Brain Breaks Teaching Resources
Do you need new brain break ideas and activities for your primary classroom? Welcome to brain break central at Teach Starter!
This collection of teacher-created brain break activities and printables for foundation through Year 6 includes active games to get students up and out of their chairs, would you rather brain breaks, whole class escape games, creativity challenges and a whole lot more.
New to brain breaks? Take a peek at a primer from the teachers on the Teach Starter team!
What Is a Brain Break?
Not sure what qualifies as a brain break? A brain break is a short mental break incorporated into classroom instruction to provide literally what the name implies — a break for that hard-working brain.
Brain breaks can be done in the middle of a lesson or during a transition from one lesson to another, and the goal is to help the brain refocus so students can dive back into learning refreshed and ready to absorb the material.
Most brain breaks only last a few minutes. They're a break, after all!
Teachers can add as many or as few of these breaks into the school day as necessary. Younger children, such as a classroom full of early years students, may require more brain breaks than upper years students.
Why Are Brain Breaks Important?
Wondering how brain breaks help students? There is plenty of research on brain breaks for kids, and it all points to the importance of taking short breaks to help students succeed in the classroom.
For example, studies show that primary students often lose focus and become inattentive during lessons that drag on. Something as simple as a brain break in the middle of a lesson, however, gives students the redirection they need to get back on the attention train and absorb the information.
Brain breaks are also helpful in reducing student stress and increasing overall productivity, with research showing that students get a boost in their reading comprehension and divergent thinking skills when they get breaks in the school day.
How Often Should You Use Brain Breaks?
Frequency — and length — of brain breaks for your students will vary depending on the age and abilities of your students.
You know your students best, and you'll be best able to tell when they need a break. But if you're looking for a good rule of thumb for primary school, consider adding a break for students at least every 15 to 20 minutes for students to refocus their attention.
The later in the school day, the more important experts say it becomes for you to incorporate these breaks. One study by Danish experts even deduced that the cognitive fatigue students experience which each passing hour is equivalent to losing 10 school days’ worth of learning!
Fun Brain Breaks Students Love (And So Do Teachers)
Looking for fun brain breaks to get you started with this collection? Our teacher team designed every break in this resource collection to be fun, but here are a few favorites to add to the list!
- Hand Hockey — Have students stand in a circle with their feet touching, leaving a space on either side of the circle for goals. Toss a soft ball in the center, and tell your students they can only use their non-dominant hand to try to score a goal.
- Scissors, Paper, Rock — Take the popular rochambeau game up a notch with different versions. For example, you can challenge students to play using only their feet!
- Silent Ball — Challenge students to throw a ball around a circle for 5 minutes without making a sound.
- Plus Plan
Mindfulness Drawing Task Cards — Meditation Drawing for Kids
Promote mindfulness and calm in your classroom with a set of printable Mindful Drawing Task Cards to use as brain breaks.
- Free Plan
Speaking and Listening Activities Task Cards
A set of 13 cards with instructions for speaking and listening activities.
- Free Plan
Ocean Themed Movement Cards
A set of 12 Ocean themed movement cards.
- Plus Plan
Would You Rather...? Question Cards
Would You Rather use this set of 31 question cards or eat a can of worms?
- Plus Plan
Brain Break Activity Cards
Give your students a quick brain break with this set of 19 whole-class brain break activity cards.
- Free Plan
Mindful Breathing Templates
Help your students to calm themselves down when they are feeling upset or anxious with these 8 mindful breathing templates.
- Plus Plan
Calm Down Corner Classroom Decor Pack
Create a classroom calming corner with a printable Calm Corner Decor Pack.
- Plus Plan
I Need a Break! Card Templates
Help your students regulate their emotions by presenting them with an ‘I Need a Break!’ Card for a few minutes of downtime.
- Plus Plan
I Need a Break - Choice Boards
Help upset students regulate their emotions in the classroom with our printable ‘I Need a Break!’ choice boards.
- Plus Plan
Pack of Fun - Quick Fitness Games
14 quick, easy and fun fitness activities for all ages.
- Plus Plan
Mindfulness Activity Task Cards for the Classroom
Get mindfulness activity ideas for your classroom with printable activity cards you can use again and again!
- Plus Plan
Name Five Things - Calming Strategy Task Cards
Use the ‘Name 5 Things’ Calming Strategy in your classroom to help students regain self-control with printable calming activity task cards.
- Plus Plan
I’m Done, Now What? Early Finisher Activities Board
Provide your early finishers with a fun activity choice board to answer the question: I’m Done, Now What?
- Plus Plan
The Team Freeze Frame Active Game
A fun active game that encourages the development of listening skills, creativity, spontaneity and team work.
- Plus Plan
Walk Like a... Hallway Movement Break Cards
Help your students transition quietly through the hallways with this set of 12 Hallway Movement Break cards .
- Plus Plan
Back to School Icebreaker Jokes - Task Cards
Start each day with funny icebreaker jokes with a set of printable Back to School Joke cards for kids.
- Plus Plan
Build & Destroy - Block Building Challenges Task Cards
Build, destroy, and promote STEM education with our printable STEM building challenges for Early Years.
- Plus Plan
Fast Finisher Task Cards (Lower Primary)
Keep your fast finishers busy with this set of task cards targeted to lower primary students.
- Plus Plan
Backyard Games - Gross Motor Activities
Have your students pick a card to choose a recess game with printable Gross Motor Activity Cards.
- Plus Plan
Guided Meditation Script for Kids (Mindful Breathing)
Share this guided meditation script with your students to promote mindfulness and help them to regulate their emotions by breathing mindfully.
- Plus Plan
Body Scan Meditation Script for Kids
Share this body scan guided meditation script with your students to help them to regulate their emotions by breathing mindfully.
- Plus Plan
What Are You Doing? Active Game
A whole class active game that encourages communication skills.
- Plus Plan
Basketball Brain Breaks - Task Cards
Get your students up and moving with a set of fun Basketball Brain Break Activity Cards.
- Plus Plan
Add to the Scene - Theatre Improvisation Game
An active warm-up game that every student can participate in!
- Plus Plan
Classroom Spinner Template - Movement Activities
Classroom spinner template focusing on exercise movements - perfect for brain breaks in the classroom.
- Plus Plan
Breathing Colours - Guided Meditation Script
Print a guided meditation script for teachers to lead your students through a breathing colours meditation exercise.
- Plus Plan
If You're Something and You Know It Active Game
A whole class active game that encourages observation skills, focus and creativity.
- Plus Plan
Chicken Evolution Active Game
A whole class active game that encourages cognitive processing skills, physical activity and social skills.
- Plus Plan
Zip Zap Zoom! Active Game
A whole class game that encourages concentration and listening skills.
- Plus Plan
Yes Let's! Active Game
A whole class active game encourages the development of listening skills, confidence and leadership.
- Plus Plan
Traffic Lights Active Game
A whole class active game that encourages students to develop their listening skills and to follow instructions.
- Plus Plan
Snake Sheds Its Skin Active Game
Take a quick break from learning and encourage teamwork with this fun whole class game.