The School of Play
Student Agency & Leadership
Well-being Program
Weekly Introduction
Watch this video to start the week where we explain each activity and the top tips to make them incredible and fun.
Fun fact of the week - Venus spins backwards: Unlike most other planets in the Solar System, Venus spins clockwise on its axis.
Weekly Lessons
Dice Spinner
Objective:
This game offers two versions: an icebreaker team-building version and a fitness-focused version. Both are designed to encourage quick thinking, teamwork, and physical activity.
Players:
Groups of four are adaptable for more participants by increasing the number of teams.
Materials:
Each player needs a six-sided dice.
Setup:
Split the group into teams of four. Ensure each player has a dice.
Option One – Icebreaker & Team Building Game Version
Gameplay:
- Round Play: In each round, all four players roll their dice simultaneously, trying to be the first to roll a one.
- Scoring: The first player to roll a one yells "stop," wins the round and earns one point.
- Penalty for Losers: Players who don't roll a one perform body spins – one spin to the right and one to the left in round one, increasing by one each round.
- Game Duration: Play for five minutes. The player with the most points at the end wins.
Option Two – Fitness Dice Team Game Version
Gameplay:
- Starting Position: All players start in a plank position and roll their dice from this position.
- Scoring: As in the icebreaker version, the first to roll a one wins the round and gets a point.
- Fitness Challenge: Players who don't roll a one perform physical activity (like one burpee in round one, increasing each round).
- Game Duration: Play for five to ten minutes. The player with the most points wins.
Winning the Game:
In both versions, the player with the most points at the end of the set time wins.
Variations for Different Settings:
- Children's Edition: Use simpler movements or funny actions instead of spins or burpees.
- Corporate Edition: Focus on team dynamics and communication, adding a brainstorming element for each round.
- Fitness Edition: Intensify the physical challenges using a variety of exercises like push-ups, squats, or lunges.
Additional Notes:
- The game's versatility makes it suitable for different group sizes and settings.
- It's an excellent way to break the ice, encourage team interaction, or add a fitness element to a session.
- Encourage a fun atmosphere and healthy competition to maximise engagement and enjoyment.
Gratitude Pictionary
Objective:
To creatively express and share gratitude through drawing, enhancing understanding and empathy among participants. This game encourages players to visually represent something they are grateful for, with others guessing the meaning behind each drawing.
Players:
Suitable for any group size, from small gatherings to larger classes or teams.
Materials:
- A pen or pencil for each participant.
- A piece of paper for each participant.
Setup:
Distribute pens and paper to all participants. Ensure there's a space available to display the drawings later.
Gameplay:
- Drawing Time: Each player has one minute to draw something they are grateful for. The drawing should be picture-only, with no words, letters, or numbers.
- Guessing Round: After everyone has completed their drawings, participants take turns showing their artwork. The rest of the group gets one chance to guess what the drawing represents and why it might be meaningful to the artist.
- Sharing and Reflection: Once all drawings have been guessed, players share the actual reasons behind their gratitude drawings, enhancing group understanding and connection.
Display:
- Combine all the drawings to create a gratitude wall feature, serving as a visual reminder of shared appreciation and connections within the group.
Winning the Game:
The focus is not on winning but on expression, sharing, and appreciating the diverse aspects of gratitude represented in the group.
Variations for Different Settings:
- Educational Edition: This activity fosters positive classroom dynamics and encourages creative expression.
- Corporate Edition: Adapt as a team-building exercise to enhance workplace empathy and understanding.
- Family Edition: A fun and meaningful activity for family members to learn more about each other's grateful moments.
Additional Notes:
- Gratitude Pictionary is an engaging way to reflect on and share personal joys and appreciation in a creative and non-verbal manner.
- It helps build a sense of community and empathy as participants discover the diverse range of gratitude within the group.
- The resulting gratitude wall becomes a powerful visual reminder of the group's collective thankfulness and positive experiences.
Build Em Up Cards
Objective:
It is a team-based game where participants collect playing cards by running to a deck placed at a distance and performing exercises corresponding to each card. The goal is to accumulate the highest number of cards and complete the associated exercises within a set timeframe or before the deck runs out.
Players:
Divided into two or three teams.
Materials:
- A deck of playing cards.
- An open space for running and exercise.
Setup:
Place the deck of cards about 50 meters away from the teams. Teams start in a static hold position.
Gameplay:
- Card Collection: One member from each team runs to the deck, grabs the top card, and returns to their team.
- Exercise Challenge: The team performs the exercise assigned to that card. Each subsequent card collected adds to the exercise list, accumulating as the game progresses.
- Static Holds: Teams maintain static holds while waiting for their turn to collect cards.
- Joker Card: If a joker is drawn, the team performs a penalty exercise and discards the card.
- Rotation: Team members take turns running to collect cards.
Winning the Game:
The team that accumulates the most cards by the end of the timeframe or upon completion of the deck wins.
Variations for Different Settings:
- Fitness Edition: Introduce varied and challenging exercises for each card.
- Children's Edition: Use more straightforward exercises and shorter distances for running.
- Team Building Edition: Focus on coordination and encouragement among team members.
Additional Notes:
- Build Em Up Cards is an energetic game combining physical activity and strategic team play.
- It encourages teamwork, fitness, and quick thinking.
- The game is adaptable for various group sizes and fitness levels, making it suitable for a wide range of participants.
Giant Gratitude Jenga
Objective:
To encourage gratitude expression through a fun and interactive game. Players remove blocks from a Jenga tower, each associated with a specific gratitude prompt based on the block's colour.
Players:
Suitable for individuals or groups.
Materials:
- A giant Jenga set (54 blocks).
- Four coloured markers: red, yellow, green, and blue.
- A list of gratitude questions or tasks grouped by colour.
- A six-sided dice.
Setup:
Mark each Jenga block with a coloured circle. Stack the blocks in rows of three to build the tower.
Gameplay:
- Players take turns removing a block from the tower.
- The block's colour corresponds to a category of gratitude questions or tasks.
- Players roll a dice to select a specific question or task within that category.
- After addressing the question or task, the player places the block atop the tower.
- The game continues until the tower falls.
Winning the Game:
The focus is on the journey of gratitude rather than winning. The player causing the tower to fall ends the game, but the shared experiences and expressions of gratitude are the real victory.
Variations:
Adapt the gratitude tasks and questions to fit different group dynamics or themes.
Download the video to share HERE.
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