Playworks
What is PlayWorks?
PlayWorks is Riverside’s original curriculum innovation and Applied Learning Programme (ALP) to nurture Critical and Inventive Thinking in our Joyful and Purposeful Learners. PlayWorks engages our Riverians in critical and inventive thinking and collaborative problem solving, using different design materials and tools. Our Riverians also nurture values and build character through their involvement in PlayWorks.
The PlayWorks protocol has five inventive processes (Understand, Plan, Design, Build and Improvise) and three essential processes (Communication, Collaboration and Reflection). The “Sparkling with Character in Purposeful Play” framework spells out the behavioural expectations based on the school’s SPARKLE Values. For example, Riverians are expected to demonstrate Perseverance by never giving up and Adaptability by being open-minded and flexible when engaged in PlayWorks.
Riverians engaged in active discussions and reflections with their peers and teachers during PlayWorks activities.
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Our school engages Riverians in PlayWorks through two prongs: Signature Experience and Pervasive Application. In Signature Experience, there is a signature module at every grade level which uses different mediums and tools as shown in the table below.
Level Theme Medium Involved P1 LegoWorks
“Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”Lego P2 LegoWorks
“The Three Little Bunnies and the Big Bad Wolf”Lego P3 PaperWorks
“Redesign the Game that We Once Played”Paper P4 ParkWorks
“Building a Park that Meets Community Needs”Recycled Materials P5 UpWorks
“Transforming Trash to Treasure”Discarded Materials P6 HeartWorks
“Leaving a Mark”Discarded Materials
P1 and P2 Riverians working together to come out with their group solutions using Lego bricks.
P3 and P4 Riverians made use of paper and other recycled materials to solve problem scenarios that are relatable to their daily lives.
P5 and P6 Riverians learnt about the importance of upcycling to ensure a sustainable future. They made use of waste pallet wood to create artefacts. The graduating cohorts made use of the wood tiles to design what the school meant to them. In Pervasive Application, Riverside’s PlayWorks Protocol is applied across various disciplines (i.e. Composition Writing, Science Performance Tasks, Art and VIA projects etc. ) It is essentially a relevant problem-solving protocol that we hope Riverians can use beyond the six years in Riverside. -
Tinkerspace is Riverside’s own makerspace which is conducted once a month during the recesses. Riverians put on their creative, critical and inventive thinking caps to explore different materials and tools to solve various scenarios through hands-on activities.
Students make use of the different types of materials to create an item related to the theme: A Gift for A Friend.
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Building Self, Supporting One Another, Serving the Community Together.
PeerWorks is one of Riverside Primary School’s Distinctive Programme, which aims to cultivate exemplary character traits and a service mindset in every Riverian, nurturing their empathy to serve their peers and community. PeerWorks leverages MOE’s Peer Support Framework (Figure 1) to design a progression from self to peers to community, highlighting that individual well-being is intertwined with the quality of peer relationships. These dynamics, in turn, significantly impact the overall health and vitality of a community. This approach underscores the importance of cultivating a strong foundation at the individual level (self-awareness, self-management and personal growth) and peer level (social awareness and relationship management) to foster positive contributions to the broader community through responsible decision making.
What is Riverside's PeerWorks?
Building on MOE’s Peer Support Framework, Riverside’s PeerWorks expands into the following three domains:
- Peer Bonding
- Peer Helping
- Peer Influencing
What is our PeerWorks Model (Figure 2)?
There are two tiers of implementation of Peer Support Relationships:
- Tier 1: Every student is a peer supporter
- Tier 2: Selected students as Peer Support Leaders (PSL) to lead, champion and advocate PSR efforts
Implementation of PeerWorks in Riverside Our school engages Riverians in PeerWorks through two tiers: In Tier 1, every Riverian is a Peer Supporter and is equipped with the following modules:
- Building Friendships and Connections
- Caring for One Another
- Understanding and Supporting Others
- Being a Positive Influence
- Leading with Compassion
- Serving the Community
All Riverians are encouraged to be peer supporters across the three PSR domains through their everyday interactions and natural friendships. Support is often reciprocal, as students learn to look out for one another, offer help, listen with empathy, and include their peers. These simple yet meaningful actions help to strengthen positive relationships and foster a strong sense of belonging within the school community.
For Primary 3 to 6, selected Riverians are trained to take on additional responsibilities as Peer Support Leaders (PSL). These student leaders help to look out for peers who may feel lonely or isolated and reach out to befriend and support them. They also provide a listening ear for students who may be experiencing difficulties, offering encouragement and care when needed. As positive role models, Peer Support Leaders influence others by promoting positive mindsets, pro-social behaviour, and good character. Through their leadership and example, they help to strengthen a caring and supportive school culture where every student feels valued and supported. Together, through both levels of peer support, we nurture a community within and beyond the school, built on empathy, care, and shared responsibility.
