I have posted already about how we’re movers and shakers in Rm. 202, and we are learning how to control our bodies. We’re learning how to figure out what we need to be good listeners and thinkers. So in order to do that, we’re taking short breaks to recharge our brains and use our energy in a positive way.
Here are some breaks we’ve been using (thanks Mrs. Morgan for sharing this one!):
We really like #3. Excited to try #1, too! Well, really they all look good. 🙂
Earlier this week, Mrs. Raeber (Nate’s mom) shared another site with brain breaks, too (from a blog called Minds in Bloom), so we’ve tried some of those out as well. She reminded me that we already do dance party and today we played Find it Fast, where kiddos have to find something around the room that is a certain color.
ANOTHER resource (wow–I’ve got a lot of smart people sharing smart things with me lately!) came from Mrs. Appelbaum (remember how she also shared her book David’s Drawings with us? Genius!): GoNoodle.com. I think this is probably our favorite one. It’s really just a collection of short videos that you can watch that help lead you through an activity–some are fast and crazy (like Run Like Kitty where you really just run in place for 2 minutes really fast!) and many are more like yoga, where a funny monkey-man named Maximo (who has an AWESOME accent) helps you move your body in a more controlled way.
I’m pretty sure we did this silly one in the morning after we had done some heavy-duty thinking with Mrs. Berger. It’s called The Funky Chicken.
A little later in the morning–again when we’d been sitting for a while–we chose to do this one where Maximo lead us through “Surfer Dude.”
I’m loving the difference I can see in their ability to concentrate and think (not just sit still) after they’ve moved a bit. I think perhaps the perfect example from today of our movement breaks working well for a learner came when a little friend was asked to play a math game and was instead bouncing around the floor. Earlier this week I put window clings up near our trampoline (sorry, I forgot to take a picture!) that have numbers 1-10, with the intent that kiddos could bounce and tap or count or whatnot with them as they were moving. I sent my friend to the trampoline and asked her to bounce to 20 (which was the topic of the game she was trying to play) and tap the pictures as she did it. She wasn’t over there long, but after her 20 bounces, she was much calmer and played the rest of her game in such a focused way! YAY! 🙂
I’m excited to continue to try new things, and celebrate how they help my friends become better learners. It’s really so rewarding when you can help a kiddo figure out how to be the best version of themselves–we’re getting there!
Teachers: How do you use brain breaks in your classroom? Parents: What are your kiddos saying about our movement breaks? Share your stories!! 🙂
20somethingkids and 1kookyteacher 
My kids last year loved the “Sid Shuffle.” I bet yours would like it too. It’s just a fun 2 minute dance.
This year since my kids are a little older, we are doing more chants/quick movements to get them back or refreshed. Sometimes I say, “snap” and they snap their fingers. Next comes, “crackle” and they rub their hands together until I say, “pop” and they clap. Even my 7th graders like this.
You are the second person this week to mention the Sid Shuffle! I guess I should get on the ball and play it! My teammate was telling me that she used it during some of her movement activities because it helped them have more controlled movements–since they were focused on the dance they knew how to do to the music, they had less crazy stuff happening. I’ve heard of the snap, crackle, pop one, too, just haven’t used it. Thanks for the great reminders! Sounds like your year is off to a great start! I’ll try some of these very soon. 🙂