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Outdoor Classroom Day is a day to celebrate and inspire learning and play outside the classroom, and we want YOU to get involved!

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For more than 30 years and in over 80 countries Brain Gym has been helping people of all ages and abilities - babies, children, adults and seniors.

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10 Reasons to Create Makerspaces in Your School

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Spread the loveMakerspace is a relatively new method of teaching students in a space where they can get hands-on experience working with concepts they recently learned. The point of the space is to make, create, and invent new things.

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CHILDREN in primary school should not be wasting their time on homework - it is a provocative idea. But research into the impact of homework learning outcomes, and motivation, tells a relatively clear story.

This week the Victorian Parliament's Education and Training Committee recommended a review of that state's homework policy after its findings finally reflected what science has told us for decades: there are no academic benefits from homework for children in primary school.

Research tells us the following about the impact of homework on children in primary school:

Homework offers no academic advantage. Instead, it overwhelms struggling children and is boring for high achievers.

Homework is stressful. A 2002 study showed a direct relationship between time on homework and increased anxiety, depression, anger, and other mood disturbances among students.

As homework increases, national student achievement decreases. Data from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study showed the overall correlations between achievement and the percentage of teachers who used homework in grading are all negative.

Homework increases family conflict. And the more parents help with children's homework, the more tension children experience. It also reduces time for other activities that provide balance and variety to a child's life, such as sport, music, art, or other extra-curricular activities, or to relax and simply be children.

Homework places additional burdens on parents - who often don't know how to help their children anyway - and on teachers, who have enough to do without having to collect, mark, and redistribute extra work for their students on top of that required by the curriculum in schools.

Research DOES indicate that ALL children should read each night. Reading is shown to increase academic achievement and aid in learning. But reading should not be for a set number of minutes or pages. Similarly, self-directed learning at home by completing projects of interest can aid in positive educational experience and motivation.

In spite of the decades of research finding homework has no academic benefit for primary school students, the idea that children should no longer receive homework remains controversial.

Common arguments for homework are that it promotes self-discipline, improves study skills and work habits, helps students be responsible and prepares them for the "real world".

There's no science to support or refute these ideas. However, saying our kids had "better get used to it" so they can manage when they're older is like telling an 11 year-old that 10 hours of sleep each night is too much because in another decade he'll have to manage on eight.

In spite of the research showing homework undermines learning and disrupts childhood, it possesses a symbolic value that demonstrates a commitment to higher standards and work ethic.

But the evidence is clear. Supporters of homework are actually driving kids away from learning, making them less successful in school, and interrupting their childhood.
Dr Justin Coulson is a parenting researcher, speaker, author and father of six.

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Why kids are better off without homework

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CHILDREN in primary school should not be wasting their time on homework - it is a provocative idea. But research into the impact of homework learning outcomes, and motivation, tells a relatively clear story.

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One of the reasons that my parents chose my secondary school - the other being that it was the only one I was actually accepted into - was its policy on uniform. Put simply, it did not have one. As we toured its grand halls and not so grand classrooms, Mrs Holyoak, the headmistress, explained that she hated the thought of having to see corridors full of girls in drab, grey uniforms day after day after day.

She wanted to create individuals, she said. She wanted us to be creative. And so we were, though never too creative. If a skirt crept above the knee or a top revealed too much cleavage, we were marched to the cupboard of doom and placed in the kind of skirt that Mary Poppins would wear, a jumper that Susan Boyle would be proud of, and shoes that had last been seen on the feet of a clown.

Such a prospect ensured that we rarely strayed from the path of sensible clothing. The same cannot be said of Wilmington Enterprise College in Dartford, Kent, where 380 of the school's 820 pupils were recently punished for flouting rules on uniform. In just one day. A whopping 46 of them were actually sent home to change their clothes. Belinda Langley-Bliss, the acting head of the college, insisted: "We advised students before the end of term and posted letters to parents about what we expected. On the first day back there were reminders."

One mother, whose two daughters were shown the door for wearing incorrect footwear, said that this sartorial crackdown "just seems ridiculous. If it was an adult, it would be classed as an infringement on their human rights."

