Brain Breaks Teaching Resources
Do you need new brain break ideas and activities for your elementary classroom? Welcome to brain break central at Teach Starter!
This collection of teacher-created brain break activities and printables for kindergarten through middle school 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 kindergartners may require more brain breaks than older kids in middle or high school.
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 elementary 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 elementary 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 impact of just an hour of learning without a break 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.
- Rock, Paper, Scissors — Take the popular rock, paper, scissors 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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Search and Find – At the Beach
A beautifully illustrated beach scene containing everyday items that need to be found.
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Classroom Spinner Template - Movement Activities
A classroom spinner template focusing on exercise movements - perfect for brain breaks in the classroom.
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New Year Charades
Get your students up and moving with a fun game of New Year Charades!
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Around in Circles Active Game
An active game to use when reviewing any type of content with your students.
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Easy Origami Animals Worksheet and Step-By-Step Instructions for Kids
Make origami animals with your students with printable step-by-step instructions plus a 2D shapes worksheet for your math lesson planning.
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Brain Break Activities with Instructions
Signs and posters with games to play with your class when they need a quick brain break!
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Brain Break Activity Cards
Give your students a quick brain break with this set of 19 whole-class brain break activity cards.
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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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The Team Freeze Frame Active Game
A fun active game that encourages the development of listening skills, creativity, spontaneity, and teamwork.
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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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Shazzam! Active Game
A whole class active game that encourages teamwork.
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Mirror, Mirror Active Game
A fun active game that can be played by the whole class in pairs.
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Human Knot Active Game
A fun active game for small groups that encourages teamwork.
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Fruit Salad Active Game
A whole class or large group active game that encourages listening skills.
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Capture the Treasure Active Game
A whole class game that encourages focus and creativity.
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What Are You Doing? Active Game
A whole class active game that encourages communication skills.
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Traffic Lights Active Game
A whole class active game that encourages students to develop their listening skills and to follow instructions.
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Animal Movement Cards - Ocean Animals
Get your students up and moving with this set of 12 ocean-themed animal movement cards.
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Icebreaker Game Cards
Help your students get to know each other with this set of 20 icebreaker games.
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Origami Penguin Step-By-Step Instructions
Visual instruction page to use when creating an origami penguin.
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Origami Giraffe Step-By-Step Instructions
Visual instruction page to use when creating an origami giraffe.
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How to Make Frog Origami — Step-By-Step Instructions for Kids
Download a printable guide to teach kids how to make origami frogs in the classroom when you're teaching about amphibians.
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How to Make an Origami Fox — Step-By-Step Instructions for Kids
Teach your students about animal adaptations, predators, and more with an origami fox activity designed for your elementary science class.
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How to Make an Origami Dog — Step-By-Step Instructions for Kids
Teach students how to make an origami dog with an easy origami guide for kids.
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How to Make an Origami Bird — Step-By-Step Instructions for Kids
Download printable step-by-step instructions to make an origami bird plus get ideas for math lesson plans that incorporate the bird!
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Brain Break Activities Resource Bundle
Download a brain breaks activity bundle perfect for kids in elementary and middle school!
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How to Make an Origami Cube Video
Teach your students how to make an origami cube using this quick and fun instructional video, perfect for brain breaks and rainy lunchtimes!
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How to Make an Origami Bunny Ring Video
Make cute origami bunny rings with your students using this easy-to-follow video containing origami bunny instructions.
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How to Make an Origami Butterfly Ring Video
Make cute origami butterfly rings with your students using this easy-to-follow video containing origami butterfly instructions.
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How to Make an Origami Cat Ring Video
Make cute origami cat rings with your students using this easy-to-follow instructional origami video.