Playworks

Find out how Riverside Primary's PlayWorks programme builds critical thinking and character in pupils through hands-on, creative problem-solving activities.

Last updated 28 July 2026

Colorful educational poster titled The Riverside PlayWorks Protocol featuring a watermill wheel with learning steps and the word SPARKLES.

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.

Three children in yellow and red shirts write on papers at a table with a small cardboard structure.

Four children in green uniforms sit around a blue desk with pencil cases, markers, and a paper worksheet.

Riverians engaged in active discussions and reflections with their peers and teachers during PlayWorks activities.

Implementation of PlayWorks in Riverside

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.

PlayWorks signature modules by level, theme and medium

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

Four masked children gather around a clear bin filled with colorful Lego bricks, building together.

Four masked children in colorful school uniforms stand beside a table with a small Lego construction in a classroom.

P1 and P2 Riverians working together to come out with their group solutions using Lego bricks.

Four smiling children in blue and yellow uniforms hold up small illustrated cards at a classroom desk.

A teacher guides students at an orange table with colorful learning materials and a bucket of candy-colored pieces.

P3 and P4 Riverians made use of paper and other recycled materials to solve problem scenarios that are relatable to their daily lives.

Students in yellow uniforms and face masks work on an activity in a classroom.

Colorful children's artwork pieces spread out on a wooden floor near a window.

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

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.

A young girl wearing glasses and a pink mask works on a craft project at a table with a paper plate and glue.

Child's hands applying white glue to red pipe cleaners on a dark table, with blue scissors nearby.

Students make use of the different types of materials to create an item related to the theme: A Gift for A Friend.