Ho ho! Human rights indeed. I am sure the kids were left traumatised by the experience of being told off for doing something they shouldn't have. Sue the school, I say. Sue them for enforcing rules. How dare they? Who does this Langley-Bliss character think she is? A headmistress or something?

Actually - joking aside - I think this mother has a point, although I am not sure it is quite the one she meant to make. School uniforms are an infringement on a child's human rights. They are hideous, scratchy, expensive, and sometimes they are bottle green (one colleague will never again be able to wear red and navy blue, thanks to her uniform). And they should have gone the way of the cane.

I am sure that many readers will disagree, insisting on the positive effects of uniform on discipline, such as the fact that it prevents the cooler kids from bullying the nerdier ones for not having the latest trainers. But bullies will find a way, uniform or no uniform. The natural order of the playground will assert itself regardless. Meanwhile, a study published in the Journal of Education Research just over a decade ago found that wearing a uniform had little effect on behaviour, attendance or academic achievement.

Stick a kid in a school uniform, and the first thing that they will do is attempt to clamber out of it. Failing that, they will try to alter it in some way, so as to mark out their individuality. They will hitch up their skirt, scribble on their shirt or cut up their blazer.

If you think about it, the school uniform actually encourages ill-discipline. The only people who enjoy wearing it are perverts and drunken women on hen nights who will eventually be found with their old netball skirt round their waist and their shirt covered in vomit.

Uniforms look good on some people - sailors, soldiers, doctors, nurses, the Village People, the police (as long as they remember to stick on their identity numbers). But not on schoolchildren. They make them look drab and depressed and remind them that they belong to a place they would really rather not be.

In Italy, they avoid these outfits like the plague because they literally seem a bit fascist - harking back to an era when kids were stuck in youth movements and forced to wear uniforms even when they weren't at school.

Anyway, don't take my word for it: listen, instead, to the headmaster of Fortismere school in Haringey, one of the most successful comprehensives in the country. Aydin Onac tells me that he is "proud" to be in charge of a non-uniform school.

"Our students are encouraged to dress sensibly and to take responsibility for their appearance," he says. "Uniform means 'the same'. That's the antithesis of what education should be."

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We should cut our ties with school uniform

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One of the reasons that my parents chose my secondary school - the other being that it was the only one I was actually accepted into - was its policy on uniform. Put simply, it did not have one.

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Toys from home - Yes? No? Sometimes?

At our preschool we allow children to bring comfort toys - a favorite stuffed toy or a blanket - we discourage children from bringing other toys from home.

I've been comfortable with this state of affairs until I read this post from Kristen over at the wonderful Preschool Daze.

At Kristen's preschool, children can bring a toy and play with it during the day. She writes:

some toys are their "lovies" and we don't expect them to be shared. but when it is another toy, we invite the preschooler to share it or save it in their cubby.

Both options are just as good. children are allowed to save their own things in their cubbies and great effort goes into helping them feel empowered in that choice

one of our main goals as a preschool is to ease the transition from home to preschool, from parent to teacher. quite simply, if bringing something from home can assist in that transition, that's an easy thing!

Which started me thinking. Would saying "yes" to toys from home be a way to:

Soften the boundaries between home and preschool?

Create important links between home and preschool?

Encourage conversations about home life that we may miss out on otherwise.

Support children in learning all important life lessons such as sharing and responsibility?

On the other hand, hunting for a missing toy is time consuming. Hunting for 25 missing toys is unmanageable. A lost or broken toy is distressing for the child.
What are your thoughts?

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Toys from home - Yes? No? Sometimes? At our preschool we allow children to bring comfort toys - a favorite stuffed toy or a blanket - we discourage children from bringing other toys from home. I've been comfortable with this state of affairs until I read this post from Kristen over at the wonderful Preschool Daze.

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Not only is sleep critical in the functioning of all body systems, scientists have found a distinct correlation between our ability to learn and process memories, and our sleeping habits. Studies show too little sleep can contribute to many physical and mental health issues, including poor ability to learn, depression, high blood pressure and disease.

