Brain Gymnastics

• Scratch paper

• Slides to display

Brain Gymnastics forces students to use both sides of their brain simultaneously. It can be used when students need a quick brain break from their work. 

1. Ask students to take out a piece of scratch paper. 

2. Instruct students that when they hear, "Go," they need to WRITE as many numbers as they can- counting by 1 (e.g., write 1, 2, 3, 4....)- as fast as they can, until they hear, STOP.

3. After calling, "Stop," have students put their pencils down. 

4. Next, instruct students that when they hear, "Go" this time, they need to WRITE as many numbers counting by 1 as fast as they can, and at the same time SAY numbers counting by 2 as fast as they can.  

To increase rigor: 

• Choose more challenging patterns for students to write and say. Any number pattern can be used. Some examples include: write numbers by 1, count aloud backwards from 100 to 1, write numbers by 5, count aloud by 2. 

To increase scaffolding: 

• Allow students to work with a partner for the third step. One partner will count by 1 writing the numbers, while the other partner will count by 2 saying the numbers.

• Provide students with two number lines, one counting by 1 and the other by 2.