The School of Play Curriculum
Secondary School
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.
Weekly Lessons
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
Understanding & Promoting Equality
Three is a Crowd supports students to:
- Promote equal participation, as every player contributes to the shared counting sequence and the success of reaching higher numbers.
- Reinforce fairness, with all players following the same rules and having equal responsibility in remembering the ‘buzz’ moments.
- Create an inclusive environment, where everyone’s contribution, whether counting, buzzing, or supporting teammates, is essential and valued equally.
Building Healthy Relationships
Three is a Crowd helps students to:
- Strengthen teamwork, as the game requires constant communication, encouragement, and shared focus to progress together.
- Build trust, relying on one another to stay attentive, follow the rules, and reset together after mistakes without blame.
- Foster connection, with shared laughter, quick exchanges, and group problem-solving, deepening social bonds.
Developing Communication Skills
Three is a Crowd encourages students to:
- Use clear, supportive communication, reminding teammates of rules, celebrating progress, and encouraging one another after mistakes.
- Practise active listening, tuning in closely to the counting rhythm and noticing when it’s their turn to speak or “buzz.”
- Strengthen verbal fluency, especially during advanced variations where players must quickly name items from categories instead of saying “buzz.”
Enhancing Social & Emotional Intelligence
Three is a Crowd supports students to:
- Develop self-regulation, staying calm under pressure and resetting positively when the team makes a mistake.
- Build resilience, as the group may restart multiple times and must persist together with patience and humour.
- Strengthen focus and quick thinking, applying the ‘buzz’ rules accurately while responding rapidly to changing numbers.
- Promote empathy, as mistakes are handled supportively, and players may share something they’re proud of or looking forward to when the count restarts.
Challenging Stereotypes
Three is a Crowd helps students to:
- Challenge stereotypes about intelligence or quick thinking, demonstrating that success comes from teamwork, communication, and shared focus, not individual academic ability.
- Break down social hierarchies, as all players must rely on one another equally to progress.
- Promote emotional openness, especially when players share personal reflections after mistakes, normalising vulnerability within the group.
Recognising Rights
Three is a Crowd empowers students to:
- Understand their right to be included, participating fully in a shared activity without fear of judgment.
- Feel respected, as mistakes are treated as part of the learning process and are met with encouragement rather than criticism.
- Express their thoughts and emotions safely, especially during optional reflective moments when the count restarts.
- Experience their right to have fun and connect, enjoying a game that values teamwork over competition.
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
Understanding & Promoting Equality
Four Quadrant Fun supports students to:
- Promote equal opportunity for expression, as every participant creates four drawings and shares their reflections, ensuring all voices are represented.
- Celebrate diverse experiences and identities, highlighting the unique contributions, needs, hobbies, and visions each student brings to the group.
- Create an inclusive space, where creativity, not artistic skill, is valued, allowing all students to participate confidently regardless of ability.
Building Healthy Relationships
Four Quadrant Fun helps students to:
- Strengthen connections, as participants learn about each other’s strengths, interests, needs, and goals through visual storytelling.
- Build mutual trust, with students sharing personal insights in a supportive, non-judgemental environment.
- Foster a unified group culture, using shared drawings and reflections to understand class dynamics and support one another’s visions for the year.
Developing Communication Skills
Four Quadrant Fun encourages students to:
- Communicate effectively through art, practising non-verbal expression and learning to convey meaning visually.
- Share their perspectives clearly, using verbal explanations during the sharing phase to unpack the meaning behind their drawings.
- Practise active listening, engaging attentively with their peers’ drawings, stories, and ideas.
Enhancing Social & Emotional Intelligence
Four Quadrant Fun supports students to:
- Develop self-awareness, reflecting deeply on what they offer to the group, what they need, and their personal vision for the year.
- Build empathy, as they discover the unique experiences, preferences, and aspirations of others in their class or group.
- Strengthen emotional expression, using drawings to explore feelings, hopes, and needs they may not typically articulate.
- Promote group reflection, encouraging consideration of how individual needs and contributions shape the wider class community.
Challenging Stereotypes
Four Quadrant Fun helps students to:
- Challenge assumptions about peers by revealing hidden talents, interests, and values that might not be visible in everyday interactions.
- Break down stereotypes around who is “creative,” reinforcing that everyone can communicate meaningfully through drawing or alternative creative materials.
- Empower all students, regardless of personality type or background, to share their authentic selves in a safe, structured way.
Recognising Rights
Four Quadrant Fun empowers students to:
- Understand their right to express themselves, using creativity to share who they are and what they need without judgment.
- Feel valued and heard, as their drawings are displayed, discussed, and appreciated by the group.
- Experience their right to a positive and supportive classroom, shaped collectively through shared visions and open communication.
- Recognise their right to belong, contributing to a group culture built on mutual respect, understanding, and connection.
