🎓 5 Brain Break Activities Guaranteed to Have Your Students Thanking You!

What’s Inside This Week:

• The Big Picture: 5 Quick & Easy Brain Break Activities

• Classroom Hack: Enhance your Classroom’s Time Management

• Connecting the Dots: Links to my Favorite Educational Highlights from this Week

Happy Tuesday,

I hope you’re having a great start to your week. In this weeks Thinking Cap, we’re delving into simple yet effective brain breaks to rejuvenate and refocus students during class.

Brain breaks are designed to promote physical well-being, mental clarity, creativity, and enhance the overall learning experience in your classroom. I made sure to include activities that require no prep and are also easy to incorporate into your classroom.

Continue reading below to get an in depth explanation of my favorite brain break activities and see how they can boost student engagement.

-Brandon

🏆 5 Brain Break Activities for Enhanced Classroom Learning

1. Quick Stretching Exercises

Quick stretching exercises are a fantastic way to break up the monotony of the day and get students moving. They promote physical well-being and help students refocus on learning. It’s an easy, no-prep way to incorporate a quick Brain Break.

I have found great value in implementing a quick stretch break in the middle of long 90-minute class periods or in between lesson activities. Simple stretches or yoga poses can help students release physical tension and refocus. Here is an easy to follow guide for seated stretching exercises. (Link)

2. Mindfulness Moments

Mindfulness moments are like a mental reset button in the classroom. I appreciate how they create a calm and focused atmosphere, benefiting both students' stress levels and their ability to concentrate. This brain break involves taking a few minutes for breathing exercises or silent meditation.

A helpful tip that I have learned from my experience is to have the students clear their desks of everything and then turn the classroom lights off to set the tone. Here is a script that I have read to my students while playing relaxing music. (Link)

3. Energizing Movement Breaks

Energizing movement breaks inject a burst of energy into the class. They are a fun way to re-energize students and keep their enthusiasm for learning high.

Use this list to get ideas for incorporating brief, high-energy activities, like a quick dance or a series of jumping jacks, to invigorate students and boost their energy levels. (Link)

4. Silent Reading Time

Silent reading time is a cherished moment of tranquility in the classroom. It provides students with the opportunity to unwind, explore their interests, and build a love for reading.

Offer a period of silent reading as a calming break. This allows students to relax with a book of their choice, promoting both literacy and tranquility.

5. Finish the Story or Picture

This brain break encourages students to unleash their imagination. I find it incredible how such unstructured activities can spark creativity and refresh student minds.

Give the students a fun drawing prompt or writing prompt and allow the students to work for a short period of time. I typically let the students share out their funny drawings and written responses.

Finish the Drawing Print Outs: (Link)

Writing Prompts for all Grade Levels: (Link)

✏️ Steal this Classroom Hack:

• Giant Classroom Timer

👍 Why I love this hack:

Classroom timers are invaluable tools for educators. Timers can assist teachers with smooth transitions between class activities, reduce downtime, and maintain a steady pace throughout the lesson. However, my favorite aspect of using a timer is the sense of urgency it creates for students to complete their work.

My favorite feature of this particular timer is that it is magnetic enabling you to stick it to your whiteboard. The giant numbers and loud beeper also make it ideal for class management during tests, group work, or quiet reading time.

✅ Have a classroom hack that you would like to share? Reply to this email and let me know what awesome hack you’ve created. (I can even include it in next weeks newsletter - with a shout out, of course!)

📚 Highlights from this Week:

• Research Tested Benefits of Brain Breaks: A more detailed summary of how and why Brain Breaks are effective. (Link)

• A Study of the Effects of Brain Breaks on 1000 Students: A recent study involving over 1000 primary school children found that in-class physical activity breaks positively impact students' health, cognitive function, and academic performance. (Link)

• Zero: Zero explores the history and significance of the seemingly simple number zero, from its mystical origins to its pivotal role in mathematics. (Link)

• Mathcation: Use code 5Dollars on a Monthly Membership to get your first month for just $5! (Link)

Thank you for reading The Thinking Cap!

Please share this email if you got something out of it.

Send me a reply if you have something to share with me and I will respond to you. (Seriously, I read and respond to all my replies)