For many parents, ensuring their children get the right amount of sleep can be stressful. Here are some facts on why it's so important they get the shut-eye they need, and how you can help them get into good habits.

How does sleep affect learning?

For all of us, memory and learning are consolidated during sleep. For adolescents, this mostly happens during REM sleep - which is a phase in the sleep cycle that happens after deep sleep. During high-pressure times such as exams, students are often tempted to pull all-nighters to cram for the next day. Unfortunately, this is often counterproductive - because with fewer hours to reach the REM phase, the teen brain doesn't get enough time to lay down what they've studied the night before.

While the old advice is that it's important to get a good night's sleep before an exam the real benefits occur when teens get a good night's sleep after studying for the exam.

In her groundbreaking book The Teenage Brain, neuroscientist Dr Frances Jensen explains 'Bedtime isn't simply a way for the body to relax and recoup after a hard day working, studying or playing. It's the glue that allows us not only to recollect our experiences but also to remember everything we've learned that day ."

Not only does sleep strengthen learning and memories - it also has the ability to prioritise memories by breaking them up and organising them according to their emotional importance.

Essentially the more you learn, the more you need to sleep which is why a good sleep is critical in achieving success at school.

How much sleep do we need?

There is no magic number for exactly how much sleep we need, but the Australian Centre for Education in Sleep (ACES) suggests the following as a guide:
Primary school: 10-12 hours per day High school adolescents: 8-10 hours per day Adults: 7-9 hours per day
During adolescence, melatonin (a sleep hormone) is released later in the evening compared to adults, which explains why your child may fight sleep in the evening. Because of the delayed release of this hormone, it also sticks around longer, making teens sluggish in the morning.

A healthy sleep routine with adequate time to wind-down at the end of the day is important to ensure you teen gets the sleep their brain needs to develop and consolidate everything they've learnt that day.

What happens if they don't get enough?

According to the ACES, 35 - 40% of children and adolescents experience some form of sleep deprivation during their development.

A short-lived bout of lack of sleep is generally nothing to worry about: the bigger concern is sleep deprivation - a longer period of time where you are not getting the hours you need to function and learn.

Poor sleep will have all sorts of adverse physiological, emotional and cognitive effects on children and particular teenagers, including:

Susceptibility to serious illness

Rise in blood pressure

Eating too much, or eating the wrong foods

Mood swings

Aggressive, impatient behaviour

Low self-esteem

Without adequate sleep our focus and attention drifts making it harder to receive information. When we are sleep-deprived our overworked neurons can no longer function to coordinate information properly and we lose our ability to access previously learned information.

So, how can parents help?

If you think your child needs more sleep, try making gradual changes to their sleeping habits. Small increments have been shown to be effective in changing sleep patterns.

Be aware of the signs of fatigue in your children and speak to them if you're worried they are sleep deprived.

Be clear about how much time your kids can spend on their computers and phones - a limit of no more than one to two hours a day is ideal.

The light from LED screens delays the release of melatonin and makes it difficult for the brain to wind down. Enforce a no screen policy one hour before bedtime if your children are fighting sleep.

Take their phones out of their rooms when it comes to bedtime, or turn the setting to 'Airplane Mode' to disconnect it for the night.

Limit soft drinks, fried food, sweets and caffeine (even tea) before bed.

Regular exercise will help tire their bodies and get them ready for sleep.

And remember, your children are going through a period of their lives where their brains and bodies are going through a lot of change. Not only is your job to set these firm guidelines and support them along the way, it's also to be patient and ride the wave with them. It may not be easy, but they will thank you for it (eventually!).
If you liked this, you might like to read:

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Why Healthy Sleep Is Vital For School Success

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Not only is sleep critical in the functioning of all body systems, scientists have found a distinct correlation between our ability to learn and process memories, and our sleeping habits. Studies show too little sleep can contribute to many physical and mental health issues, including poor ability to learn, depression, high blood pressure and disease.

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"What should I read next?" he says, eagerly awaiting my answer.

His question takes me by surprise, after all, there is no possible way he has finished the book I downloaded for him two days ago. He has mastered the art of fake reading a few months ago.

