing thanks and spreading joy enhances emotional wellbeing for both the giver and the receiver.
4. Problem Solving
- Encourages creative thinking as students decide how to write, personalise, and place their notes.
- Promotes reflection on how to positively influence others through thoughtful action and communication.
- Strengthens empathy-driven problem-solving by helping students consider how to uplift others.
5. Stress Management
- Provides an uplifting, reflective activity that fosters calmness and positivity.
- Reinforces mindfulness by focusing on gratitude and appreciation rather than stressors.
- Encourages emotional release through written expression and acts of kindness.
6. Help-Seeking
- Normalises expressing appreciation and recognising support received from others.
- Reinforces that gratitude and communication strengthen relationships and create networks of trust.
- Encourages open, caring interactions that make it easier to seek and offer help when needed.
7. Gender and Identity
- Promotes inclusivity and equality by celebrating the positive impact of diverse individuals.
- Encourages authentic self-expression through written words of kindness and gratitude.
- Challenges stereotypes by showing that empathy and appreciation are universal human strengths.
8. Positive Gender Relations
- Builds respect and appreciation through kind gestures and thoughtful communication.
- Reinforces fairness, kindness, and recognition as essential elements of positive relationships.
- Strengthens school culture through shared acts of empathy, gratitude, and connection.
Getting Dicey With It
Getting Dicey With It is an energetic, chance-based fitness game that blends physical activity with strategic prediction. Played in pairs, students guess whether the sum of two dice will be odd or even before rolling. Correct predictions earn points, while incorrect guesses result in fun, movement-based challenges such as squats, jumps, or exercises from an activity list. This simple twist transforms a standard dice roll into an exciting, fast-paced blend of luck, strategy, and fitness that keeps all players engaged from start to finish.
The game also includes a thrilling doubles rule: rolling matching numbers allows a team to complete a short run and steal a point from another pair, introducing teamwork, strategy, and playful competition. With its combination of physical activity, quick thinking, and social interaction, Getting Dicey With It is a versatile and highly engaging warm-up or team-building activity. It encourages students to work together, stay active, and have plenty of laughs as they chase points and try to out-strategise their opponents.
Respectful Relationships
1. Emotional Literacy
- Encourages awareness of emotions such as excitement, competitiveness, and determination during gameplay.
- Builds empathy as students encourage partners and celebrate both successes and mistakes with humour.
- Promotes emotional regulation by helping students manage reactions to wins, losses, and physical challenges.
2. Personal Strengths
- Highlights persistence, focus, and strategic thinking as key personal strengths in achieving success.
- Encourages recognition of effort, communication, and teamwork as strengths that contribute to shared outcomes.
- Builds confidence and self-efficacy through active participation and improvement over successive rounds.
3. Positive Coping
- Reinforces resilience and positivity when predictions are incorrect, showing that effort and attitude matter more than outcome.
- Encourages laughter, teamwork, and movement as effective coping mechanisms for frustration or competitiveness.
- Promotes a growth mindset through repeated play, reflection, and physical engagement.
4. Problem Solving
- Develops critical thinking as students analyse patterns, probabilities, and outcomes of dice rolls.
- Encourages flexible decision-making and teamwork as players adjust strategies during play.
- Promotes creative reasoning when balancing risk, reward, and physical challenge elements.
5. Stress Management
- Provides an energetic, light-hearted outlet for stress release through physical movement and play.
- Reinforces staying calm and focused during fast-paced or competitive moments.
- Encourages physical exertion as a healthy way to regulate emotions and maintain balance.
6. Help-Seeking
- Normalises asking questions and seeking clarification about rules or strategies.
- Encourages supportive peer relationships through communication, assistance, and mutual motivation.
- Reinforces cooperation, trust, and the importance of shared success over individual competition.
7. Gender and Identity
- Promotes equality and inclusivity by valuing teamwork, creativity, and effort across all players.
- Challenges stereotypes by combining physical activity, strategy, and social interaction in an accessible, inclusive format.
- Encourages authentic participation and confidence by celebrating diverse abilities and approaches.
8. Positive Gender Relations
- Builds respect, fairness, and appreciation through shared play and friendly competition.
- Reinforces kindness, empathy, and communication as vital to maintaining positive group dynamics.
- Strengthens class and team culture through encouragement, laughter, and mutual respect.
Master Chef Group Gratitude
Master Chef Group Gratitude is a heart-warming, reflection-based activity inspired by the creativity and collaboration of Master Chef. Instead of cooking ingredients, participants are given ten gratitude “prompts” that encourage them to reflect on the people who have positively impacted their lives. From individuals who supported them during tough times to those who inspire, motivate, or bring joy, students thoughtfully write about the influential people who help shape who they are. This process helps them recognise the powerful role others play in their well-being and growth.
After writing, participants share their reflections with the group, creating a warm and connected atmosphere where gratitude becomes the highlight of the experience. Whether done in small groups or as one large circle, the activity strengthens relationships by fostering kindness, empathy, and appreciation. Master Chef Group Gratitude transforms simple reflection into a meaningful bonding moment, making it an ideal activity for classrooms, teams, or any setting that values emotional connection and positive communication.
Respectful Relationships
1. Emotional Literacy
- Encourages recognition and expression of positive emotions such as gratitude, admiration, and appreciation.
- Builds empathy by prompting students to reflect on how others’ actions and qualities have positively influenced their lives.
- Promotes emotional awareness and connection through sharing heartfelt reflections and listening to others’ stories.
2. Personal Strengths
- Highlights gratitude, kindness, and emotional intelligence as key personal strengths in building positive relationships.
- Encourages students to recognise and celebrate both their own and others’ unique qualities and contributions.
- Builds self-esteem as students feel valued and acknowledged by peers through mutual appreciation.
3. Positive Coping
- Reinforces gratitude as a powerful coping mechanism that enhances perspective and emotional wellbeing.
- Encourages students to shift focus from challenges to appreciation, fostering resilience and optimism.
- Promotes the use of reflection and positive communication to strengthen emotional balance and connection.
4. Problem Solving
- Encourages reflective thinking about relationships and how gratitude can improve communication and resolve tension.
- Promotes empathy-driven reasoning by helping students consider others’ perspectives and experiences.
- Strengthens relational problem-solving by highlighting appreciation as a tool for maintaining healthy connections.
5. Stress Management
- Provides a calm and reflective experience that promotes mindfulness and positive emotion.
- Encourages verbal and written expression as healthy outlets for processing feelings.
- Reinforces the emotional benefits of focusing on gratitude to reduce stress and strengthen wellbeing.
6. Help-Seeking
- Normalises expressing appreciation and vulnerability as part of building trusting, supportive relationships.
- Encourages open, caring communication that strengthens networks of support.
- Reinforces that gratitude and positive acknowledgment foster safe, respectful, and supportive communities.
7. Gender and Identity
- Promotes inclusivity by celebrating the strengths and contributions of all participants equally.
- Encourages authentic self-expression and emotional openness in a safe, respectful setting.
- Challenges stereotypes by demonstrating that empathy, gratitude, and reflection are strengths shared by all genders.
8. Positive Gender Relations
- Builds mutual respect and trust through shared gratitude and acknowledgment of each person’s value.
- Reinforces kindness, fairness, and empathy as the foundations of positive, respectful relationships.
- Strengthens group culture by promoting appreciation, listening, and mutual encouragement.
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