The School of Play Curriculum
Secondary School
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.
Weekly Lessons
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
Understanding & Promoting Equality
Walk, Stop, Name, Clap, Jump, Dance supports students to:
- Promote equal participation by ensuring every student, regardless of ability, confidence level, or social group, has the same opportunity to engage, react, and contribute throughout the activity.
- Value each person’s contribution by levelling the playing field; the unpredictable commands place all students in the same challenge together, reducing hierarchy or social dominance.
- Create an inclusive atmosphere where all participants can succeed through energy, effort, and presence rather than skill or prior knowledge.
Building Healthy Relationships
Walk, Stop, Name, Clap, Jump, Dance helps students to:
- Build trust and rapport by engaging in shared laughter, collective mistakes, and moments of confusion that break down social barriers and encourage connection.
- Strengthen group cohesion through a fast-paced, cooperative experience where students support each other to keep up with changing instructions.
- Foster a climate of safety and belonging by inviting students to play, be a little silly, and feel accepted by the group while taking healthy social risks.
Developing Communication Skills
Walk, Stop, Name, Clap, Jump, Dance encourages students to:
- Practise active listening as they must tune in closely to instructions that shift and reverse at each level, sharpening their attention and responsiveness.
- Communicate openly and respectfully, especially when cheering each other on, laughing together, or regrouping when the commands change.
- Acknowledge others' perspectives by recognising that different students process information at different speeds and supporting each other through the challenge.
Enhancing Social & Emotional Intelligence
Walk, Stop, Name, Clap, Jump, Dance supports students to:
- Manage emotions under pressure, staying calm and focused as commands rapidly change and mistakes inevitably occur.
- Solve problems quickly, adapting their movement and reactions in real time while learning from missteps without judgment.
- Build resilience and positive coping, understanding that mistakes are part of the fun and an opportunity to laugh, reset, and try again.
Challenging Stereotypes
Walk, Stop, Name, Clap, Jump, Dance helps students to:
- Break away from gendered expectations by encouraging all students to jump, dance, clap, say their name, and respond confidently, activities that are playful and free of stereotype-laden roles.
- Challenge social norms around “coolness,” encouraging teens to embrace creativity, humour, and self-expression regardless of gender or social status.
- Model freedom of expression, reinforcing that everyone can participate fully without fear of judgment.
Recognising Rights
Walk, Stop, Name, Clap, Jump, Dance empowers students to:
- Understand their right to feel safe and supported, as the game requires clear boundaries, respectful behaviour, and shared space awareness.
- Experience acceptance, knowing they can make mistakes, laugh at themselves, and still be welcomed and included within the group.
- Recognise the right to be themselves, as the playful, expressive nature of the game affirms individuality and encourages students to show up authentically.
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
Understanding & Promoting Equality
Looking Back, Looking Forward supports students to:
- Recognise their intrinsic worth, understanding that every student, regardless of background, identity, or ability, has achievements worth celebrating.
- Promote equality through reflection, encouraging all participants to explore their strengths and goals without comparison or competition.
- Appreciate the diverse experiences of others, acknowledging that everyone’s journey, challenges, and achievements are valid and valuable.
Building Healthy Relationships
Looking Back, Looking Forward helps students to:
- Strengthen peer relationships by sharing personal reflections in a supportive environment that values vulnerability and respect.
- Build trust through open conversations about goals, achievements, challenges, and the qualities they appreciate in themselves.
- Create a positive group culture where students encourage each other’s growth and support one another’s future aspirations.
Developing Communication Skills
Looking Back, Looking Forward encourages students to:
- Express thoughts clearly and respectfully as they articulate past achievements, qualities, and future goals.
- Practise active listening when peers share personal reflections, showing interest and empathy.
- Communicate with purpose, learning to describe goals in specific, measurable, and realistic ways that support meaningful growth.
Enhancing Social & Emotional Intelligence
Looking Back, Looking Forward supports students to:
- Develop self-awareness, identifying the strengths, habits, and actions that contributed to their achievements.
- Understand and regulate emotions, especially as they reflect on moments of pride, difficulty, resilience, or change throughout the year.
- Set purposeful goals, using emotional insight to plan for future improvement and personal development.
Challenging Stereotypes
Looking Back, Looking Forward helps students to:
- Challenge internal limits or stereotypes about what they “should” achieve based on gender, background, or social expectations.
- See themselves as capable beyond labels, reinforcing the belief that personal growth and achievements belong to everyone.
- Encourage open expression, supporting students to reflect honestly without conforming to societal expectations about success or identity.
Recognising Rights
Looking Back, Looking Forward empowers students to:
- Acknowledge their right to be valued, celebrating their achievements without fear of judgment or dismissal.
- Understand their right to set goals, make choices, and shape their own future in a safe and supportive environment.
