Have you ever planned the most perfect lesson? A lesson that you thought would excite your kiddos and keep them engaged? Only to realize when you actually teach the lesson, your students aren’t really reacting the way you had hoped?
I remember these instances. It was exasperating and disappointing. Standing there, trying to figure out what went wrong. Maybe my students were too tired after coming in from lunch recess. Maybe it was a rainy day and our emotions were just shot. Maybe my excitement for the subject matter wasn’t conveyed thoroughly. So many maybes!
Something that helped me during these most aggravating moments were BRAIN BREAKS.
Short activities for your students that change the monotony of a failed lesson and help you regroup to move forward.
Brain breaks have been scientifically proven to improve concentration and relieve stress. The most effective brain breaks involved a bit of physical activity and last about 1 to 3 minutes. Ideally, brain breaks should occur often in your classroom…every 25-30 minutes. It’s a great stimulant for both student and teacher!
To start off the new school year, I have created 30 brain breaks for you to use with your kiddos.
Here’s how you can implement these in your classroom:
- Print these bad boys on card stock and laminate for durability.
- Paste the circles on Popsicle sticks and place your thirty brain breaks in a container.
- Keep these handy during your lessons!
- You can grab a stick when you feel your kiddos need a break. Use the information sheet and song lyrics to help you complete the task with your students.
- You can also pick a well-behaved student to come pick a stick as well. This option totally helps with behavior management as well!
These brain breaks can help get your lessons back on track. They’ll boost your students’ brain power and help both you and them to finish the day STRONG!
Here are my 30 brain breaks:
Grab your brain breaks here!