The School of Play Curriculum
Secondary School
This week brings together fast-paced physical games, strategic thinking, gratitude practices, and meaningful reflection to support students’ overall well-being. Through high-energy dice challenges, movement-based competition, and thoughtful sharing, students develop quick reflexes, improve decision-making skills, and strengthen emotional intelligence. The week encourages students to balance action with intention, acting fast when needed, slowing down for reflection, and working collaboratively with peers in a supportive, fun-filled environment.
Students also engage deeply in gratitude practices and reflective conversations that help them build stronger connections with one another. Activities like the Gratitude Wall and Naughts and Crosses Reflect & Share promote emotional awareness, communication skills, and empathy, while Matchy Matchy Dice and Dice 0–100 combine friendly competition with physical fitness and cognitive challenge. By blending strategy, movement, celebration, and communication, this week helps students recognise the power of gratitude, teamwork, and personal growth, skills they can carry into their everyday lives.
Weekly Lessons
Dice 0 - 100
Double Dice 0–100 is a fast-paced, high-energy game that blends luck, speed, and strategy into one thrilling group challenge. Players rapidly roll two dice at the same time, waiting for the moment they hit doubles, because only then can they grab the pen and begin writing their number sequence from 1 to 100. The urgency of stealing the pen and maximising every second of writing time boosts reflexes, focus, and hand-eye coordination. Meanwhile, the constant rolling creates an electric atmosphere of anticipation, with players fully engaged throughout the entire game.
The game also promotes strategic thinking, fair play, and positive group interaction as students race toward the finish line. Each player must decide how quickly to roll, when to focus, and how to make the most of their writing turn before another player shouts “Double!” With endless movement and quick transitions, players stay mentally and socially switched on, encouraging healthy competition and supportive group dynamics. Adaptable for younger students, large groups, or educational extensions, Double Dice 0–100 is a dynamic, addictive activity that builds speed, stamina, and strategy, all while keeping everyone laughing and fully involved.
Respectful Relationships
Understanding & Promoting Equality
Dice 0–100 supports students to:
- Promote equal participation, as every player begins with the same resources, opportunities, and pathways to success regardless of ability or confidence.
- Reinforce fairness, with clear, simple rules that ensure all players have an equal chance to write numbers as soon as they roll doubles.
- Create an inclusive competitive environment, where success depends on focus, effort, and strategic thinking rather than physical strength or dominance.
Building Healthy Relationships
Dice 0–100 helps students to:
- Strengthen group interaction through shared excitement, laughter, and collective energy as the pen switches rapidly between players.
- Develop supportive peer dynamics, as students encourage one another, celebrate successes, and manage healthy competition.
- Foster trust and cooperation, with players relying on each other to follow rules honestly and respect the fast-paced nature of the game.
Developing Communication Skills
Dice 0–100 encourages students to:
- Communicate clearly and respectfully, especially when shouting “Double!” or negotiating variations, rules, and flow of play.
- Listen actively, responding quickly when peers call out doubles or when instructions change during variations.
- Express emotions and reactions appropriately, maintaining positive communication even in moments of excitement or frustration.
Enhancing Social & Emotional Intelligence
Dice 0–100 supports students to:
- Regulate emotions in a fast-paced environment, staying calm and focused despite the competitive rush.
- Build resilience, accepting setbacks, such as losing the pen or being interrupted mid-sequence, and bouncing back quickly.
- Strengthen strategic thinking, planning ahead, managing pressure, and adapting quickly when the pen changes hands.
- Develop self-awareness, recognising how they react under time pressure and learning to stay composed.
Challenging Stereotypes
Dice 0–100 helps students to:
- Challenge assumptions about competition, showing that games do not require physical strength or specific skill sets to succeed.
- Break down social stereotypes, promoting the idea that anyone, regardless of gender, confidence, or social group, can be strategic, quick-thinking, and successful.
- Encourage all students to engage with competitive play, reinforcing that competitiveness can coexist with kindness, respect, and fairness.
Recognising Rights
Dice 0–100 empowers students to:
- Understand their right to a fair and safe game, where rules are followed and all players are treated with respect.
- Feel accepted and supported, whether they are winning, losing, or learning through mistakes.
- Exercise their right to participate fully, as the game’s format ensures constant involvement and equal chances to contribute.
- Recognise their right to be treated with respect, especially during moments of high energy and competition.
Gratitude Wall
The Gratitude Wall is a simple yet powerful activity designed to build a culture of appreciation, reflection, and emotional well-being within any group setting. Using a dice-based prompt system, participants write short reflections on Post-it notes and add them to a shared wall, gradually transforming it into a bright, uplifting display of positivity. Each roll of the dice leads to a new gratitude-themed question, encouraging students to pause, reflect on meaningful moments, and recognise the good in their daily lives. This routine nurtures mindfulness and emotional awareness, helping individuals shift their focus toward joy, progress, and personal achievement.
