# data[].attributes.body
Description: Epic is a digital library of children's books, which personally presents books that the student is interested in.
https://www.getepic.com/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Instantly access over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids on Epic

# data[].attributes.body
Description: IXL is a personalized learning plan for students that immersive learning experience for Math, Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies. A students plan helps students improve their learning and reviews what is needed to have more work on.
https://www.ixl.com/?partner=google&campaign=71587648&adGroup=125780695323&gclid=CjwKCAiAwKyNBhBfEiwA_mrUMjYJUxYQq7MU4XhcGM8PYnLvUTzt2YO7bELljeMObAMD7FE1GzljeRoCgsoQAvD_BwE

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Get resources to help you succeed this school year! Check out our Back-to-School Hubs:

Spanish

Time expressions, adjectives to describe people, present tense of regular verbs, formality, and more.

The exact skills you need

Planning a lesson or prepping for an exam?
We've custom-built IXL skills to reinforce each topic within your:

State standards

Virginia's Early Learning and Development Standards

Textbooks

See skills that match every chapter of 80+ popular textbooks

Assessments

Use IXL for the NWEA MAP, ACT, SAT, and more

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
IXL | Math, Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, and Spanish

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
IXL is the world's most popular subscription-based learning site for K-12. Used by over 12 million students, IXL provides personalized learning in more than 8,500 topics, covering math, language arts, science, social studies, and Spanish. Interactive questions, awards, and certificates keep kids motivated as they master skills.

# data[].attributes.body
Description: PowToon is an eTool for creating short video presentation. This resource would be great for teachers to create short animation videos over the topic that it is being taught.
https://www.powtoon.com/edu-home/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Video Maker | Make Videos and Animations Online | Powtoon

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Make videos in minutes with Powtoon. Use our library of styles, characters, backgrounds and video, or upload your own! Free. Easy. Awesome. Sign up today!

# data[].attributes.body
Description: Learning program that incorporates hip hop music to engage students and increase student achievement.
https://www.flocabulary.com/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Educational Hip-Hop Songs & Videos for All Subjects, K-12

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Flocabulary is a library of songs, videos and activities for K-12 online learning. Hundreds of thousands of teachers use Flocabulary’s educational raps and teaching lesson plans to supplement their instruction and engage students. Our team of artists and educators is not only committed to raising test scores, but also to fostering a love of learning in every child.

# data[].attributes.body
Description: Google Earth can be used for geography by exploring the globe, creating tours, etc. For example, students can look up towns or regions for lessons.
https://earth.google.com/web/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Aw snap! Google Earth isn't supported on your browser. You may need to update your browser or use a different browser. Please see our system requirements for more information. Chrome is a great choice and you can download it here.

Or if you're feeling adventurous, you can try Earth anyway by choosing an option below.

Learn more about Google Earth.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Aw snap! Google Earth isn't supported on your browser. You may need to update your browser or use a different browser. Please see our system requirements for more information. Chrome is a great choice and you can download it here. Or if you're feeling adventurous, you can try Earth anyway by choosing an option below.

# data[].attributes.body
Description: Edutopia includes 5 gym game lessons that includes a description on how to play the games provided.
https://www.edutopia.org/blog/5-fun-gym-games-get-kids-moving-michael-choinacky

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Use these games to engage even the students who don't usually like to run.

Kids are born to run. Every toddler loves to be chased, and as they get older tag becomes a new favorite game to play. For many kids, this love of play blossoms into involvement in sports, and with each positive experience the joy of moving continues to grow.

This isn't true of all students, however-for many the enjoyment of running fades the older they get. Many become turned off by the fact that running can be painful, or they don't like to sweat or are just bored by it. And even kids who will play sports for hours may act like it's pure torture when you ask them to run around the gym for a couple minutes. And team sports can be great in gym class, but only when skills have been developed and ability levels among the students are even.

Finding activities that get students moving without the worry of these negative consequences is a daily challenge for every physical education teacher, but it's not necessarily a losing battle.

In order to be convinced that giving their best is worthwhile, students need an answer to the question, "What's in it for me?" They understand that running in PE results in a better grade, builds strength, and can give an edge in sports. But what if all that isn't sufficient motivation? How can we motivate students to meet both our goals for them as well as their own needs as kids?

1. Sharks and Minnows: The classic tag game where one student (the shark) chases the rest of the class (the minnows). Every tagged student becomes a shark. Students like it because it's a fun challenge to try and fake out their friends with rapid changes in direction as they run so they can be the last minnow left. Teachers like the fact that it has students running back and forth time and time again. With no equipment or setup needed, this game is perfect to fill a few extra minutes and fun enough for a full class period. It's a game designed for elementary students, but high school students still enjoy this game too.

2. Midnight: Similar to Sharks and Minnows, but four to six taggers are given dodgeballs and mats to hide behind while the rest of the class is turned around. Then the runners turn back around and try to make it to the other side of the room, and the taggers try to stay hidden until just the right moment to strike. Students like it because the suspense of not knowing where a thrower is raises the excitement level. Teachers like it because students are sprinting back and forth multiple times. Dim the lights and get ready for a memorable gym class.

3. Crazy Kickball: Set up a normal kickball game, but in this version each team has a few kickers who don't run, and the rest of the team runs at the same time. All the runners must touch each base, and they choose which base to stop on. If a player scores, they continue around the bases and try to score again. With multiple runners rounding the bases, the team playing defense can get to three outs at any moment. Students like it because they can run with their friends. Teachers like it because no one is ever sitting out. As the kids run round and round the gym, the game really lives up to its name.

4. Capture the Football: A capture-the-flag-style game, but with three footballs on each side instead of a flag. The goal is to get all six footballs to your side. Students like it because there's a job for everyone and they like crossing their classmates up. Teachers like it because they watch students race back and forth, and just when a team thinks they have won, the game continues and so does the workout.

5. Cats' Corner: A dodgeball-style game in which throwers (cats) try to hit runners (mice) with a ball. Runners start in safe spots in each corner of the gym, and on a signal they must try to make it to a different corner without getting hit. Students like it because they get to play dodgeball. Teachers like it because students get their dodgeball fix, but with much more running.

Kids are motivated by fun, which is why they can be seen jumping up to touch the nets or starting impromptu games of tag when they're bored. Instead of forcing them into activities that only we want, or continuing a struggling unit, why not find activities that fulfill both students' and teachers' needs? Here are five games every PE teacher should have in their repertoire that are highly engaging to all students and playable with large groups and varied ability levels. They're basically just running games that leave students red-faced and huffing and puffing by the end of class.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Use these games to engage even the students who don't usually like to run. Kids are born to run. Every toddler loves to be chased, and as they get older tag becomes a new favorite game to play. For many kids, this love of play blossoms into involvement in sports, and with each positive experience the joy of moving continues to grow.

# data[].attributes.body
Description: PE Games includes lesson plans for all ages that include directions/description, equipment that is needed and grade level.
https://www.pegames.org/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Hi, and welcome to pegames.org. This site is dedicated to keeping kids active and engaged during physical activity, whether it is in the gym, outside or in the classroom. In this, the day and age of video games, Iphones and the like, it has never been more important, or necessary, to get our kids moving. The key, however, is to make sure that they are always having fun while doing it.

This site is designed specifically for anyone wanting to keep large groups of kids active. With all of our games, our mission is to keep the most amount of kids moving for the most amount of time possible. To this end, we do our very best to outline games with the smallest amount of equipment possible, and also make sure to give straightforward, simple explanations that will have your kids moving as soon as possible.

Every game, warm-up, challenge and activity on this site has been tested by our resident PE specialist. Mr. H. has been teaching physical education at the elementary school level for 7 years, and will make sure that we post only the best of the best.

As a Grade 7 teacher, it can be challenging to keep warm-up games and Daily Physical Activities fresh and new.Having participated in a number of these games, I feel I'll be able to provide greater variety to my students this year and beyond.

