Brain Breaks

A brain break is a small activity or motion that the students can do relinquish some energy. Children in elementary school naturally have a lot of energy and don't want to sit in a desk for 8 hours a day. When children are doing an activity for a long time and start to get restless that when a brain break is a great tool for teachers. Using a brain break will help students refocus by releasing some energy.

• Silent Ball- This activity requires space for students to spread out. During this game is should be silent, no one is allowed to make a sound. Students throw a bean bag or a soft ball between classmates. The students cannot throw the ball to the person that threw the ball to them. If a player makes a bad pass, talks or a player misses the ball than that person is out. The game continues until there are two students left standing. They are the champions.
• 5-4-3-2-1- This is a simple way for the students to get up and move. Everybody including the instructor stands up. The instructor then chooses five different movements or exercises for all the students to do in descending order. For example, "Do five jumping jacks, frog jump four times, do three push ups... etc."
• Invisible Pictures- Students need to have partners or small groups for this brain break. The students will go one at a time and draw with their finger in the air. While one student draws in the air the other student or students will guess what he/she is drawing. Each student should get a chance to draw in the air.
• Breathing- Having students focus on their breathing is an easy way for students to relax. Have the students place one hand close to their nose but not touching. Then have the students place their other hand on their stomachs. Instruct the students to be silent and laying down with their eyes closed. Tell them softly to feel their stomachs expand as they breathe in and to feel the warm air as they breathe out. Instruct students that it's okay if thoughts come into their mind as they breathe, tell them to exhale that thought away. Have the students do this for one minute.
• Math Rock, Paper, Scissors

Students will need to be in partners for this activity. It's basically just like rock, paper, scissors shoot. But instead of forming a rock, paper or scissors, the students will put out a number of fingers. It can be one to five fingers but it's their choice. When both have put their numbers out on the signal (shoot) the student that adds the numbers the fastest and shouts out the sum, they will that round. This brain break can be a fun way for students to take a break but practice math while having a good time. Teachers can have students do this for 30 seconds or for five minutes, it's completely up to the teacher.

• What's your name?

For this brain break the teacher should either have a poster or an overhead projection of the alphabet with an indicated number of movements for each letter. For example, for A it could say do three frog jumps. The teacher should then instruct students to spell their name and do all the movements for each letter.

• Freeze Dance

All students spread out to get space. The teacher will play music and all the students will dance. When the music stops all the students freeze. The teacher will then call the names of the students that move while frozen, if the student's name gets called they sit down. The game continues until there is one winner. But this game can be played as many times as the teacher feels necessary.

• Plates

Give each student a paper plate. Students must walk around the room balancing the plates on their heads. If a student drops his or her plate, the student must freeze until another student picks it up and places it back on the student's head (while keeping his or her own plate in place, of course).

• Find it Fast

Call out a color or other trait (something round, something made of wood), and students must find an object in the room that fits the trait and get to it quickly. Give students a time limit if needed.

• Keep it up

Students must keep a beach ball from hitting the ground. Add two or three balls to make it even more fun.

• Trading Places

Have students stand behind their pushed in chairs. Call out a trait, and everyone who has that trait must change places with someone else (students who do not have the trait stay where they are). Examples: "Everyone with curly hair." "Everyone who ate cereal for breakfast." "Everyone who is wearing stripes."