Beyond individual reflection, the Gratitude Wall strengthens community connection by allowing participants to read and appreciate one another’s contributions. As the wall fills with colourful “leaves” of gratitude, it becomes a visual celebration of kindness, growth, and shared humanity. Students experience the power of expressing thanks and of being surrounded by collective positivity, fostering a warm, supportive environment where everyone feels valued. Whether used in classrooms, workplaces, or family homes, the Gratitude Wall serves as an ongoing reminder that small moments of gratitude can create big changes in mindset and connection.
Respectful Relationships
Understanding & Promoting Equality
Gratitude Wall supports students to:
- Promote equal voice and contribution, as every participant adds Post-it notes that hold equal importance, regardless of age, status, ability, or confidence.
- Foster a culture where all experiences are valued, ensuring that every student’s gratitude reflection is seen as meaningful and worthy of space on the wall.
- Encourage inclusive participation, allowing students to express gratitude in ways that feel authentic and personal, without comparison or judgment.
Building Healthy Relationships
Gratitude Wall helps students to:
- Strengthen community bonds, as each note becomes part of a shared tapestry of positivity that connects students, staff, and families.
- Build trust and appreciation, as students notice and reflect on the positive actions, qualities, and experiences of others.
- Create a collective space of belonging, where shared gratitude fosters warmth, optimism, and connection among everyone who contributes.
Developing Communication Skills
Gratitude Wall encourages students to:
- Express feelings clearly and positively, articulating gratitude in written form with sincerity and purpose.
- Practise thoughtful communication, choosing words that reflect appreciation, pride, joy, or positive anticipation.
- Acknowledge and respond to others’ reflections, strengthening respectful communication as they read, discuss, and celebrate gratitude expressed by peers.
Enhancing Social & Emotional Intelligence
Gratitude Wall supports students to:
- Increase emotional awareness, recognising the moments, people, and experiences that positively impact their lives.
- Develop positive coping strategies, using gratitude as a tool to manage stress, refocus attention, and boost emotional well-being.
- Build empathy, as students read others’ grateful reflections and gain insight into their peers’ experiences and perspectives.
- Foster mindfulness, learning to pause, reflect, and appreciate the present moment.
Challenging Stereotypes
Gratitude Wall helps students to:
- Challenge stereotypes around emotional expression, reinforcing that gratitude, positivity, and reflection are valuable for all genders and personalities.
- Normalise reflective practices, breaking down assumptions that expressing appreciation or pride is a sign of weakness or vulnerability.
- Promote diverse perspectives, showing that gratitude looks different for everyone and that all forms of gratitude are valid.
Recognising Rights
Gratitude Wall empowers students to:
- Understand their right to feel valued and acknowledged, as the wall visually affirms that their contributions matter.
- Recognise their right to express emotions safely, knowing they can write openly without judgment or ridicule.
- Experience acceptance, seeing their note displayed alongside others’, contributing to a shared positive culture.
- Claim their right to positivity, practising gratitude as a tool for personal well-being, confidence, and hope.
Matchy Matchy Dice
Matchy Matchy Dice is an energetic blend of strategic thinking, probability, and physical fitness, making it an ideal game for engaging both the mind and body. Players roll eight dice and must decide which numbers to set aside and which risks are worth taking as they aim to build the highest score without “busting.” Every decision requires thoughtful risk management, balancing the urge to keep rolling for more points with the danger of being unable to set aside a die. This promotes probabilistic reasoning, quick mental calculations, and strategic foresight. The added layer of bust penalties encourages players to think ahead and weigh each decision carefully, making every turn unpredictable and exciting.
Alongside strategic play, Matchy Matchy Dice integrates meaningful movement, turning score totals into physical exercise that reinforces teamwork, motivation, and physical well-being. Each round corresponds to a different fitness movement, squats, star jumps, lunges, burpees, and more, ensuring players stay active while having fun. Whether students are celebrating a strong score with minimal reps or pushing through extra exercises after a bust, the game creates a lively, supportive environment where players cheer each other on. This combination of mental challenge, physical engagement, and group interaction makes Matchy Matchy Dice a dynamic activity that builds resilience, strengthens peer relationships, and boosts overall fitness.
Respectful Relationships
Understanding & Promoting Equality
Matchy Matchy Dice supports students to:
- Promote equal opportunity, as every player begins with the same number of dice and equal access to points regardless of physical ability, confidence, or background.
- Encourage fair and balanced play, where success depends on decision-making, strategy, and calculated risk rather than physical dominance or social advantage.
- Value diverse strengths, reinforcing that strategic thinking, maths skills, and emotional control are equally important elements of success.
Building Healthy Relationships
Matchy Matchy Dice helps students to:
- Strengthen group connection, as gameplay involves shared excitement, close observation of others’ turns, and supporting peers through movement rounds.
- Promote positive peer interactions, with students celebrating smart decisions, encouraging risk-takers, and showing empathy when others bust.
- Build trust, as players rely on one another to follow rules honestly, calculate scores correctly, and engage respectfully in competitive play.
Developing Communication Skills
Matchy Matchy Dice encourages students to:
- Communicate clearly and respectfully, especially when discussing rules, clarifying scoring, or negotiating variations such as wild dice or team play.