During the average 45 minute block of physical education, students are actually active (i.e. moving around, elevating their heart rates), for approximately 17 minutes (less than half!). With our website, and the hundreds (soon to be thousands, as our updates continue), of activities, warm-ups, games, individual and group challenges...etc. we aim to keep kids moving, moving, moving.

Please feel free to start navigating the site, as there are all sorts of options for physical activity for your students. We are updating daily, so please continue to check back frequently as there will always be something new to keep your kids smiling and active.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Hi, and welcome to pegames.org. This site is dedicated to keeping kids active and engaged during physical activity, whether it is in the gym, outside or in the classroom. In this, the day and age of video games, Iphones and the like, it has never been more important, or necessary, to get our kids moving.

# data[].attributes.body
Description: PE Central includes lesson ideas for all ages, professional development, practices, bulletin board, assessment ideas, and much more!
https://www.pecentral.org/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
PE Central has partnered with S&S Discount Sports to provide a full range of sports and PE products for your program.

Save 15% & Get Free Shipping over $25

Save 15% on PE Equipment

Use offer code B4260

First graders were doing a practice Pacer Test, where I had them run the width of the gym instead of the length. I stopped the CD when they got to 25 laps. After class, they told their teacher they ran 25 miles.

Submitted by Dan Fallon. Conway Elementary. Conway, NH.
More Kids Quotes | Submit a Kids Quote

Finding grants is EASY with our Grant Search tool. Just select your state; program category; type of institution and find grants FAST!
Search Grants!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
PE Central | Physical Education Lesson Plans & Activities for PE Teachers

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
PE Central provides lesson plans and information about effective physical education practices and programs.

# data[].attributes.body
Description: Physed games presents many grade appropriate PE lessons, which includes a game description, equipment needed, video description, and grade level.
https://physedgames.com/category/kindergarten/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Grade level: K-4
Equipment: None
Game Description: The Border is a similar type warm-up or tag game to that of British Bulldog:
1) All players line up at one end of the gym (except tagger in the middle).
2) Gym is split into 2 sides with a line straight down the middle.
3) On side 1, you can never have your footsoles on the floor (must crawl, roll, seal walk, etc).
4) On side 2, you can move however you like (example: running).
5) If tagged, you join the taggers team.
6) You choose which side you move on when each round begins BUT you can switch ONE TIME EACH ROUND. This is also the case for the tagger.
(Thanks to Daniel Norrman)

- Set-up mats in the corners (or mats along each end of the gym, if you'd like to play British Bulldog style).
- All players lay down on one of the mats.
- The tagger (baker) stands in the middle and says, "Run, run as fast as you can, you can't catch me I'm the gingerbread man."
- The players then run to get to a different mat while trying not to get tagged by the baker. If they get tagged they help in the next round. Players that make it to a mat without getting caught just lay down on the mats to prepare for the next round.

This is an easy game and a great game as it involves running and jumping up to run which is always a blast in the gym. Teacher can even start as the baker which really gives the kids a kick. (Thanks to Shari Wenzel for this game idea).

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Grade level: K-4 Equipment: None Game Description: The Border is a similar type warm-up or tag game to that of British Bulldog:1) All players line up at one end of the gym (except tagger in the middle).2) Gym is split into 2 sides with a line straight down the middle.3)

# data[].attributes.body
Description: A guide to becoming a PE teacher, which includes job description, common tasks, skills, and experiences.
https://www.teachercertificationdegrees.com/careers/physical-education-teacher/#:~:text=A%20physical%20education%20(PE)%20teacher,sports%20and%20the%20health%20sciences.&text=PE%20teachers%20also%20plan%20activities,learning%20more%20engaging%20for%20students.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Physical education teachers educate children and adolescents on the many aspects of leading healthy lifestyles, from physical activity to nutrition. A physical education teacher should enjoy an active lifestyle and be able to communicate health concepts to students in various age groups. This guide provides further information on what physical education teachers do, how to become one, and the career's salary and job outlook.

Physical Education Teacher Job Description

A physical education (PE) teacher instructs students about sports, physical development, health, and proper nutrition. A PE teacher has knowledge of sports and the health sciences. Physical education teachers show students not only how to play various sports, but also how physical activity benefits the muscles and overall health. PE teachers also plan activities that help make exercise-based learning more engaging for students.

Physical Education Teacher Requirements and Common Tasks

Physical education teacher jobs require that instructors be physically fit and active as they will typically lead multiple classes and activities across the school day. They work both indoors and outdoors, teaching younger students how to play various sports and how to exercise and monitoring activities of older students. They are responsible for organizing activities and curriculum, including the preparation and maintenance of gym equipment. PE teachers should have knowledge of sports and basic health and nutrition for all developmental levels. A solid background in sports and communication skills is a definite plus. Most physical education teachers are certified and hold a four-year degree in teaching exercise science or related subjects. Some may have a master's degree in physical education. Many PE teachers also participate in coaching activities for school sports teams and may also be faculty advisors for student clubs.

How to Become a Physical Education Teacher

To become a physical education teacher, the first step is usually earning a bachelor's degree in health education, physical education, or athletic training. Examples of degrees that can prepare a person for this career include a Bachelor of Science (BS) or Bachelor of Science in Education (BSEd) in Health Sciences, Kinesiology, or Physical Education. Courses common to these programs include Theories in Physical Education, Theories in Sports Pedagogy, Team and Individual Sports, Basic Methods of Teaching, and Human Development. Regardless of the PE-related major, prospective teachers must be sure to complete a teacher preparation program that has been approved by the state board of education in order to ensure that they qualify for teacher certification in their state. The most common route to a physical education teaching career is as follows:

1. Earn a bachelor's degree in physical education or a closely related subject, like health education or kinesiology.

2. Complete a student teaching internship in a physical education setting.

3. Take your state's required tests for the physical education endorsement.

4. Apply for your teaching license.

5. Begin applying to open PE teacher positions.

Public school physical education teachers must earn state teacher certification for the grade levels they wish to teach. In most states, a four-year bachelor's degree with an emphasis on physical education will qualify an individual to sit for the state certification exams. Many states also offer alternative certification pathways that may include a master's in physical education degree. There are several categories of certification that a physical education teacher can pursue, which are based on the grade levels to be taught (early childhood, elementary, secondary, or K-12). Physical education teachers may also become certified to work with special needs populations using adapted physical education methods for differently-abled students.

Physical Education Teacher Salary and Job Outlook

A PE teacher's salary is usually similar to other teacher salaries, ranging from averages of about $62,200 per year at the elementary school level to $64,340 per year at the secondary school level. 1,2 The exact salary varies depending on many factors such as the level of the school (such as elementary, middle, high school or college), the location of the school, and the teacher's education and experience. Job growth for teachers is expected to be positive, with a projected job growth rate of 3-4% through 2028. 1,2 There is a demand for suitable physical education teachers who have exceptional ability in physical education and knowledge of health and nutrition.

Helpful Skills and Experience

Physical fitness, experience in team sports, and strong interpersonal and communication skills provide a good foundation for aspiring physical education teachers. Knowledge of team dynamics, kinesiology, and nutrition can help new physical education teachers find employment. The goal of a physical education teacher is to promote physical fitness and to teach students the value of proper health and eating habits. Good PE teachers are role models for their students, and as such, should demonstrate all the attributes of good health and fitness. Physical education teachers inspire their students to live healthy, active lives.

Additional Resources

Shape America: The national professional organization for health and physical educators at all grade levels. In addition to publishing standards and guidelines for PE, Shape America also provides workshops and other continuing education opportunities.

National Association for Sport and Physical Education: A non-profit organization of coaches, teachers, trainers, and researchers that promotes high quality physical educaiton, sport, and activity programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Do I need certification to become a physical education teacher?

Answer: To teach in public schools, physical education teachers should hold state-level teacher certification with a subject endorsement in PE. There are also alternate pathways to certification and waivers may occasionally be granted. You can check with your state Board of Education or college program for further information on certification requirements in your state.

Question: What types of courses do PE teachers need to take?

Answer: The courses required vary according to the degree earned, but most physical education teacher preparation programs include courses in child development, kinesiology, nutrition, and exercise science.

