Exploring Emotions and Identity
Throughout Term 1, Grade 3 and 4 students at Boroondara Park Primary School have been diving into a meaningful unit focused on emotions, identity, and decision-making. Using the Victorian Curriculum as a guide, the program helped students explore what emotions they might experience in challenging situations and how those emotions influence their responses and choices.
They’ve learnt how social, emotional, and physical changes, along with values and stereotypes, contribute to shaping identity. Discussions around these themes encouraged students to reflect on their own experiences and develop self-awareness.
Practising Safe Choices and Emotional Responses
A key part of the program focused on strategies for managing strong emotions and making safe, respectful decisions. Through role-playing, group discussions, and interactive activities, students practised saying “no”, identifying safe and unsafe choices, and recognising how emotions impact our actions. These activities supported the development of key life skills such as empathy, assertiveness, and resilience—skills that students will carry with them beyond the classroom.
Designing a Game to Teach Others
To wrap up the unit, students worked in small groups to design a creative and engaging board game. The goal? To help others better understand emotions and how to navigate them. Each group developed a unique gameboard and designed gameplay using emotion cards to spark conversation and promote emotional literacy.
The highlight of the project was sharing their games with the school community at the Whole School Expo. Classrooms buzzed with excitement and laughter as families joined in playing these student-created games. It was a fantastic celebration of student voice, collaboration, and creativity.
Home Learning: Learning From Adults
To deepen the personal learning, students were given a home task—interviewing an adult in their life to learn more about their identity, values, and life experiences. The interviews offered rich insight, helping students understand how others manage emotions and make decisions.
The task included reflection questions encouraging students to think about what they had learnt and how they could apply this advice in their own lives. Many students proudly shared their interviews with their class, creating thoughtful discussions and meaningful takeaways.
A Fitting End to a Thoughtful Term
This unit, known as The Game of Life, has been a highlight of Term 1 for our Year 3 and 4 students. From building emotional vocabulary to applying real-world decision-making strategies, students have grown in confidence, empathy, and understanding.
As we close out a busy and fulfilling term, we wish all our students and families a restful and enjoyable holiday break. We look forward to continuing our learning journey in Term 2, with even more opportunities for exploration, connection, and growth.