The School of Play Curriculum
Special Education
Week 17 braids calm focus, big-picture kindness, high-energy connection, and number-play reflection. Open with Card Towers Together: pairs/small groups build the tallest tower in 5 minutes; model encouraging language, celebrate rebuilds, and (for accessibility) use stable tables, thicker/laminated cards or holders, and allow leaning against a wall. Shift to One Wish for the World: students write/draw one world wish, explain why it matters, then name a small action they can do this week. Share outs can be spoken, drawn, or via AAC. Turn the room social with Mingle, Mingle, Mingle: students circulate, freeze on your cue, and group by category (fave colour/food/season); praise both common answers and unique ones to celebrate individuality. Close with Tic-Tac-Toe Ten: roll a die, place numbers in a 3×3 grid, aim for any three that sum to ten; winners answer a short gratitude prompt, others complete a quick movement (swap to arm raises/claps/seated twists as needed).
Preparation is minimal (a deck of cards, paper/pencils, drawn 3×3 grids, and an open space). Accessibility stays front and centre: offer visual prompts and sentence starters, AAC/symbol cards, wider pathways and seated/upper-body options, number tokens instead of writing, and extra processing time; “pass” is always okay. Expect gains in fine-motor control, patience, resilience, empathy, agency, social confidence, listening, and strategic numeracy, all of which are encompassed in teamwork, choice, and joyful, inclusive participation.
Weekly Lessons
Card Towers Together
Card Towers Together is a hands-on, collaborative challenge designed to strengthen teamwork, resilience, and fine motor skills through playful construction. Working in pairs or small groups, students race against time to build the tallest card tower they can, learning to communicate clearly, take turns, and support each other, especially when the tower comes crashing down. The activity encourages patience, problem-solving, and staying calm under pressure, helping students recognise that mistakes and setbacks are simply opportunities to try again. With teachers modelling positive language and groups engaging in shared decision-making, students experience the joy and connection that come from working together toward a shared goal.
Across all age levels, the game highlights the importance of encouragement and kindness. Students learn to celebrate effort, not just success, and reflect on the teamwork, persistence, and emotional skills that helped them through the challenge. Whether they are adding cards one by one, adapting roles for accessibility, or joining towers to create a ‘super structure,’ students discover that collaboration, creativity, and resilience make them stronger together. Card Towers Together creates a calm yet energising atmosphere where every student, regardless of ability, can participate meaningfully, feel valued, and experience the pride of persevering as a team.
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
One Wish for the World
One Wish for the World is a reflective, creativity-rich activity that invites students to think deeply about kindness, empathy, and the type of world they hope to live in. Through drawing, writing, or sharing, students identify one meaningful wish, such as protecting nature, spreading kindness, helping people feel safe, or making communities happier, and explain why this wish matters to them personally. By connecting their wish to their own values, feelings, and experiences, students practise self-awareness while learning to consider the needs of others and the world around them. This simple but powerful activity helps students see themselves as active contributors to a more caring and positive world.
Students then take their reflection a step further by identifying one small, achievable action they can take to help bring their wish to life. Whether it’s picking up litter, including someone who is alone, turning off lights to save energy, or using kind words with others, these actions help students see how little steps can create big change. The activity can be shared individually, with partners, in small groups, or as a whole-class project, offering multiple ways for students to connect, listen, and celebrate each other’s hopes for a better world. The focus is not on winning but on thoughtful reflection, meaningful expression, and empowering students to believe that even the smallest actions can make a real difference.
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
Mingle Mingle Mingle
Mingle Mingle Mingle is a joyful, high-energy connection game that helps students build confidence, practise sharing about themselves, and discover what they have in common with their peers. As students walk, skip, or tiptoe around the room chanting “Mingle, mingle, mingle!”, they practise safe movement, social awareness, and active listening. When the teacher calls out a category, such as favourite colour, food, animal, game, or season, students quickly form groups based on their answers. This simple structure encourages students to find shared interests, interact with new classmates, and feel a sense of belonging through positive, low-pressure social exchanges.
Once in groups, students proudly share their answers with the class, learning more about each other while practising respectful listening and celebrating differences. Teachers highlight both common interests and unique responses, reinforcing that individuality is just as special as similarity. Through repeated rounds, the game builds social confidence, communication skills, and community spirit. No one “wins”, success comes from moving safely, connecting with classmates, and celebrating what makes each person both similar and beautifully unique.
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
Tic Tac Toe Ten
Tic Tac Toe Ten is a fun, fast-paced game that blends numeracy, strategy, fitness, and positive reflection in one engaging experience. Players take turns rolling a dice and placing the number into a square on a tic-tac-toe grid, aiming to be the first to create a row of three numbers that add up to exactly ten. Along the way, students build strategic-thinking and early maths skills as they consider where to place their numbers and how to block or create winning combinations. The game stays energetic with movement breaks and quick-fire rounds, making it a great mix of thinking and doing for learners of all ages and abilities.
After each round, players engage in a meaningful reflection or movement challenge. The winning player answers a gratitude or positive reflection prompt, helping them practise self-awareness, kindness, and emotional literacy. The other player completes a short fitness task, keeping the game active, fun, and inclusive. Students finish each session feeling accomplished, connected, and more aware of their strengths and the positive moments in their lives. Everyone “wins” by building number confidence, staying active, and practising gratitude in a playful and supportive environment.
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
.avif)