Question: How much do physical education teachers make?

Answer: A PE teacher salary depends on many factors including years of experience, education, and the school where they are employed. The BLS reports that the average teacher, including PE teachers, earns around $60,000 per year. 1,2
References:
1. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, 25-2021 Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes252021.htm
2. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, 25-2031 Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes252031.htm

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Physical education teachers educate children and adolescents on the many aspects of leading healthy lifestyles, from physical activity to nutrition. A physical education teacher should enjoy an active lifestyle and be able to communicate health concepts to students in various age groups.

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.pinterest.com/spotofgrace/6th-grade-brain-breaks/

# data[].attributes.body
https://sites.google.com/a/riverdaleschools.org/ms-yackle-s-5th-grade/brain-breaks

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A Pirate You Shall Be Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae) Who Let the Dogs Out What Does the Fox Say The Eye of the Tiger Angry Birds Song YMCA The Continental Drift

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.weareteachers.com/fourth-grade-brain-breaks/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Do your students have that glazed look in their eyes? Has your classroom gone silent? Does it feel like the minutes are just ticking by? If so, don't worry-we've all been there! That's why we've come up with this list of fourth grade brain breaks to help you boost the mood!

1. Would You Rather?

They'll have 10 seconds to choose between two options. Then they have 30 seconds to do the matching activity!

2. Go Bananas!

"Peel, peel, peel the banana!"

3. Boom Chicka Boom

"I Said A Boom Chicka Boom!"

4. 12 Illusions That Will Test Your Brain

What do you and your students see?

5. THIS or THAT - Food Edition

In 10 seconds, students will choose between two options of food. Then they have 30 seconds to do the matching activity!

6. I To The L

"This is a tough one!"

7. POGO (Dance-A-Long)

"I'm gonna bounce all over town."

8. Rock Paper Scissors Battle

Give students 10 seconds to battle a challenger at Rock Paper Scissors, then 20 seconds to do the matching activity.

9. Never Have I Ever

Have students answer a "Have You Ever?" question, then give them 20 seconds to do the matching activity.

10. THIS or THAT - Video Games Edition

Allow 10 seconds to choose between two video games, then 20 seconds to do the matching Fortnite Emote Dance.

11. The Coolest Person (Dance-A-Long)

"'Cause you, you, you, you are the coolest person I, I, I, I know."

12. Yoga with Multiplication

This fourth grade brain break is a great way for students to get active while practicing math skills.

13. Floss Dance

"Slide your hips out to the left and to the right!"

15. 5 Minute "Fortnite" Workout

Enjoy this fun Fortnite Emotes workout!

16. Roblox Fitness Run!

Students will jump, duck, and dodge while collecting as much ROBUX as possible!

17. Pizza Man

"Drive a Chevy Van like Peter Pan as you sing and dance the Pizza Man!"

18. The Cha Cha Slide

"Take it back now, y'all!"

19. Chair Exercises

Two rounds of arm rolls and in and outs.

20. Guess That State

A fun way to test your students' knowledge, get some exercise, and have some fun.

21. Purple Stew

"What are you gonna add to our purple stew?"

22. Clap It Out

"This is how you rock with syllables!"

23. Don't Read Like a Robot

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjtPMiumixA
"You gotta read with expression!"

24. Strengthen Your Focus

Students can learn how to strengthen their focus with this calming exercise for the mind and body.

25. Mood Walk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k32x-_aYI4
"Explore, name, and act out your emotions as you go on a mood walk!"

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
25 Fourth Grade Brain Breaks To Brighten Your Day!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Do your students have that glazed look in their eyes? Has your classroom gone silent? Does it feel like the minutes are just ticking by? If so, don't worry-we've all been there! That's why we've come up with this list of fourth grade brain breaks to help you boost the mood!

# data[].attributes.body
https://elementaryassessments.com/brain-breaks-kids-5th-grade/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Students work hard, but they need mental rests sprinkled into the day. That's where these exciting brain breaks for 5th grade students come in.

Not only do these brain breaks for 5th grade energize, they help students to focus better, take a mental rest, and move around a bit.

So include a few of these brain breaks for 5th grade into your lesson plans this week.

Students will be thrilled to perform these fun brain breaks for 5th grade. Third and fourth graders will love them, too!

Brain Breaks for 5th Grade
The following brain breaks for 5th grade help students to take a much-needed mental break from learning.
1. Act Out Actions in Descending Order.

Choose 5 digits (not including 0) in descending order.

For example...7-6-5-4-3.

Assign an action to each digit. Students perform each action in descending order.

Example: 7 bunny hops, 6 meows, 5 jumping jacks, 4 laps around the classroom, 3 squats.

This is one of these brain breaks for 5th grade students that really gets them moving!

2. Add the Alphabet.

A = 1, B = 2, C = 3, D =4, E = 5, F = 6, G = 7, H = 8, I = 9, J = 10, K = 11, L = 12, M = 13, N = 14, O = 15, P =16, Q = 17, R = 18, S = 19, T = 20, U = 21, V = 22, W = 23, X = 24, Y = 25, Z = 26

Ask 5th graders the value of different words like...what's the sum of your name?

Example: Emily: E = 5, M = 13, I = 9, L = 12, Y = 25

Emily = 64

For a challenge, have them multiply instead. (by hand or using calculators)

3. Compete With Musical Chairs.

Students of all ages love musical chairs, and I guarantee yours will love it as one of the brain breaks for 5th grade.

4. Associate Words.

Provide a word to students.

One by one, each 5th grader names another term or phrase associated with the original word.

No one can repeat a word/phrase.

Example: The teacher says "planet".

The first student might say, "Venus", the 2nd might say, "universe", the 3rd... "made of rock or gas", etc.

5. Balance a Book on Your Head.

Each student finds a light chapter or picture book and lines up behind a designated "starting point".

He/she attempts to cross the appointed "finish line" without the book falling.

6. Blow Bubbles.

Purchase an inexpensive bottle of bubbles, or make your own bubbles soap mixture.

Go outside with students, and allow them to take turns blowing bubbles using the stick that comes with the bubbles bottle.

Or simply allow them to enjoy bursting and running through the bubbles while you blow more and more.

This is one of the most popular brain breaks for 5th grade to perform outside.

7. Calm the Mood With Heads Up, Seven Up.

Fifth grade kids (2nd, 3rd, and 4th too) LOVE this game which has a suspense element to it!

See this brief video with clear instructions abou t how to play.

8. Captivate with I Spy Game.

This brain break for kids is not only good for resting the brain between learning activities but serves well as an end-of-day filler for those last few moments right before the dismissal bell sounds.

Take a look at all the different ways to play I Spy.

9. Challenge Them With Rock, Paper, Scissors.

After choosing two individuals to begin, students recite, "Rock, Paper, Scissors, Shoot!"

As they say the word "shoot", each person forms his/her hand as a "rock" (fist), "paper"(flat hand with palm down), or "pair of scissors" (both index and middle fingers extended).

To win, one hand formation has to "defeat" the other: paper covers rock, rock crushes the scissors, and the scissors cut the paper.

The winner of that round then competes with another student. Continue the game like this until only one person remains.

10. Clap (Or Stomp) Syllables.

One at a time, call out a grade-appropriate term. Learners clap or stomp the syllables for each word.

To make this brain break for kids more challenging, include multi-syllabic words.

11. Color.

Coloring is therapeutic, and even 4th and 5th grade kids still love to do it!

Simply print 2 to 3 different kinds of coloring pages. Then let them color to their hearts' content.

12. Communicate in Sign Language.

If you're searching for unique brain breaks for 5th grade, this one is a good option.

Google a few simple words in sign language.

Then teach those terms or phrases to students. Encourage learners to share any words they know in sign language.

13. "Air Write" Spelling Words.

Sitting side by side with a partner (so that each can see what the other is doing), students take turns guessing word wall/spelling words written in the air using an index finger.

14. Conquer a Sudoku Puzzle As a Class.

Sudoku puzzles serve as great academic challenges for 5th graders because they promote deep critical thinking.