- Feel accepted for who they are, recognising that reflection includes mistakes, growth, and moments of pride, all part of being human.
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
Understanding & Promoting Equality
Chair Tennis supports students to:
- Promote fairness and equality, as both players begin with the same setup, space, and scoring opportunities, regardless of ability or experience.
- Provide equal access to success, with gameplay relying on effort, focus, and adaptation rather than physical dominance.
- Celebrate inclusivity, especially through the adaptable versions that ensure all students, regardless of coordination level or physical needs, can participate meaningfully.
Building Healthy Relationships
Chair Tennis helps students to:
- Develop positive peer relationships through friendly competition that encourages respect, encouragement, and acknowledgement of each other’s efforts.
- Strengthen trust and rapport, as players rely on clear rules, shared understanding, and mutual respect to keep the game fair and enjoyable.
- Create enjoyable shared experiences, providing students with a playful, low-pressure activity that builds connection and cooperation.
Developing Communication Skills
Chair Tennis encourages students to:
- Use clear, respectful communication, particularly when clarifying rules, negotiating variations, or resolving misunderstandings.
- Practise active listening, especially in inclusive editions where students must adapt rules based on each other's needs or suggestions.
- Express their needs calmly, such as asking to adjust the chair height, explaining comfort levels, or suggesting a variation that works for both players.
Enhancing Social & Emotional Intelligence
Chair Tennis supports students to:
- Manage competitive emotions, learning to stay calm, regulate frustration, and handle both winning and losing with maturity.
- Develop problem-solving skills, especially when navigating different game variations or adjusting strategies mid-play.
- Build resilience, accepting mistakes or missed shots as part of learning and quickly refocusing on the next point.
Challenging Stereotypes
Chair Tennis helps students to:
- Break down gender stereotypes around who is “better” at sport, coordination, or competitive games by making success dependent on skill development rather than physical power.
- Encourage all students to participate, regardless of previous sporting experience or social identity.
- Reinforce that everyone can improve, challenging assumptions that only certain types of students excel in physical activities.
Recognising Rights
Chair Tennis empowers students to:
- Understand their right to fair play, ensuring the game is respectful, safe, and free from intimidation or exclusion.
- Feel accepted and respected, even when making errors or learning at a different pace to their opponent.
- Recognise that they deserve to participate fully, with inclusive variations supporting their right to be involved regardless of ability or physical needs.
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
Understanding & Promoting Equality
Roll Emoji Bingo supports students to:
- Promote emotional equality, giving every student the chance to reflect on their own experiences without comparison, judgment, or hierarchy.
- Ensure all voices hold equal value, as each emoji prompt encourages personal reflection that is unique and meaningful for every participant.
- Create a safe and inclusive emotional environment, where students understand that all emotions, positive, neutral, or challenging, are valid and worthy of expression.
Building Healthy Relationships
Roll Emoji Bingo helps students to:
- Strengthen connection and trust through honest, safe sharing between partners, deepening their relational understanding.
- Build supportive peer relationships, as students listen to each other’s stories and respond with empathy and kindness.
- Enhance relational depth, moving conversations beyond surface-level interactions into meaningful emotional dialogue.
Developing Communication Skills
Roll Emoji Bingo encourages students to:
- Practise open, respectful communication, sharing stories linked to emotions in a thoughtful and clear way.
- Develop active listening skills, paying close attention as partners describe past experiences and emotions.
- Communicate with emotional honesty, learning to describe feelings and experiences with accuracy, nuance, and confidence.
Enhancing Social & Emotional Intelligence
Roll Emoji Bingo supports students to:
- Increase emotional awareness, making connections between emojis and their own lived experiences.
- Build empathy, understanding the emotional landscape of others through shared stories and reflections.
- Develop emotional regulation and insight, recognising patterns in how they’ve felt and responded over the past six months.
- Reflect deeply, connecting past feelings with present understanding and future growth.
Challenging Stereotypes
Roll Emoji Bingo helps students to:
- Challenge stereotypes about emotional expression, particularly those suggesting certain genders or groups shouldn’t express vulnerability or talk about feelings.
- Normalise emotional honesty, reinforcing that everyone experiences a range of emotions and can talk about them openly.
- Break down social barriers, allowing all students, regardless of identity, background, or personality, to share equally and authentically.
Recognising Rights
Roll Emoji Bingo empowers students to:
- Understand their right to feel and express emotions, affirming that all emotional experiences are legitimate.
- Exercise their right to be heard, knowing their partner will listen respectfully and without interruption.
- Feel accepted and safe, as the game fosters non-judgmental sharing and encourages appreciation of each person’s emotional journey.
- Recognise their right to connection, experiencing how sharing emotions can strengthen trust and belonging within relationships.
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