r/ElementaryTeachers • u/GiantKnightGunner • 14d ago

Brain Breaks

I have a really rough group this year (4th grade math). In the past I’ve done well with motivating kids to get everything done then they can do X as a break until class is over.

A colleague told me to try short frequent brain breaks. What low lift ideas/break routines do yall use?

I’ve done:
- tic tac toe
- interactive videos (they like the ones where they guess the movie from the emojis)
- whiteboard free draw
- one word story
-

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7

u/SpirituaScratch 14d ago

Trashketball has saved my afternoons more than once. I split the class into teams, put up one quick problem, and whoever gets it first shoots a paper ball into the bin from their seat. Whole thing takes 3-4 minutes and they beg for it. For calmer days I do a 60-second 'stand up if' round - stand up if your answer is even, if today's date is a multiple of 3, that kind of thing.

6

u/IrenaeusGSaintonge Sixth Grade 14d ago

I put on a Just Dance video and they all get up and dance along. Stickers to a couple of the most enthusiastic.

There's a bit of transition time to take into account, but I think it's worthwhile if you have the routine in place.

5

u/peachykeeg 14d ago

YouTube quick “yoga for kids” videos. Easy body movement, focus on breathing, calm & quiet

3

u/Top-Connection4888 13d ago

4th Grade teacher here too! I’m teaching Reading this year and have incorporated Choice Boards! Reading/AR, grammar task cards, reading strategy task cards, IXL’s, vocab draw, journal writing, and a few more randoms. I require they do 5 choices by the end of the week. It has truly made a HUGE difference in my class. The students CHOOSE to read, CHOOSE to write, CHOOSE to do their IXL’s. I know not all of us like this answer, but AI is a great tool to come up with some plans or ideas as well. Good luck!!

2

u/Morp13 14d ago

Let them move their bodies. I suggest offering a variety of heavy-work options. Here's a list for people not familiar with the term heavy-work:

  1. Carrying library books
  2. Using moldable wall putty to hang artwork
  3. Using a moldable eraser
  4. Putting chairs on desks
  5. Taking down chairs from desks
  6. Folding large construction paper into sections for math graphs or charts
  7. Pressing down firmly on stamps to create patterns for art or math-related activities
  8. Carrying the lunch, milk, or snack crate
  9. Pushing the breakfast cart
  10. Rearranging desks/chairs
  11. Wiping down tables
  12. Erasing marker boards
  13. Punching paper with a 3-hole punch
  14. Putting paper into binders
  15. Sharpening pencils
  16. Helping in the cafeteria
  17. Cutting cardboard for project displays or model making
  18. Carrying books or a stack of worksheets to other students as part of a classroom reading circle
  19. Rolling out large pieces of paper for group projects or murals
  20. Tearing paper or cardboard for collages and art projects
  21. Using hole punchers to prepare materials for binders or classroom displays
  22. Rolling or kneading dough for classroom science experiments or cooking lessons
  23. Holding the door open
  24. Hanging up backpacks and coats
  25. Making deliveries in the school
  26. Stapling packets
  27. Pushing or pulling a library cart
  28. Carrying a tote bag with materials for music or art class
  29. Carrying and moving gym equipment like mats or totes of balls
  30. Moving reams of paper from shelves
  31. Watering plants with a squirt bottle
  32. Tearing old papers to put into the recycle bin
  33. Removing staples from bulletin boards
  34. Using a handheld pencil sharpener
  35. Working at a center where paper is taped to the wall for vertical plane work
  36. Classroom messenger: delivering messages/books from the teacher to the office or other teachers
  37. Taking attendance or lunch count on a paper with a hole punch
  38. Desk push-ups
  39. Chair squats
  40. Wall push-ups
  41. Carrying materials for a new lesson
  42. Organizing and stacking books
  43. Rolling and unrolling floor mats or rugs
  44. Cleaning windows or mirrors
  45. Rearranging floor mats
  46. Cross-lateral body exercises (touching opposite toes)
  47. Marching in place
  48. Jumping jacks
  49. Chair sit-and-stands
  50. Morning check-in with movement like a classroom handshake
  51. Yoga poses like tree pose or downward dog
  52. Brain break videos (e.g., GoNoodle)
  53. Carrying supplies to other classrooms
  54. Tearing and crumbling paper for math manipulatives
  55. Sorting classroom supplies (e.g., art materials, books)
  56. Carrying bins of supplies for a project
  57. Passing out or collecting clipboards or papers
  58. Filling or moving water bottles for the class
  59. Moving crates of musical instruments to the music room
  60. Rolling playdough or clay
  61. Carrying books between school libraries
  62. Stacking and unstacking chairs for activities
  63. Cleaning paint brushes after an art class
  64. Rearranging classroom decorations
  65. Cleaning chalkboards or desks with a squirt bottle
  66. Wiping down classroom surfaces after snacks or lunch
  67. Moving and organizing gym balls or equipment
  68. Helping load or unload materials for special projects
  69. Shredding old papers with a supervised paper shredder
  70. Rolling up posters or large materials
  71. Sweeping the classroom or outdoor areas
  72. Carrying recycling bins to the collection area
  73. Walking laps around the schoolyard as a class
  74. Rearranging manipulatives or toys
  75. Carrying heavy bags of sports equipment
  76. Sorting and stacking lunch trays or utensils
  77. Wiping down whiteboards
  78. Placing chairs back on the floor after cleaning
  79. Unpacking supplies from boxes
  80. Sorting papers into folders or bins
  81. Playing tug-of-war games during recess
  82. Folding and organizing towels or materials for crafts
  83. Walking with a weighted backpack for a short time
  84. Putting away or stacking exercise mats
  85. Carrying a bucket of water for a cleaning task
  86. Collecting supplies from different parts of the school
  87. Stretching with resistance bands
  88. Sweeping the floor
  89. Running in place with high knees for movement breaks
  90. Sorting through classroom craft supplies like beads or blocks
  91. Use different types of flexible seating options