Warning... this is one of the brain breaks for 5th grade that can become addicting! 🙂

15. Dance to a Favorite Tune.

Turn on a favorite tune of students, and give them 5 minutes to dance their stresses away.

16. Develop Critical Thinking Skills w/ Human Tic-Tac-Toe.

Transform a classic game into a kinesthetic team-building brain break activity.

See how to play Human Tic-Tac-Toe.

17. Distinguish Between True and False.

Beforehand, gather a couple of dozens of fun facts or trivia. Locate these facts using a search engine such as Google, or ask your school's librarian for book recommendations.

It's best if students are unfamiliar with the majority of the facts/trivia.

Take half of those statements, and reword/rephrase them in order to make them false.

One at a time, share each statement with students.

If learners think the statement is true, they place hands on their head. If they think the sentence is false, hands go behind their backs.

Now reveal the answer.

Those with an incorrect response sit down, and the others keep playing until only one person is left standing.

18. Draw/Sketch.

Provide a piece of drawing paper to all, and encourage them to unleash their artistic side.

You could even tell them a scenario and have them draw what they visualize. Afterwards, compare drawings.

19. Do Wall Push-Ups.

If you're looking for p.e-style brain breaks for 5th grade, try this one.

For this brain break for kids, each individual finds a place to stand against the classroom wall, facing it.

After you model how to perform a wall push-up, the children complete as many wall push-ups as possible in 1 minute.

20. Dunk It.

This is one of those brain breaks for 5th graders that even your most reluctant students will love.

Divide students into 2 teams. Each team stands in separate parallel lines, all bodies facing the same direction.

About 10 feet in front of the first child in each line, place a basket (1 basket per team). These baskets represent hoops.

Crumple 4 pieces of paper to serve as "balls", with each team taking two balls each.

Possessing more than 1 ball keeps the game moving quickly as the next student in line doesn't have to wait for someone to fetch the ball just thrown.

Now, the first-in-line students from each team grab a "ball".

You ask a question about anything. (Fun facts and/or trivia are always fun!) The two compete to answer first and correctly.

Each will have an opportunity to throw the "ball" into the hoop, but the one who answers correctly and fastest will have two (2) opportunities to dunk the "ball".

Play until every child on each team has had a chance to throw.

The team with the most "balls" making it into the hoop wins.

21. Exchange Random Thoughts with Inside/Outside Circles.

If you appreciate unique brain breaks for 5th grade, you'll love this one.

Assign each student a number, either 1 or 2. All 1s group together, and all 2s group.

Each group forms a circle, with 2s inside of the 1s circle.

The inner group faces outward, and the outer circle faces inward. A child from the inner circle must directly face another from the outer circle.

At your signal, students from the inner group share any thoughts with the child in front of them. After about a minute, the other student shares his/her thoughts while the other listens.

For more structure, assign a topic to discuss.

After both have had an opportunity to share, signal again. The outer circle will rotate to the right. (Only one circle needs to rotate.)

With a new partner, students repeat the process.

22. Float a Balloon.

This is arguably one of the most exciting brain breaks for 5th grade students.

Blow up and tie 1 to 2 balloons.

Standing up, students randomly pass the balloons from one person to the other, without allowing them to hit the floor.

Do this for about 1 to 2 minutes.

This fun brain break exercise for kids keeps them attentive.

23. Freeze Dance.

Play a favorite tune, and pause the song every few seconds or minutes.

Upon pausing, students must freeze for an unspecified amount of time. Resume the music, and they keep dancing.

Repeat as many times as you feel is needed for your youngsters to release stress.

24. Get Silly With Alliteration Tales.

Take 26 small note cards, and write on each one (1) letter of the alphabet. Place all the note cards in a bag or basket.

Now write on the board these suggested categories: " First name", " Last name", " City/country/state", " Color", and " Food ".

You can have as many categories as you like, and feel free to change the types of categories.

Then randomly choose a letter from a bag.

Choose a student (or a group) to complete the categories with something that begins with that respective letter.

For example, if the letter "S" is pulled, a student might say...

"Shameka" (First name), "Summers" (Last name), "San Francisco" (City), "Silver" (Color), and "Salmon" (Food).

The child now makes a silly sentence/scenario using all the words.

Example: Shameka Summers from San Francisco drives a silver car and likes to eat salmon.

Afterwards, pull another letter from the bag, and continue the process with another individual.

Encourage learners to be creative when creating their sentences/scenarios.

25. Hold a Yoga Pose.

Demonstrate a yoga pose for students. (You can do this via Google Images or YouTube).

Now challenge them to see who can maintain that pose the longest. The one who holds the longest with good form receives bragging rights. 🙂

This is one of the brain breaks for 5th grade that really calm students.

26. Hop on One (1) Foot.

Set a timer for one (1) minute. Students hop on one (1) foot for the entire minute, if they can.

Afterwards, reset the timer, switching to the other foot.

27. Hurl Snowballs.

Beforehand, grab as many pieces of 8.5 x 11 paper that correspond to the number of learners. (Recycled paper is good for this.)

On each paper, write a fun action such as hop on one (1) foot, pat your head, blink super fast, etc. It's best not to repeat actions.

Afterwards, crumple each paper into a ball. Randomly distribute a "ball" to each person.

On the count of 3, students hurl the balls at a classmate. Then everyone must quickly grab a ball.

One at a time, they open their balls and complete the action for all to see. This brain break for kids creates much silliness and causes great laughter!

28. Invent a Secret Handshake.

In groups of 4 or 5, teams invent a secret handshake. Throughout the week, one group per day teaches the handshake to the class.

29. Jump Rope Skip Counting.

Grab jump ropes, and head outside.

Challenge 5th graders to jump rope while skip counting by 100, 150, or a more challenging number.

30. Kickbox.

Stretch and tone muscles by practicing a few kid-friendly kickboxing moves.

This brain break activity is best done in a setting with lots of open space between individuals.

31. Measure Your Height.

This brain break for kids is fun to do once a quarter or semester because they'll love to see how much they've grown!

All you do is tell them to line up from shortest to tallest or tallest to shortest.

To challenge 4th or 5th grade students, have them measure their heights using measuring tape.

32. Move Like An Animal.

Carve out 5 minutes for fifth graders to use their imagination to become various animals.

Examples...

They...

33. Name States, Cities, Countries.

Starting with the letter A, call on the first student to name a state, city, or country that begins with the respective letter. If they can't name a place, they are out of the game. Move to the next student.

When she answers correctly, go to the next person with the letter B.

Continue until the alphabet is complete or only one student remains in the game.

34. Order By Criteria.

Here's an easy break break activity for 5th graders that requires zero materials.

Instruct learners to order themselves by criteria you provide such as by height or birthday month/day.

35. Organize a Scavenger Hunt.

Take an informal hunt around the school searching for parallel lines, perpendicular lines, certain geometric shapes, objects made of a particular material, different forms of text, etc.

36. Participate in Charades.

Call on a student, and have him/her act out a person, place, or thing.

Small groups compete to guess. Whichever group answers correctly first chooses someone from its team to perform the next act for the class.

Continue as such.

37. Pass the Ball...Quietly.

This break break activity is ideal for 5th grade kids.

While seated on top of desks, they gently toss around a beach ball.

Rules...

1) no one can speak,

2) the beach ball must never touch the floor, and

3) students can't throw the ball back to the individual who threw it to them.

Anyone breaking any of the rules is out of the game and has to sit in his/her chair.

As students sit out, the game becomes more challenging due to distance between desks and having fewer participants.

38. Place Heads Down.

For 5 or 10 minutes, students place their heads down on desks and rest. It's simply a time to relax and reflect.

39. Play Classic Games.

The "mother" of all brain breaks, classic games never go out of style.

Have fun with Red Rover; Simon Says; Duck, Duck, Goose; Red Light, Green Light, etc.

40. Point & Describe.

Point to an object in the classroom. Then call on a child to describe it using 4 to 5 adjectives.