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
Understanding & Promoting Equality
Dice Combos supports students to:
- Promote equal partnership, as both players share responsibility for rolling, strategising, and completing exercises together.
- Ensure fairness, with each pair operating under the same rules, time limits, and scoring opportunities regardless of fitness level or experience.
- Create an inclusive environment, where success is based on teamwork, effort, and strategic thinking, not athletic dominance.
Building Healthy Relationships
Dice Combos helps students to:
- Strengthen communication and trust, as partners rely on one another to complete reps, make quick decisions, and execute strategy.
- Encourage mutual support, cheering each other on through physically challenging reps and collaborating during dice sequences.
- Deepen connection, as shared movement, strategy, and problem-solving foster genuine teamwork and relational growth.
Developing Communication Skills
Dice Combos encourages students to:
- Use clear, efficient communication, discussing strategy, rep-sharing, order of movements, and how to best maximise points.
- Practise active listening, responding quickly to their partner’s suggestions, needs, or signals during fast-paced rounds.
- Engage in collaborative decision-making, negotiating when to push for higher reps or finish quickly for more attempts at points.
Enhancing Social & Emotional Intelligence
Dice Combos supports students to:
- Build resilience, working through physical fatigue, restarting sequences, and staying focused under timed pressure.
- Develop emotional awareness, recognising how they respond to challenge, intensity, and shared goals.
- Strengthen motivation, pushing themselves and their partner in a positive way to achieve a shared outcome.
- Improve problem-solving and focus, making tactical decisions around reps, pacing, and time management.
Challenging Stereotypes
Dice Combos helps students to:
- Challenge assumptions about physical ability, showing that strategy and teamwork are just as important as fitness.
- Break down gender stereotypes, reinforcing that both strength and strategic thinking are accessible and valuable to all students.
- Promote balanced roles, with both partners contributing equally, regardless of fitness level or confidence.
Recognising Rights
Dice Combos empowers students to:
- Understand their right to be included and valued, participating fully in a game designed for all ability levels.
- Feel safe and supported, knowing the game prioritises teamwork, communication, and shared effort over competition or comparison.
- Express their strengths, whether through strategy, motivation, endurance, or communication.
- Experience the right to enjoyable physical activity, engaging in movement in a positive, team-based environment.
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
Understanding & Promoting Equality
Dice Eliminator Partner Challenge supports students to:
- Promote equal partnership, with both players contributing to every roll, every challenge, and every decision throughout the game.
- Ensure fairness and shared responsibility, as all pairs work under the same rules and have equal opportunities to complete challenges and eliminate numbers.
- Foster inclusiveness, allowing students with different strengths, physical, mental, or strategic, to contribute meaningfully to team success.
Building Healthy Relationships
Dice Eliminator Partner Challenge helps students to:
- Strengthen teamwork, relying on trust, communication, and mutual encouragement to complete challenges efficiently.
- Deepen connections, as partners collaborate under time pressure, celebrate progress, and support one another through more difficult challenge numbers.
- Build a positive, shared experience, using movement, strategy, and problem-solving to develop teamwork skills and relational confidence.
Developing Communication Skills
Dice Eliminator Partner Challenge encourages students to:
- Communicate clearly and effectively, discussing challenge strategies, rep-sharing, pacing, and next steps after each roll.
- Practise active listening, tuning into their partner’s ideas, concerns, and suggestions in fast-moving rounds.
- Engage in collaborative decision-making, negotiating which challenges to tackle quickly and how to approach more demanding tasks.
Enhancing Social & Emotional Intelligence
Dice Eliminator Partner Challenge supports students to:
- Develop resilience, especially when repeating rolls, tackling difficult challenges, or needing to reset after errors.
- Build emotional awareness, recognising how they and their partner respond to pressure, excitement, and the unpredictability of dice-rolling.
- Strengthen problem-solving skills, analysing challenges and deciding the most efficient way to eliminate numbers.
- Promote motivation and effort, as students push themselves physically and mentally for shared success.
Challenging Stereotypes
Dice Eliminator Partner Challenge helps students to:
- Challenge assumptions about ability, showing that success depends on teamwork and strategy, not just fitness, speed, or strength.
- Break down gender stereotypes, reinforcing that all students can contribute equally to physical, mental, and strategic elements of the game.
- Promote balanced roles, with each partner actively involved rather than relying on one stronger or more confident student.
Recognising Rights
Dice Eliminator Partner Challenge empowers students to:
- Understand their right to participate equally, with the activity structured so every player is essential to progress.
- Feel safe and respected, knowing mistakes or repeated rolls are simply part of the game and not points of judgment.
- Express their strengths openly, whether through communication, problem-solving, motivation, or physical effort.
- Experience a right to positive teamwork, working in an environment that values cooperation, energy, and shared achievement.
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