The School of Play Curriculum
Special Education
Week 19 blends expressive drama, self-belief writing, movement circuits, and gratitude play. Open with 'Guess the Action': one student mimics a daily action while the group guesses; right/wrong guesses trigger quick, light fitness exercises (e.g., star jumps or squats). Model big, precise gestures; keep the vibe playful and celebrate every attempt. Shift to Get Fanatical (PAL Letter): Students craft a private 'Proud–Admire–Love' note to themselves, optionally decorating and storing it as a confidence anchor for tough days. Turn up the energy with Movement Path Race: draw a card, move the path by suit (walk/hop/crawl-or-bear-walk/, or skip), and repeat by number. Run multiple students at once to keep the flow and encourage mid-path high-fives. Close with Gratitude Charades: Students act out class-made gratitude prompts (e.g., "helping a friend," "family dinner") while teams guess, score, or choose not to score, then reflect on their responses.
Preparation is minimal (action cards, paper/pencils, a deck of cards, cones/spots, and an open space). Accessibility stays central: offer large visual/symbol cards, AAC/gesture options, seated or upper-body/rolling movements, clear pathways, eye-level displays, buddy support, and extra processing time, with "pass" always okay. Expect gains in expressive communication and observation, self-esteem and positive self-talk, stamina and coordination, persistence, and the shared language of gratitude, wrapped in cheers, choice, and inclusive fun.
Weekly Lessons
Guess the Action
Guess the Action is a high-energy, drama-based game that helps students build expressive communication, confidence, and observation skills in a fun, non-competitive way. Students take turns acting out simple everyday actions, such as brushing teeth, jumping, sleeping, or eating, using only gestures and movement. Their classmates watch carefully and work together to guess the action being performed, practising social awareness, recognition, and collaborative thinking. The game encourages students to be creative and brave while also teaching them how to celebrate one another’s efforts through positive encouragement and enthusiastic guessing.
Whether students are older learners developing expressive clarity or younger learners practising basic recognition, the game strengthens communication and builds a supportive classroom culture. When the group guesses correctly, the actor completes a short physical task; when the guess is incorrect, the group completes it together, turning mistakes into shared fun rather than pressure. With optional visual supports, adapted actions, and flexible participation styles, Guess the Action is accessible for all students, including wheelchair users and non-verbal learners. This quick, engaging activity works perfectly as a warm-up, energiser, or brain break that boosts confidence, creativity, and connection for every student.
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
Get Fanatical
Get Fanatical is a powerful self-reflection activity designed to help students celebrate who they are through the creation of a PAL Letter, a personal message to themselves highlighting what they are Proud of, what they Admire in themselves, and what they Love most about who they are. Through writing, drawing, or speaking, students take a mindful pause to notice their strengths, recall achievements, and acknowledge the qualities that make them unique. This gentle but meaningful process builds positive self-esteem, emotional resilience, and a deep sense of personal pride. It encourages students of all ages to slow down, look inward, and speak kindly to themselves, an essential skill for lifelong well-being.
The activity becomes a personal keepsake students can revisit any time they need a boost of confidence or a reminder of how far they’ve come. Whether students write detailed reflections, draw expressive pictures, or share aloud in safe, optional group discussions, the focus remains on honesty, vulnerability, and self-appreciation. By celebrating their strengths and recognising their growth, students learn to value themselves and develop a positive internal voice. Get Fanatical creates a classroom culture where every student understands that they matter, they have strengths worth celebrating, and they deserve to be their own biggest fan.
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
Movement Path Race
Movement Path Race is an energetic movement-based activity where students travel along a marked pathway using different movement styles depending on the card they draw. Each suit represents a new way of moving, walking, hopping, crawling/bear walking, or skipping, while the number on the card tells students how many laps to complete. This structure keeps students active, engaged, and challenged while giving them an opportunity to practise stamina, coordination, and persistence. Whether students move one lap or ten, the focus remains on effort, safe movement, and having fun with the unpredictability of each new card.
The heart of the activity is encouragement and connection. Students cheer for one another, clap, call out supportive comments, and celebrate each person’s effort, creating a positive and uplifting environment. The game emphasises kindness, teamwork, and confidence-building rather than competition or speed. Across all levels, Movement Path Race supports physical development, emotional resilience, and social connection by giving every student a chance to feel supported, motivated, and proud as they move along the path in their own way.
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
Gratitude Charades
Gratitude Charades is a playful, movement-based guessing game that helps students reflect on the positive people, moments, and experiences in their lives. Instead of speaking, students act out gratitude prompts using body language, gestures, or facial expressions while their peers try to guess what they are showing. This builds creativity, confidence, and an understanding that gratitude can be expressed in many different ways. By turning thankfulness into a game, students learn to recognise the good around them while having fun and feeling safe to participate.
The game also strengthens social connection, teamwork, and empathy as students celebrate each other’s efforts, cheer one another on, and work together to guess the prompts. Whether played in small groups, teams, or as a whole class, Gratitude Charades encourages kindness, inclusion, and confidence in expression. It creates a positive environment where every attempt is valued, every idea is important, and students develop a deeper appreciation for the moments and relationships that bring joy to their lives.
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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