For a challenge, encourage more detailed descriptions utilizing verbs, adverbs, and/or phrases.

41. Practice Yoga.

Carve out time during the day to take a brain break that consists of yoga for kids.

42. Pretend to Cook & Guess.

For this kid-friendly brain break activity, one student stands in front of the class. He or she then mimics preparing some type of dish.

Classmates guess what food he's "cooking". Whoever guesses correctly "cooks" next.

43. Race to Complete a Hidden Picture Puzzle.

Print and make enough copies of Hidden Picture Puzzles.

After grouping learners, have them compete to determine which group can find all the objects within a hidden puzzle the quickest.

This may become one of your most popular brain breaks for 5th grade students!

44. Read & Act.

While reading a book as a class, upon seeing a verb, students act out the word.

45. Repeat the Message With "Telephone" Game.

Sit on the carpet in a circle. Rotating clockwise, the teacher whispers a short message to the student next to her.

That student then repeats the message to the next classmate. Continue until the message reaches the last student who then must repeat out loud the phrase.

Did the message change from the original?

46. Rub Heads & Pat Bellies.

For one (1) minute, challenge students to rub their heads while simultaneously patting their stomachs.

Afterwards, switch. Rub bellies while simultaneously patting heads.

Can they do it?

47. Run Around at Recess.

Head outside for fresh air and extra play time. This brain break activity NEVER becomes boring for kids.

48. Pull a Brain Break Activity Card.

Select their favorite brain breaks, and write each on its own note card. Place all the cards in a bag or basket.

Then when it's time to release stress, randomly grab a card from the bag. Learners perform that activity or task.

49. Share a Fun Read-Aloud.

Save a few of your favorite read aloud books for brain breaks.

With them on the carpet, share an adventure-filled text that takes listeners to another world.

50. Sing a Favorite Song.

Choose a favorite tune, and listen to your 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders enthusiastically stretch their vocal cords.

51. Spell With Sparkle.

Students sit in a circle. Choose a spelling or word wall word.

Call on someone to say the first letter of the word. Clockwise, the next individual provides the next letter in the sequence.

After all letters have been correctly provided, the following student must say "Sparkle". This signals that the word is complete.

Anyone who misses a letter or doesn't know when to say "Sparkle" is out of the game. Those who remain continue spelling additional words.

52. Spell Your Name On a Partner's Back.

With a partner, students spell their names or a spelling word on their partner's back. It's best to pair same genders.

53. Stretch It Out.

Led by the teacher, the kids perform a few stretches such as touching toes, reaching to the sky, twisting at the waist, etc.

54. Teach New Words in a Foreign Language.

Teach a few words of a foreign language such as French, Mandarin, Portuguese, etc.

For added fun, practice word pronunciations using Google Translator's voice feature.

55. Test Trivia With Four Corners.

Label the four corners of the classroom with signs that say "1", "2", "3", and "4". Now ask a trivia question, and provide 4 answer choices.

Fifth graders move towards the corresponding number corner that aligns with their chosen response.

56. Throw a Mini Dance Party.

Create a short playlist that's student-friendly plus high-energy. Press play, crank it up a bit, and let them dance, dance, dance!

57. Toss Around a "Hot Potato".

Play music as students toss around a beanbag or "hot potato". The student holding the "hot potato" when the music pauses is out of the game.

Continue until only one person, the winner, remains.

58. "Travel" the Room to Show What You Know (AKA "Around the World")

Everyone sits at their desks except the "traveler" plus the child with whom he/she is competing.

The "traveler" stands next to a seated classmate who immediately stands up beside him/her.

Now, the teacher says a multiplication fact. The competitor who answers first and correctly travels to the next individual in order to compete. The losing student sits down at the desk.

The game continues until everyone has had a chance to compete.

The winner is the one who "traveled" the farthest, meaning to every student, eventually making it back to his/her desk.

59. Workout.

Break a sweat with this high-energy brain break for 5th grade kids.

Complete each of the following moves for 30-45 seconds:

Add more actions depending on the age and physical fitness level of your little ones.

60. Write Backwards.

On a loose-leaf sheet of paper, challenge students to write their names or a short message backwards in print or in cursive.

Then they'll have a partner turn the paper over and hold it up to the light in order to read it. A mirror works great for reading the message also.

This is one of those brain breaks for 5th grade students that's always a hit!

61. Write With Non-Dominant Hand.

Stretch students' mental muscles by challenging them to write a phrase or two using their non-dominant hand. Watch them happily struggle! 🙂

Wrapping Up: Brain breaks for 5th Grade Students

Now you have a list of fun brain breaks for 5th grade. Even use these brain break activities for elementary students of other ages.

Go ahead and pencil into your lesson plans this week a few of these delightful brain breaks for 5th grade students.

If you liked these brain breaks for 5th grade, you might also like ... brain breaks for online learning.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
61 Incredibly Awesome Brain Breaks for 5th Grade Students

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Students work hard, but they need mental rests sprinkled into the day. That's where these exciting brain breaks for 5th grade students come in. Not only do these brain breaks for 5th grade energize, they help students to focus better, take a mental rest, and move around a bit.

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.weareteachers.com/third-grade-brain-breaks/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
25 Third Grade Brain Breaks To Beat The Slump

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.embed_code
25 Third Grade Brain Breaks To Beat The Slump

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.mrsrichardsonsclass.com/15-must-try-brain-breaks-for-k-1-students/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Have you been in the middle of teaching a great lesson and you start seeing several students getting wiggly? Then you might see them start to look up, around, and everywhere except at you. And before you know it, half the class is just not focused and engaged, and you're doing more redirecting than teaching. I sure have! During my first year of teaching, I had an awesome mentor teacher remind me of the importance of classroom brain breaks!

Brain breaks are the perfect way to refocus and reengage students when things start to get a little off-task (maybe even wild!). Brain breaks are simply planned, brief activities that help the brain refocus. Science has proven over and over again that students need brain breaks.

When a young learner's brain becomes stressed, overwhelmed, or receives too much information at one time, new learning no longer takes place. We definitely don't want to be teaching our hearts out and creating amazing lessons just for students to not be able to learn!

Now here's the good news ... brain breaks can be super simple to implement! They often require no prep work at all. Finally, students love them! You'll probably even see your classroom community bond grow stronger, too. Let's jump into some of my favorite brain breaks for the classroom.

Brain Break Ideas

Crossing the Midline Exercises

If you imagine that your body has an invisible line going straight through the middle of you, that's called the midline of the body. Exercises that have students use their arms and legs to cross the midline help engage both sides of the brain to help students focus. Here are a few quick movements that are perfect to get students to cross their midline:

Touch the left elbow to the right knee and vice versa.

Use the right arm and stretch it up to the sky and then bend down and touch the left foot.

Pretend to swing a baseball bat all the way across and switch sides each time.

There are tons of videos on YouTube, too! Here are two that my students loved:

Physical Activities For Small Spaces

Take the whole class on a quick walk outside or around the inside of the school.

Have students jump up and down or run in place for one minute.

Call out an animal and have students walk like it. ("Crawl like a bear. Hop like a rabbit.")

Play "Simon Says" and have students do different movements (stand up, sit down, turn around, jump high, hold a squat, make windmill arms, etc.). You can also let the last student standing be "Simon" for the next round.

Have a dance party. Put on a fun song and let students dance away!

There are so, so many awesome brain break videos out there. Here are a few favorites:

Calming Brain Break Activities

Stretch it out! Ask students to share their favorite stretches from P.E. and lead students through some standing stretches.

If you happen to know a few yoga poses, guide them through a few yoga poses.

Give students a few minutes to doodle.

Focus on breathing. Have students close their eyes and place one hand on their stomachs and one hand on their chests. Have them breathe in for four counts and out for four counts and feel their chests and stomachs move in and out.

Here are a few breathing guides for kids:
Want to grab a printable list of these brain breaks? I put them all together to make it simple for you! Click the image below to download it!
A Few Quick Tips For Brain Breaks

Remember that brain breaks can be as short as one to three minutes. You'll want to implement them every 15-30 minutes in the kindergarten and first grade classroom.

