For the benefit of some children in my class, I have decided to introduce more movement breaks and brain breaks in the classroom. I would always have had breaks, and natural transitions (rhymes, claps, etc) as part of my day, but I was looking for some fresh inspiration, and took to my Snapchat for some help (Username is lorrainepinky, in case you're not there already!) and you did not let me down! I was bombarded with suggestions of activities, websites to use and some suggestions of resources to use, so I said I would share them all with all you lovely people :) Thank you to all who contributed, I really appreciate it! I've added my own ones to the ones I got and compiled a fairly comprehensive list. I'm planning on putting each one on a card, or making a fan of ideas, so I can choose one at random to do at different times in the day.
1. Pencil Jumps
Put a pencil on the floor, jump over and back 15 times - you can do it jumping horizontally, vertically, two jumps on one side, two jumps on the other, etc. So many varieties!
2. Guess Who?
Children pick a character from a book/film/TV programme, etc and have X number of questions/guesses.
3. Follow the Leader
Teacher begins as leader and walks around tapping children, and they must join the back of the line. Walk in different patterns around the class, then do silent walking, stamping, tip-toe, little jumps, high knee walking, power walking, slow motion, etc. (As children progress, choose a child to be leader!)
4. Simon Says/Deir Ó Grádaigh
Don't think I need to elaborate!
5. Breathing
Lots of YouTube videos :) (deep breathing, counting breaths, belly breaths, hissing, etc)
6. Stretching
Reach for the sky. Roll your neck. Touch your toes. Arm circles - small and big/clockwise and anticlockwise). Neck circles. Knee to chest. Leg up and over. Opposite elbow to opposite knee. So many different ones to try :)
7. Beach Ball Word Throw
An inflatable beach ball with words written on it. When it's thrown, the catcher must come up with a synonym for that word (that their right thumb lands on!), or put the word into a sentence. Great for the Drumcondra tests for older classes ;)
8. Yoga poses
Again, lots of YouTube channels have excellent classroom resources.
9. Chair Actions
Children sit in their chair, (pulled slightly out from the desk so as to avoid injury!) and perform some actions (swimming, cycling, rowing a boat, 'popping', windmill, etc)
10. Word Tennis
Pass a beanbag/small ball between students and they must say a connected word (Example: teacher - school - children - small - tiny - mouse - cheese - crackers, and so on!) The possibilities are endless!
11. "I went to the ____ and I _____"
(Examples: zoo, shop, school, on the bus, etc)
Again, I don't think I need to elaborate - an oldie, but a goodie!
12. Mirror Me
Children in pairs, one does and action and the other has to mirror.
13. Rock-Paper-Scissors
Again, children in pairs and the traditional game. There are some more modern alternatives, and ones that require more movement, so if you're interested, a quick Google search should help you out :)
14. 'Weightlifting'
(I had to get it in there somewhere!!!) Each child takes their textbook/homework folder/dictionary/pencil tub (anything!) and performs some 'weighted' exercises - bicep curls, overhead press, shoulder press, anything at all really! Just a fun activity and they can 'pretend' that whatever they're lifting is really heavy!!!
Websites:
Go Noodle
Bizzy Breaks (Irish Heart Foundation)
Youtube - The Learning Station
Youtube - Just Dance
Youtube - Brown Bag Films "I'm an Animal"
Youtube - Cosmic Kids Yoga
Youtube - Movement Break Playlist
Youtube - Zumba
Put a pencil on the floor, jump over and back 15 times - you can do it jumping horizontally, vertically, two jumps on one side, two jumps on the other, etc. So many varieties!
2. Guess Who?
Children pick a character from a book/film/TV programme, etc and have X number of questions/guesses.
3. Follow the Leader
Teacher begins as leader and walks around tapping children, and they must join the back of the line. Walk in different patterns around the class, then do silent walking, stamping, tip-toe, little jumps, high knee walking, power walking, slow motion, etc. (As children progress, choose a child to be leader!)
4. Simon Says/Deir Ó Grádaigh
Don't think I need to elaborate!
5. Breathing
Lots of YouTube videos :) (deep breathing, counting breaths, belly breaths, hissing, etc)
6. Stretching
Reach for the sky. Roll your neck. Touch your toes. Arm circles - small and big/clockwise and anticlockwise). Neck circles. Knee to chest. Leg up and over. Opposite elbow to opposite knee. So many different ones to try :)
7. Beach Ball Word Throw
An inflatable beach ball with words written on it. When it's thrown, the catcher must come up with a synonym for that word (that their right thumb lands on!), or put the word into a sentence. Great for the Drumcondra tests for older classes ;)
8. Yoga poses
Again, lots of YouTube channels have excellent classroom resources.
9. Chair Actions
Children sit in their chair, (pulled slightly out from the desk so as to avoid injury!) and perform some actions (swimming, cycling, rowing a boat, 'popping', windmill, etc)
10. Word Tennis
Pass a beanbag/small ball between students and they must say a connected word (Example: teacher - school - children - small - tiny - mouse - cheese - crackers, and so on!) The possibilities are endless!
11. "I went to the ____ and I _____"
(Examples: zoo, shop, school, on the bus, etc)
Again, I don't think I need to elaborate - an oldie, but a goodie!
12. Mirror Me
Children in pairs, one does and action and the other has to mirror.
13. Rock-Paper-Scissors
Again, children in pairs and the traditional game. There are some more modern alternatives, and ones that require more movement, so if you're interested, a quick Google search should help you out :)
14. 'Weightlifting'
(I had to get it in there somewhere!!!) Each child takes their textbook/homework folder/dictionary/pencil tub (anything!) and performs some 'weighted' exercises - bicep curls, overhead press, shoulder press, anything at all really! Just a fun activity and they can 'pretend' that whatever they're lifting is really heavy!!!
Websites:
Go Noodle
Bizzy Breaks (Irish Heart Foundation)
Youtube - The Learning Station
Youtube - Just Dance
Youtube - Brown Bag Films "I'm an Animal"
Youtube - Cosmic Kids Yoga
Youtube - Movement Break Playlist
Youtube - Zumba
So, I'm going to leave this blog post here - I hope you've found it helpful, and as always, any requests, questions or comments, please do contact me! Share with a friend if you've found this helpful :)
Movement/brain breaks are so SO important and I've seen such a great improvement in my children's concentration, focus and behaviour, and I've only been doing them properly since Monday morning!!!! Why not give it a try and let me know how you get on! :)
Movement/brain breaks are so SO important and I've seen such a great improvement in my children's concentration, focus and behaviour, and I've only been doing them properly since Monday morning!!!! Why not give it a try and let me know how you get on! :)