The School of Play Curriculum
Special Education
Week Nineteen encourages students to embrace change with curiosity, courage, and a sense of fun. Inspired by Pluto, small, mysterious, and wonderfully unique, this week helps children learn that unexpected moments can be exciting opportunities to grow. The week begins with Change It Up, a playful twist on familiar games that teaches students to stay calm, attentive, and joyful when rules shift and surprises appear. Students then explore flexible thinking through “New Way” Drawings, reimagining everyday objects in imaginative new forms, helping them enjoy thinking differently and expressing creativity without limits.
The week continues with Obstacle Switcheroo, a lively movement challenge where the obstacle course changes each round, encouraging students to adapt quickly, stay positive, and keep trying even when things feel confusing. To finish, students reflect on the bright side of change with Adapt & Appreciate, drawing moments where unexpected changes led to joy, discovery, or fun. Together, these activities teach children that adaptability is a superpower, that when plans shift, we can still smile, explore, and make the best of what comes our way. Week Nineteen reminds students that, just like Pluto, being flexible and open to the unknown helps us grow into confident, resilient, and wonderfully creative explorers.
Weekly Lessons
Change It Up
Change It Up is a playful adaptability game that encourages students to embrace change with confidence and curiosity. By starting with a familiar activity like Simon Says and gradually introducing surprising twists, students learn to stay flexible, listen carefully, and adjust their behaviour when rules suddenly shift. This helps them practise emotional regulation, open-mindedness, and calmness when things don’t go as expected. Like Pluto, small, mysterious, and full of surprises, this game shows that change can be exciting rather than scary.
Through laughter, movement, and gentle challenges, students discover they can cope with uncertainty while still having fun. Each new rule invites them to think differently, try again, and enjoy a fresh way to play. There is no winning or losing, success is simply in staying adaptable and giving new ideas a go. Change It Up builds a growth mindset by helping students see that when the world shifts, they can shift with it, carrying confidence and positivity into every unexpected moment.
Please note: For students with sensory learning needs or those who utilise an AAC device, please refer to the levels A-B PDF for activity variation ideas and strategies.
Levels A & B download HERE
Levels C & D download HERE
Levels F to 3 download HERE
New Way Drawings
New Way Drawings invites students to stretch their imaginations by taking something familiar and transforming it into something wonderfully unexpected. Inspired by Pluto’s message that not everything needs to follow the usual rules, this activity encourages children to explore creativity, adapt their thinking, and enjoy the freedom of seeing the world differently. By drawing everyday objects in unusual colours, shapes, or styles, students learn that thinking “a new way” can be playful, expressive, and confidence-building.
Through imaginative drawing and optional sharing with the class, students practise adaptability while celebrating their unique ideas. The activity reinforces that creativity thrives when we step outside the ordinary and allow ourselves to explore possibilities. Just as Pluto stands proudly apart in the solar system, students learn that trying something different, even something a little strange, can lead to exciting discoveries and joyful self-expression.
Please note: For students with sensory learning needs or those who utilise an AAC device, please refer to the levels A-B PDF for activity variation ideas and strategies.
Levels A & B download HERE
Levels C & D download HERE
Levels F to 3 download HERE
Obstacle Switcheroo
Obstacle Switcheroo is a playful and energetic activity that builds adaptability through movement. Students navigate a simple obstacle course, but with a twist, each time they complete it, Pluto “switches” part of the course, adding surprises like new actions, reversed directions, or unexpected challenges. As students move, crawl, jump, and balance through the changing course, they learn to stay calm, think flexibly, and adjust to whatever comes next. This helps strengthen both physical coordination and emotional resilience in a fun, pressure-free way.
With each round, students practise responding positively to change rather than feeling overwhelmed by it. They celebrate effort, curiosity, and problem-solving as they laugh, reset, and try again. The shifting course becomes a metaphor for real-life challenges, teaching students that when things don’t go as planned, they can adapt with confidence. Just like Pluto’s unpredictable orbit, the surprises in Obstacle Switcheroo remind young learners that change can be exciting, playful, and full of new possibilities.
Please note: For students with sensory learning needs or those who utilise an AAC device, please refer to the levels A-B PDF for activity variation ideas and strategies.
Levels A & B download HERE
Levels C & D download HERE
Levels F to 3 download HERE
Adapt & Appreciate
Adapt & Appreciate is a reflective and creative activity that helps students recognise the positive side of unexpected moments. By thinking about a recent surprise or change that turned out to be fun, interesting, or joyful, students learn that adaptability can lead to new and happy experiences. This gentle task encourages children to notice small moments of unexpected goodness in their day, strengthening their emotional awareness and flexible thinking.
Students draw a picture of their special moment and share why it made them feel happy or grateful. Through this process, they learn to express emotions, communicate their experiences, and appreciate how change can bring new opportunities. Just like Pluto, which follows its own unique path, this activity reminds children that surprises can be wonderful, and adapting with an open heart helps us discover joy in the unexpected.
Please note: For students with sensory learning needs or those who utilise an AAC device, please refer to the levels A-B PDF for activity variation ideas and strategies.
Levels A & B download HERE
Levels C & D download HERE
Levels F to 3 download HERE
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