Write down all of your brain break ideas on popsicle sticks or notecards. When you feel that your students need a brain break, pull one out so you're always ready and don't have to worry about coming up with an activity.

Set the expectations ahead of time. Let students know that it's important to participate and have fun, but they can't get carried away. Remember this takes lots of opportunities to practice.

Set a timer to help everyone stay on track with the daily schedule.

For videos, bookmark them all in a folder so that you know exactly where they all are when you need one. You don't want to waste time searching and scrolling!

Finally, keep in mind that brain breaks don't have to be complicated or fancy. We just want to give our young learners' brains a chance to rest so that they can jump right back into learning! The next time you notice that students seem off-task, unfocused, or getting riled up, try a quick brain break and see what happens!

If you want to keep chatting about all things classroom management, literacy, organization, and more, head to our Facebook group. I love getting to chat with teachers like you, answer questions, and share ideas! Join thousands of other teachers and me HERE!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
15 Must-Try Brain Breaks for K-1 Students - Mrs. Richardson's Class

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Have you been in the middle of teaching a great lesson and you start seeing several students getting wiggly? Then you might see them start to look up, around, and everywhere except at you. And before you know it, half the class is just not focused and engaged, and you're doing more redirecting than teaching.

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.weareteachers.com/second-grade-brain-breaks/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Hit a mid-morning slump? Feel like the afternoon has been dragging on forever? Sounds like the perfect time to step away and recharge. Whether you're looking for a way to decompress or a quick energy boost, this list of second grade brain breaks is a great place to start!

1. Move and Freeze

"C'mon, move and freeze!"

2. Boom Chicka Boom

"I Said A Boom Chicka Boom!"

3. Brrrrrrrrrrrr (Dance-A-Long)

"I'm high fiving a penguin - I'm gonna freeze!"

4. Happy Dance

"Stand up! Feel the beat!"

5. Cha Cha Slide Dance

"Everybody clap your hands!"

6. Stretching Song

"Put your left foot forward and lunge!"

7. Ants in My Pants

"As I dance with my hands!"

8. What's That You Say

"Let me see your robot moves!"

9. Yoga for Kids

"Brain breaks, give our mind a rest!"

10. Be the Pond

A short mindfulness video for kids.

11. Fortnite Dance Challenge

With Gummy Bear and Friends!

12. Guess the Sound Game

"Guess the sounds before the time runs out!"

13. Milkshake

What's today's special?

14. Toosie Slide

"Left foot up, right foot slide!"

15. Never Have I Ever

This second grade brain break is the perfect energizer!

16. Peanut Butter in a Cup

"Peanut butter in a cup we sing this song to pump us UP!"

17. 5 Minutes Body Scan Meditation

Help kids understand the mind-body connection.

18. Wiggle It

"Wiggle, it, wiggle it, wiggle it, hey!"

19. How to Juggle

It's a fun skill to learn!

20. Five Finger Breathing

Strengthen your superpowers of focus and calm.

21. 5 Minute Move

40 seconds work, 20 seconds rest.

22. 5 Minute Yoga Routine for Kids

Go on a safari adventure!

23. Double Scoop

"Kick it all off with a waffle cone!"

24. Let's Move

"Get your body in the groove!"

25. Yoga Dance Party

Dancing AND stretching? Sign us up!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
25 Second Grade Brain Breaks For When You Need to Move

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Hit a mid-morning slump? Feel like the afternoon has been dragging on forever? Sounds like the perfect time to step away and recharge. Whether you're looking for a way to decompress or a quick energy boost, this list of second grade brain breaks is a great place to start!

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.prodigygame.com/main-en/blog/brain-breaks-for-kids/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
"It's time to do homework." 😱

This simple phrase is often dreaded by kids and parents. And it's understandable.

With so many changes this year, including much more learning from home, parents want to stay involved in their children's education more than ever. But spending too much time on homework only seems to lead to distraction, frustration or exhaustion (or all of the above).

It might feel like a constant battle, and homework stress can lead to burnout and anxiety for kids if you're not careful.

That's why brain breaks for kids are so important for reducing stress and keeping kids motivated to learn!

But first, what is a brain break?

What are brain breaks for kids?

Brain breaks are mental breaks kids can take in between learning tasks.

They're often used at school during class time, or at home during homework time. These activities can be active or relaxing, depending what's needed for each child.

Photo by Ketut Subiyanto

The purpose of brain breaks is to switch neural activity to different networks.

When kids are working, most of their energy goes to specific parts of the brain that are used for attention and critical thinking. Brain breaks reset these areas to reduce stress and improve learning when kids return to task.

Brain breaks often focus on physical movement, mindfulness or sensory activities. These activities stimulate other areas of the brain that are equally important, but aren't used as much when kids are working and learning.

Most importantly, brain breaks are:

1. Short - Around 3-5 minutes is optimal.

2. Pre-planned - Kids know they're coming and can look forward to them.

Want to help your child learn in a fun and engaging way?

Prodigy - the game-based math platform used by millions of students - can help get your child excited to practice math.

As your child embarks on their learning journey, use your parent account (which you can create for free) to support their learning progress and promote a growth mindset - all while they enjoy new virtual adventures and explore exciting worlds. They'll have so much fun playing the game, they won't even realize how much they're actually learning.

Plus, you can engage your child even more with a Premium Membership that unlocks extra features to make the game even more fun (and includes amazing benefits for parents, too).

Start inspiring and motivating your child today!
Create or log in to your account
37 Brain break activities for kids to try

Use these brain break ideas to build up a list of activities you can pull from. Whether your child is in elementary, middle or high school, you can find an activity that works for them to break up the school day or homework sessions.

Physical brain breaks for kids

These brain breaks get kids up and moving. Help your child burn off some energy so they can stay focused when working by taking movement breaks between lessons.

1. Dancing

Encourage your child to get up and groove and do a brain break dance party. Take a quick dance break together, or even have a dance-off (singing along is also highly recommended).

A fun variation on the dance idea is trying out freeze dance, where kids have to freeze when the music stops.

2. Action songs

Action songs are unique dance breaks that provide exact instructions for what to do. Kids have tons of fun following along with the moves and learning each of the songs.

3. Cardio

Do some fun physical activities that get the heart pumping. Try alternating between exercises like jumping jacks, skipping and jogging in place.

Or throw on a kid-friendly video and learn a new workout together!

4. Balloon volleyball

All you need for this brain break is a balloon! Choose one in your child's favorite color, then take turns passing it back and forth without letting it touch the ground.

For a challenge, add an extra balloon and see if you can pass them both at the same time.

5. Exercise ball

If you have an exercise ball handy, give your child a few minutes to sit and bounce. This is a super easy and fun way to quickly get some excess energy out.

6. Brain tricks

Try some action-based brain tricks with your child. For example, have them try to pat their head while rubbing their stomach, blink one eye while snapping with the opposite hand, or anything else you can think of!

This brain break is a fun way to challenge your child and help them develop important coordination skills.

7. Act like...

A fun way to engage kids is to give them different scenarios to act out. See how many they can do in 3 minutes. Then get them to give you scenarios so you can show off your acting skills, too!
Try asking them to act like:

They're driving a car

They're blowing bubbles

A bee is flying around them

They just met their favorite singer

8. Simon says

This classic action game is a fun brain break that also requires good listening skills. Create your own game or play a video version for your child.

9. Animal actions

Use dice or a spinner to choose random animals, then ask your child to act like that animal. You can also take turns being a different animal, then vote on your favorite at the end!

Relaxing brain breaks for kids

These brain breaks help kids calm down and reset their energy. They're especially helpful if your child is starting to feel stressed about what they're working on.

1. Yoga poses

Get the body moving, while also helping kids relax and practice mindfulness. Yoga can be a huge stress reliever for all ages, so join in when you can!

2. Calming music

Listen to a relaxing song to help your child unwind. Have them sit somewhere comfortable, relax and enjoy the music in between learning tasks.