- Practise active listening, paying attention to other players’ choices, strategies, and score announcements.
- Engage in constructive dialogue, collaborating in team variations where players must discuss risks, probabilities, and movement reps.
Enhancing Social & Emotional Intelligence
Matchy Matchy Dice supports students to:
- Manage emotions under pressure, especially when deciding whether to continue a risky roll or accept their current score.
- Develop resilience, responding positively when they bust, complete movement reps, and re-enter the game with a fresh mindset.
- Strengthen self-awareness, identifying their own tendencies toward risk, caution, impulsiveness, or patience.
- Improve problem-solving skills, weighing probabilities, predicting outcomes, and adjusting strategy throughout the game.
Challenging Stereotypes
Matchy Matchy Dice helps students to:
- Challenge assumptions about who is “good at strategy” or “good at maths,” reinforcing that strategic thinking is learnable and accessible to everyone.
- Break down stereotypes around physical fitness, as movement reps are integrated into the game in a fun, inclusive, and achievable way for all.
- Normalise mixed-ability collaboration, showing that players with differing strengths, maths, fitness, quick thinking, or calmness under pressure, can all succeed.
Recognising Rights
Matchy Matchy Dice empowers students to:
- Understand their right to fair and respectful play, ensuring all players follow rules, respect turn order, and celebrate each other positively.
- Feel safe to take risks, knowing that mistakes are part of the game and will be met with encouragement rather than criticism.
- Be accepted regardless of ability, as the game rewards strategy and effort more than speed or physical strength.
- Exercise their right to participate fully, with the gameplay and movement options adaptable to all fitness levels and learning needs.
Naughts and Crosses Reflect & Share
Naughts & Crosses Reflect & Share transforms the classic tic-tac-toe game into a meaningful reflection and connection experience between partners. After placing an X or O on the board, players must thoughtfully answer a prompt, complete a task, or share a personal reflection. This encourages deeper thinking, emotional awareness, and honest communication, helping students consider their experiences, strengths, challenges, and goals in a safe and structured way. By requiring reflective responses before making a strategic move, the activity blends personal growth with gameplay, creating an engaging balance between introspection and fun competition.
The game also strengthens connection, communication, and strategic thinking as players listen to each other's reflections while planning their next tactical move. With themed cards, including gratitude, well-being, fitness, friendship, and even blank templates for custom questions, this activity can be easily tailored to any group. Whether used in classrooms, leadership programs, family sessions, or staff professional development, Naughts & Crosses Reflect & Share promotes meaningful conversations, builds trust, and supports emotional development. The combination of playful strategy and purposeful reflection makes it an ideal tool for fostering deeper relationships and positive interaction.
Respectful Relationships
Understanding & Promoting Equality
Naughts & Crosses Reflect & Share supports students to:
- Promote equal participation, as both players share the same number of turns, opportunities to reflect, and chances to express their thoughts.
- Value each participant’s voice, with both players required to answer questions and reflect before making a move, ensuring balanced contribution.
- Create an inclusive reflective environment, celebrating each student’s unique experiences, insights, and perspectives without comparison or judgment.
Building Healthy Relationships
Naughts & Crosses Reflect & Share helps students to:
- Strengthen connections, as partners share deeper reflections and personal experiences before placing their symbol.
- Build trust and rapport, inviting honest responses and encouraging active listening, mutual respect, and vulnerability.
- Promote positive relational habits, as students support one another’s reflections while engaging in friendly, respectful gameplay.
Developing Communication Skills
Naughts & Crosses Reflect & Share encourages students to:
- Practise clear, thoughtful communication, articulating reflections with honesty and clarity.
- Develop active listening, tuning in to their partner’s responses and acknowledging their experiences.
- Engage in meaningful conversation, strengthening both verbal expression and relational communication through shared reflection.
Enhancing Social & Emotional Intelligence
Naughts & Crosses Reflect & Share supports students to:
- Enhance emotional self-awareness, as they reflect on questions about their thoughts, behaviours, strengths, and past experiences.
- Build empathy, understanding their partner’s feelings and viewpoints through shared reflections.
- Integrate emotional thinking with strategy, balancing reflective insight with game planning to achieve three in a row.
- Develop reflective resilience, sharing openly even when reflections may feel vulnerable or personal.
Challenging Stereotypes
Naughts & Crosses Reflect & Share helps students to:
- Challenge stereotypes around emotional expression, normalising reflection and vulnerability for all genders and personalities.
- Break down assumptions about who is “good” at communication or introspection, as everyone participates equally in both reflection and gameplay.
- Showcase diverse strengths, demonstrating that strategy, empathy, communication, and self-awareness are skills accessible to all students.
Recognising Rights
Naughts & Crosses Reflect & Share empowers students to:
- Understand their right to be heard and respected, knowing their reflections will be valued during the activity.
- Feel safe expressing themselves, as the game’s structure promotes openness within a controlled and respectful environment.
- Recognise their right to authentic connection, experiencing how structured reflection can strengthen trust and belonging between individuals.
- Exercise their right to share at their own pace, choosing the depth and detail of their responses in a supportive setting.
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