Brain breaks are great for improved cognitive functioning, resolving behavior issues, and enhanced learning readiness. Regular brain breaks can enhance attentiveness, concentration, and focus which means a win for teachers and students. Brain breaks also promote movement and circulation which help those squirmy students get the wiggles out.
It is easy to add brain breaks into the classroom. They are good to use every day, but this is not always possible. Try to incorporate them when you can and your students will thank you for it.
Here are some tried and true ideas for giving kids some brain relief.
Minute to win it – There are a ton of minute to win it type of games out there if you just do a Google search. The Minute to win it type games are great fun and students really get into it. Students can stack Fruit Loops or use a straw to blow a fuzzball across the table. Whatever game you choose, it will be great fun for the entire class. Some tips to consider are choosing games: Pick ones that are easy to set up and games that are quick to complete. Don’t drag them out. Brain breaks should be short and sweet.
Play-doh – Give students a can of play-doh and one minute to create an animal, food, or emoji emotion (or whatever you want them to make). After one minute is up the student will have a partner guess what it is. Tell them to guess wisely, they only get three guesses.
Dance Party – This is simple, no prep brain break. Turn on some music and let the students dance. Have some more fun by leading the dance line around the classroom. You can even find a short YouTube video that shows some dance steps that students must follow.
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.”
Line Up Using a Specific Criteria – Time students to see how quickly they can get into lines. I like to separate the class into 2 teams then I signal for them to line up by age, height or alphabetical by first or last name. Of course, you can have them get into lines by likes and don’t likes or have or have not.
Brain Breaks for At Home Students
GIFs – Make a slide deck of GIFs and have students imitate the movements and poses.
Yoga – Create a series of stretches to get students up and moving their bodies from the continuous sitting. Remember to look for neck, back and shoulder movements.
Jokes – Share some jokes. You can even make these deaf humor focused and get some bang for your buck.
Scavenger Hunts – This is a quick and easy one. Have student slook for an item that starts with a specific letter or something that is a specific color.
Brain breaks are great for students. Try one this week.
Don’t forget to share your favorite brain break in the Creative ASL Teaching group.
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