3. Calming videos

Find short clips on YouTube Kids to play for your child. Choose a few new ones based on their interests, or find videos you already know they enjoy watching.

4. Coloring

Let your child color a picture (or a piece of a picture). This is a relaxing way to get creative juices flowing. Plus, they can display the final product when they're done!

Use a coloring page or give your child a blank piece of paper to draw their own picture.

5. Deep breathing

Help your child decompress with some deep breathing exercises. This will instantly help them relax and relieve stress so they can feel ready to take on their next task.

Encourage your child to try this: breathe in through the nose while placing your hand on your stomach to feel it expand. Hold it here, then slowly breathe out through the mouth while feeling your stomach contract. Repeat.

Or, try a technique like 4-7-8 breathing or five finger breathing.

Sensory brain breaks for kids

Fresh air is always encouraged! Stepping outside for a few minutes can make a bigger difference than you'd think.

It gives kids a change of scenery and helps revitalize the senses, providing a welcome break from their homework.

2. Scavenger hunt

Give your child different things to find and explore throughout the house. During each brain break, they can try to find one new item on their list.

3. Playdough

You can do tons of different things with playdough. That's why it's always a favorite among kids!

Let your child build something new or just squish some playdough around - whatever they prefer.

Try this recipe for homemade playdough.

4. Sensory bin

Sensory bins are a popular option, especially for kids with sensory needs. You can change the items in the bin as often as you'd like to keep your child from getting bored or understimulated.

Skill-building brain breaks for kids

With these brain breaks, kids can still learn and develop new skills. Their brains still get a break when you switch the focus to a new activity.
Tip: Try to go back and forth between different subjects. For instance, if your child is working on math homework, choose a language brain break.
1. Puzzles

Get out a jigsaw puzzle and have your child work on a little bit each break, or challenge them to try different math puzzles to flex their mathematical minds.

2. Secret handshake

This brain break definitely requires your participation! Create a secret handshake with your child, then try to remember it (and maybe even add onto it) next time.

3. Segment sounds

This is an easy and fun way to build language skills.

Give your child a word or phrase, and have them segment it into sounds or syllables. They can do whatever action they want to while they segment, like clapping or stomping.
For example, the sounds in "cat" would be k-a-t. The syllables in dinosaur would be di-no-saur.
4. Story starters

Make a quick story during each brain break with story starters. Your child can either write their stories down or just say them out loud.

5. Write a book

Instead of individual stories, create a longer story together and keep building upon it as you go.

Each break, come up with a different page of the story. Once it's written, you can go back and illustrate each page!

6. Activity pages

Give your child a fun activity sheet to work on during their brain breaks. This will keep kids on a roll with worksheets, while still switching up tasks and reducing overload.

Get fun printable activities here!

7. Brain teasers

Brain teasers give kids a bit of a challenge, but are also tons of fun to solve! Choose a brain teaser for whatever subject you want them to focus on during their brain break.
Try these 45 fun brain teasers for kids (with answers).
8. Riddles

Kids love a good riddle. Give them easy ones to see how many they can solve in one brain break, or try to stump them with a tougher riddle.
Try these 43 awesome riddles for kids (with answers).
9. Learn a language

Why not learn a useful skill? Language learning is great for kids' development, and they might even find a new language they love!
Try one of these 10 best language learning apps for kids.
10. Learn to juggle

Try another interesting skill that your child can show off to their friends later! Juggling can also boost coordination and concentration abilities.

11. Talent show

Each brain break, have your child perform a different skill, like singing, dancing or even juggling (once they learn how). You can also take turns and have your whole family take part!

12. Icebreakers

Ask your child a different question every brain break. You can make the questions up, or choose them from a list of icebreakers. Your child will have fun thinking of their answers, and you'll learn more about their interests!

13. Alphabet game

Choose a category (ex. movies, food, jobs etc.), then take turns naming something from that category while going down the alphabet.

For example, if your category is food, one person might say "apples," the next person "bananas" and so on. Categorization is an important skill to practice, but the alphabet game is entertaining, too!

14. Math dice

Take two dice (the bigger the better) and have your child roll them to solve math problems, with whatever operation you choose.

For example, if your child rolls a 4 and a 6, they have to add them together to get the correct answer of 10.

Brain break games for kids

A quick game gives kids a bit of fun in between work tasks, allowing their minds to reset. And you can have fun playing games with them too!

1. Board games

In between homework tasks, give your child a turn or two at a board game. Once the work is done, you can finish the game together!

Try Blokus: a fun board game that's just like Tetris.
Or try more board games for kids.
2. Heads Up!

This game involves guessing what image or word is on your forehead from the other player giving you clues.

It's also conveniently timed for you, so after a round, your child will be ready to begin the next homework task.
Try the Heads Up! Kids app.
3. Indoor bowling

Find a level space in your home to set up a makeshift bowling lane. Then collect items to use as "pins" (try empty water bottles or toys) and use a small ball to knock them down!

4. Charades

Another classic game that everyone can enjoy! Write a few objects or phrases down, then take turns choosing one from a hat to act out. See how many each of you can guess. You can use a specific category or just make it completely random!

5. Minute to Win It

You might be familiar with the popular game show, but did you know you can play it at home?

Each minute to win it challenge is just that - a minute. That means it's perfect for brain breaks. Each break, you can give your child a different challenge to complete using any household items you have lying around.
Try these Minute to Win It games for kids and family.
Benefits of brain breaks for kids

Ever been stuck for ages on a work task, only to complete it with ease after taking a quick break?

The same is true for your child. Without breaks, children's minds can become too focused on the task at hand, which can actually prevent them from processing what they're learning.

But regular brain breaks help your child's mind reset, so they have more mental energy to learn!

Brain breaks can also:

Brain breaks are especially important for children with behavioral or sensory needs, but all children can benefit from taking some time to unwind.

5 Tips to use brain breaks effectively

1. Find the timing that works best for your child

Build a brain break schedule to help you remember to use them! This will also help your child stay motivated during work time, knowing they have a break coming up.
What should your schedule look like?
Research shows that after 10 to 30 minutes, time on task starts to decline. This means scheduling a 3-5 minute brain break every 20 minutes or so will be best for most kids. But depending on your child's age and specific needs, this timing may need to be adjusted.

You can also plan breaks around tasks instead of timing. For example, you might decide to give your child a brain break once they answer 5 math questions.

Figure out what your child responds best to, and create a brain break schedule that works for both of you.

But be flexible when the time comes. If your child's attention seems to be fading, start a brain break early. If they're on a roll, hold off on taking a break.

2. Find the right brain break for your child

Think about what your child responds best to, then use this to figure out what kind of brain break they need.

Are breaks more effective when they relax or when they get up and move? Is it best to keep them learning or give their minds a rest? This could vary from day-to-day, so try to gauge energy levels to determine what will work best.

Make sure you have options from each category so you can use the most effective brain break each day!

3. Make a list of activities

Create a list to ensure you always have options. This way, you'll have no problem thinking of a fun brain break to give your child when the time comes.

Write or print them on a piece of paper, or use a more creative option:

Put them on large dice or beach balls

Write them on paper or popsicle sticks to pull from a box or jar

Print a brain breaks bingo card to complete (you can use an existing one or make your own)

Once you have your list, you can choose the brain breaks yourself, let your child choose or make it a surprise!

4. Use a timer

Keep time with a stopwatch or phone timer to ensure your break lasts the right amount of time.

Too short, and kids might not get enough of a break. Too long, and they might become distracted and reluctant to return to the task at hand.

Make sure the timer is somewhere your child can see, so they can be fully prepared to get back to work when it's time.

5. Talk about it afterward

When work is finished, talk to kids about their experiences.

This gives them a chance to provide feedback that will help you understand how you can optimize your brain breaks.

Ask your child the following questions:

What was your favorite brain break?

How did you find today's work/homework?

How do you think the brain break helped you?

Brain breaks work for younger and older kids

At first glance, brain breaks might just seem like a fun distraction for kids to have a quick indoor recess. And while that's true, there are so many more benefits for kids and educators.

