Brain Breaks

What makes us move, makes us think. New learning follows established motor patterns first, before it is stored in the cortex. Therefore, if we teach our students to move better, the better thinkers they will become. The brain seeks patterns. Locomotor movements are built on patterns; for example crawling, walking or riding a bike. Information that is arranged in patterns is more easily processed, retained and retrieved. For example if you are trying to remember a list of items, you will have better success if you arrange them in such a way that you can easily retrieve. Mnemonics, such as “Roy G Biv” help us remember the order of the colors in a rainbow or “Never Eat Soggy Waffles” helps us remember the cardinal directions.

Kids need bilateral skills so that the right and left sides of their brains can communicate. It’s this connection that allows the two sides of the body to move together in coordination to perform a wide variety of learning and leisure tasks like reading, writing, running and riding a bike. This not only works with physical activity, but also mental activity. The term ‘midline’ refers to the invisible line running from our head to our toes, dividing the body into left and right halves. When the midline is crossed, the brain begins to make new connections and the right and left hemispheres begin to work together. This communication process organizes the brain for better concentration and problem solving. Crossing the midline integrates brain hemispheres to enable the brain to organize itself. When students perform cross lateral activities, blood flow is increased in all parts of the brain, making it more alert and energized for stronger, more cohesive learning. Movements that cross the midline join the cognitive and motor regions of the brain.