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.
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Basketball Crossword
Use this basketball-themed crossword as a fast finisher activity.
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International Dot Day Creativity Challenge - Upper Years
Get creative on International Dot Day with a creativity challenge worksheet for older students.
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Search and Find – In the Park
A beautifully illustrated park scene containing everyday items which need to be found.
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Luck of the Draw-ing Prompts
A set of 35 drawing prompt cards.
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Search and Find – At the Beach
A beautifully illustrated beach scene containing everyday items that need to be found.
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Library Scavenger Hunt – Lower Primary
Explore the school library with a scavenger hunt!
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Library Scavenger Hunt – Upper Primary
Explore the school library with a scavenger hunt!
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Mini-Mysteries – Interactive PowerPoint
A set of interactive, logic-based activities where students read clues to solve each mystery.
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How to Draw a Teddy Bear for Kids- Task Card
A task card that helps primary school students draw an awesome picture of a teddy bear!
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Tricks in 60 Ticks - Classroom Party Games
A collection of 10 fun classroom games to do in 60 seconds!
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If You're Something and You Know It Active Game
A whole class active game that encourages observation skills, focus and creativity.
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Chicken Evolution Active Game
A whole class active game that encourages cognitive processing skills, physical activity and social skills.
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Yes Let's! Active Game
A whole class active game encourages the development of listening skills, confidence and leadership.
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What Are You Doing? Active Game
A whole class active game that encourages communication skills.
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Snake Sheds Its Skin Active Game
Take a quick break from learning and encourage teamwork with this fun whole class game.
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Fruit Salad Active Game
A whole class or large group active game that encourages listening skills.
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Follow the Leader Active Game
A whole class active game that encourages the development of leadership, teamwork, movement and coordination.
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Capture the Treasure Active Game
A whole class game that encourages focus and creativity.
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Ten Add Bowling Active Learning
A whole class active game that encourages learning through a physical setting.
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Halloween Would You Rather? Interactive Game
Engage your students in thought-provoking discussions in an engaging game of Halloween Would You Rather?
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Halloween Table Mats - Lower Years
Give your students a fun warm-up this October with printable Halloween Table Mats.
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Halloween Emoji Game
Have fun playing a Halloween Emoji game as a fun classroom brain break in the weeks leading up to Halloween.
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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.
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Backyard Games - Gross Motor Activities
Have your students pick a card to choose a recess game with printable Gross Motor Activity Cards.
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How to Draw a Firetruck Directed Drawing
Inspire your little artists with an engaging ‘How to Draw a Firetruck’ directed drawing activity sheet.
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Would You Rather? Christmas Edition
Engage your students in thoughtful and hilarious discussions in an engaging, interactive game of Christmas Would You Rather?
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Christmas Brain Breaks - Activity Slides
Add some Christmas Brain Breaks to your classroom festivities to help boost engagement and attention during the holiday season.
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Do-a-Dot - Autumn Activity for Preschool
Do a dot painting with printable autumn worksheets for preschool and kindy.
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Interactive Christmas Trivia Game for Kids
Host a Christmas trivia game with an interactive advent calendar X-Mas trivia game.
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How to Draw a Firefighter — Directed Drawing Activity
Encourage creativity and boost fine motor skills with a pair of ‘How to Draw a Firefighter’ guided drawing worksheets.
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Halloween Chatterbox Template
Have some fun with these spooky Halloween Chatterbox Templates.
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How to Draw a Grandma - Directed Drawing
Draw and write about grandmothers on Grandparents’ Day with a ‘How to Draw a Grandma’ directed drawing activity sheet.