Brain breaks provide relief from constant hands-on learning. They can relieve stress, alleviate pressure and even help boost self-esteem if done right.

Next time your child or students are working, watch how much they get energized from these short breaks. You might even start adding them to your day.

We hope you found a new favorite in this list of brain break ideas and activities.

👉 Want to help your child have fun whilethey learn? Give Prodigy's game-based learning platform a try by creating free child and parent accounts. It's an engaging game used by millions of students, teachers and parents around the world.

And with a Premium Membership, you can engage kids even more! While they enjoy all their extra in-game benefits and rewards, you'll get parent features and benefits that will help you help them love learning.
Become a Premium Member today!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
37 Brain Breaks for Kids: Quick, Easy and Educational

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
"It's time to do homework." 😱 This simple phrase is often dreaded by kids and parents. And it's understandable. With so many changes this year, including much more learning from home, parents want to stay involved in their children's education more than ever.

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.weareteachers.com/first-grade-brain-breaks/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Feel like you've been talking non-stop for hours? Has everyone's energy gone down the drain? Are you struggling to get anyone's attention? Might be a good time for a physical and mental breather! To help you get started, check out this list of first grade brain breaks!

1. Pizza Man

Cheesy, good fun!

2. Dinosaur Stomp

"Pick up your foot and stomp it!"

3. The Cat Came Back

Thought he was a goner!

4. Get Yo Body Movin'

"Everybody here, let me see you bounce!"

5. Grey Squirrel Song

"Swoosh your bushy tail" with one of our fave first grade brain breaks!

6. Shake Yo Foot

Shake, shake, shake!

7. Animals In The Ocean

"The sharks in the ocean go chomp, chomp, chomp!"

8. Slow Motion Machine

Let's sloooooow it down...

9. Banana Banana Meatball

"Patterns made of shapes, patterns made of grapes!"

10. Hopscotch (Dance-A-Long)

"We're going hop, hop, hop!"

11. The Pirate Life

Climb aboard a pirate ship!

12. This or That

What will you choose?

13. The Sid Shuffle

Learn the moves to the coolest dance craze in the Ice Age!

14. Cat Party

"P-A-R-T-Y - it's a party, hey!"

15. Would You Rather?

Zero equipment needed for this quick energizer game!

16. Do The Yeti

Move with Migo from Smallfoot!

17. The Ants Go Marching

Boom, boom, boom!

18. KIDZ BOP Shuffle

To the right, to the right, to the left, to the left!

19. All I Eat Is Pizza

"I've got cheese on my fingers!"

20. Clap It Out

"Count, count, count some syllables!"

21. Positivity

"Gotta dream, you'll do anything to make it happen!"

22. Move Your Legs

Move them all around with this first grade brain break!

23. Get Up to Get Down

"I like to feel the beat!"

24. Rainbow Breath

Recharge with mindfulness.

25. I'm Talkin' about the Weekend!

Those precious days at the end of the week!

Have any first grade brain breaks to share? Post in the comments below!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Feel like you've been talking non-stop for hours? Has everyone's energy gone down the drain? Are you struggling to get anyone's attention? Might be a good time for a physical and mental breather! To help you get started, check out this list of first grade brain breaks! Cheesy, good fun!

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.weareteachers.com/kindergarten-brain-breaks/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
More than ever, kids (and teachers!) need a little downtime between lessons. These can be done individually or as a class and usually involve physical movement, singing, or even mindful stretching and relaxation. Need some inspiration? Here's a list of kindergarten brain breaks to help you get started!

1. Animal Dance and Freeze

Let's head to the jungle!

2. Dancing Robots

High tech fun!

3. Herman the Worm

You'll be singing this song in your head all day...

4. The Wiggles: Hokey Pokey

You put one hand in, you put one hand out, you put one hand in, and you shake it all about!

5. If You're Happy and You Know It

Clap your hands!

6. Slippery Fish

Sing along to this water adventure!

7. Wheels On The Bus (R&B Remix)

Get your groove on!

8. We're Going on a Bear Hunt

Grab your binoculars!

9. Icky Sticky Bubble Gum

What a mess!

10. Tooty Ta

This is the silliest dance ever!

11. Shake Your Sillies Out

Burn off some energy!

12. Let's Move

Wake up those bodies!

13. Move & Freeze Dance

Things are gonna get "wild!"

14. Shake Break

Shake out your hands, hips, and head!

15. Snowman Dance

Get ready to roll, slide, clap, and bounce!

16. Body Boogie Dance

Shake it to the right, shake it to the left!

17. Can't Stop The Feeling

Get that sunshine in your pocket and that good soul in your feet!

18. Penguin Dance

This kindergarten brain break is too "cool" for school!

19. The Dance Freeze Song

Get kids up and moving!

20. Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes

A fun spin on an old classic!

21. Itsy Bitsy Spider (R&B Remix)

You've never heard it like this before!

22. The Duck Song

Waddle waddle!

23. Simon Says

Touch your nose!

24. The Floor is Lava

Watch out!

25. Sit and Stretch

Give your muscles some love!

Do you have any kindergarten brain breaks to share? Post in the comments below!

Plus, check out Important SEL Skills Kids Can Learn From Watching Sesame Street.

Want more ideas like this? Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter so you can get our latest picks.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
All posts by Jeanne Croteau, M.S., Psychology

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
25 Kindergarten Brain Breaks to Get the Wiggles Out

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This article shares a list of kindergarten brain breaks to help students relax, recharge, and release stress between lessons.

# data[].attributes.headline
 Physical Education or Active Classroom Lesson Plan Source

# data[].attributes.subject
 Physical Education or Active Classroom Lesson Plan Source

# data[].attributes.body
https://grfit4kids.org/resources/active-lesson-plans/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
All of Fit4Kids' active lesson plans are based on major strategies that are most effective for active learning. Use our strategy guide for planning your own active lessons.

# data[].attributes.headline
 Physical Education or Active Classroom Lesson Plan Source

# data[].attributes.subject
 Physical Education or Active Classroom Lesson Plan Source

# data[].attributes.body
https://openphysed.org/activeschools/activeclassrooms

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
SHAPE America Standard 5. Recognizes the value of physical activity for health, enjoyment, challenge, self-expression, and/or social interaction.

Standard 5 [E1.K-2]: Recognizes that physical activity is important for good health (K); Identifies physical activity as a component of good health (1); Recognizes the value of "good health balance" (2); Discusses the relationship between physical activity and good health (3); Examines the health benefits of participating in physical activity (4); Compares the health benefits of participating in selected physical activities (5).
Common Core Standards for Literacy in Technical Subjects.

College & Career Readiness (Speaking & Listening): Participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.

College & Career Readiness (Language): Acquire and use accurately a range of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career readiness level.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Created by: Aaron Hart, Nick Kline, Kate Darpino, Victor Spadaro, Colin Arvanitakis, Angelica Fox Nutrition Education: Andrea Hart, RDN Special Contributions: Reg Hageman OPEN's Tools for Creating Active Classrooms is a new resource designed specifically for classroom teachers who understand the value of routine physical activity for their students.

# data[].attributes.headline
 Physical Education or Active Classroom Lesson Plan Source

# data[].attributes.subject
 Physical Education or Active Classroom Lesson Plan Source

# data[].attributes.body
https://kidshealth.org/classroom/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
As a child care provider, you play an important role in children's lives, especially when it comes to food and fitness. To make things easier on you, KidsHealth and Sesame Workshop present the Healthy Habits for Life Child Care Resource Kit.

These hands-on activities use Sesame Street characters to help you show your students how to eat right and be active.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
As a child care provider, you play an important role in children's lives, especially when it comes to food and fitness. To make things easier on you, KidsHealth and Sesame Workshop present the Healthy Habits for Life Child Care Resource Kit.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
21 Fa W Project_ Teach Manipulative Lesson Focus BALLS (3)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
20 Fa Lesson Plan Teaching Integrated Sport or Active Classroom DONE