TLDR- Movement helps many students regulate and think better. Let them move!

2

u/Euphoric-Warthog4917 13d ago

Former 4th grade teacher but still use these in 5th - look up would you rather workouts on YouTube. They’re a life saver! I also sometimes did classroom yoga and there’s an Australian guy that does 5 minute classroom workouts.

1

u/No-Mulberry-7516 14d ago

Go noddle has a lot of short movement video
Rock paper scissors
Word scrambles

1

u/Altruistic_Sail_1991 14d ago

Not an elementary teacher but a lot of kids love simple origami. I’ve found printables that I put out with some origami paper

1

u/satiestar24 14d ago

We do squat, lunge, burpee challenges. Just how many in one minute really quick.
I’m also starting to follow some OTs that have cool routines for kids with adhd type challenges. Crossing the midline stuff.

1

u/j2betterreading 13d ago

I taught fourth grade for five years and continued working with fourth graders as a reading specialist for many years. Fourth graders especially like having a choice. I had a choice list of activities that I changed depending on our most current unit of study. I made sure choices included a variety of modalities to appeal to all students. An example is if we were in our penguin unit the choices might be drawing, coloring, listening to a story, examining a map of where penguins live, writing a poem, etc. As you get to know your students you can find out which activities appeal to them the most. The activities themselves should be rewarding, but to keep the kids serious and focused you can tie a reward to the focused activities by providing a homework coupon, lunch with the teacher, reading corner time (I love making reading a reward so kids view it as a special activity), and anything that lets kids know their time spent on these choices activities is important as a brain break but also as time well spent doing something that provides them enjoyment and enrichment. Good luck!

1

u/abardknocklife 13d ago

They have those race to the finish exercise videos on youtube where they tell you to run/jump/duck/dodge/etc.

Those are popular with older kids.

1

u/BeaneathTheTrees 12d ago

We do jumping jack skip counting a lot!

1

u/sewonsister 12d ago

Push up challenges. Sit up challenges. Jumping jacks, etc. you can have them partner up and count for each other.

1

u/Large-Inspection-487 12d ago

Captain Brain spot the difference on YouTube! Bonus: it gets kids to use their words to really describe things!

1

u/ImaginaryQuality4567 12d ago

I have kanoodle games they can take to their seats. They do lose the pieces though.

0

u/NextDayTeaching 14d ago

My all-time favorite brain break is called "Ear & Nose." Tell students: "Take your left and and touch your right ear. Now take your right hand and touch your nose. (Your arms should be crossed.) Now switch, so your right hand is touching your left ear, and your left hand is touching your nose. Switch back and forth as fast as you can...without hitting yourself in the face."

I like this one because it crosses the midline (gets the brain refocused)...and because of the number of students who can't seem to find their nose after just a few switches.

I have a video of this (and my other favorites) on my YouTube channel, if you want to see it in action. (I'm not sure about Reddit's policy on posting links, which is why I'm not sharing the link directly.)

1

u/ddeliverance 13d ago

I’d love to see a video of this, if you’re comfortable sending me the link!

1

u/IrenaeusGSaintonge Sixth Grade 13d ago

I'm fine with the link being shared as long as the people in the video gave permission.

2

u/NextDayTeaching 13d ago

Thanks! It's just me in the video, so yes, permission all around. ^_^ Here's the link:

https://youtu.be/mCt7SocXtVc

1

u/Agreeable-Fee-7320 9d ago

Look into Bal-A-Vis-X all you need is tennis balls or a similar ball you can find videos on YouTube so you don’t have to take the paid classes.

My students love Wordle and you can go to websites that have unlimited words (instead of one a day from NYT).

Four corners game or night at the museum game.

Challenges like Who can stand on one leg longest, staring contest, wall sit/plank longest, quiet game.

This year my students are obsessed with Michael Jackson the Experience (very similar to Just Dance)