"You're done already? What did you think?" I ask, trying to feel out if he actually read it.

"It was so sad...at the end, when his dad came. I couldn't believe it..." He keeps going, telling me parts of the story that makes me nod in recollection, and it dawns on me; he read it, I think. He read it, he loved it. He is proud. He is ready for another book.

"When did you find the time to read it?" I ask, still surprised.

"Last night...It got interesting so I listened to it all night. 3 hours, I think." He says, "So what do I read next?"

This child who had not read a chapter book all year. Who has abandoned book upon book, casting aside any favorites that we could think of. Who has stuck to the same graphic novel over and over because nothing else mattered. This child, whose disengagement has made us worry late at night, whose ability to tell you exactly what you want to hear has befuddled us all. He now stands before me, beaming, waiting for the next book. He has become a child that reads.

And he is not alone. Several students this year are having incredible reading experiences, kids who have never liked reading, are begging for the next book, begging for time to listen. Yes, listen, because these students are devouring one audio-book after another. Comprehending the words without having to struggle through the decoding. Accessing stories that they have heard their friends talk about. No longer looking at the easier books while they long for something with more substance. Those children are becoming readers with the help of audio-books.

Some may say that does not count as reading, I certainly used to balk at it counting toward any reading goal, this year I am discovering otherwise. Sure, there are cognitive differences in the processes that happens when we read with our eyes versus our ears, however, the skills that we are able to utilize through the listening of an audio-book are monumental in building further reader success. And research has shown that the cognitive processes are surprisingly similar. So what has adding (and investing in audio-books) done for our students?

Provided equity in reading experience. Students who read significantly below their grade level are able to access the same texts as their peers. This matters when we create reading communities, because they no longer feel different when they book shop. Now, when they browse the books they can select any book they are interested in and we can get it for them either through Overdrive or Audible.

Supported critical thinking skills. Students can develop critical thinking skills without having to spend enormous brain power on decoding. Decoding is still taught and supported through other texts, however, they now have a text that we can practice deeper thinking with that actually has deeper meaning. Not just right text that doesn't provide us with the complex relationships that make for such powerful stories.

Re-ignited a passion for reading. Often students who are developing readers start to hate reading. And I get it; when you are constantly in struggle mode, it can be so tiring, so having access via an audio-book lets students finally enjoy a story. They can be in the zone with the book because their brain is not occupied with the work of having to read, creating a deep immersion into the reading experience.

Provided new strategies for teaching reading. I can now pull out segments of text to use with a student knowing that they have the proper background knowledge, which is a key component when we build understanding. I do not have to reference the entire text, but instead can have them focus on the skill at hand. This therefore allows me to support their comprehension growth more efficiently.

Given us a gateway into reading with their eyes. Often times, my developing readers harbor enormous hesitancy when it comes to veering out of their known text. They are quick to dismiss, abandon and feign disinterest, all in the interest of saving face and saving them from yet another reading disappointment. However, students finding success within the audio-book world are building their courage, their stamina, and their desire to pick up print texts.

I could list more reasons; being exposed to amazing fluency, students feeling like they have relevant thoughts when it comes to discussion, building overall reading self-esteem, planting high interest books in the hands of students to see them become "the books to read," even changing the reading dynamics within a classroom. Denise Johnson lists even more here.

In the end, I wonder whether it really matter whether having students listen to audio books is cognitively not exactly the same as when they read with their eyes? If our true goal of teaching reading is to make students fall in love with books, then audio-books are a must for our classrooms. And so is the notion that they count as real reading. No longer should we denounce or diminish the very thing that can make the biggest difference to some of our students.

That boy, who asked for another book, started listening to All American Boys yesterday. That boy who has faced discrimination, judgement, and who has tried to fit in by being an amazing kid every single day. He is now reading a book that may make a huge impact in his life. That may offer him tools if he ever were to face a similar situation. And he wouldn't have been able to before. That book would have been so far out of his zone of proximal development that he would have been robbed of the experience for a long while yet. But not anymore, he is a reader now. And he is proudly telling everyone he meets about the books he has read.

PS: I cannot take responsibility for this idea of using audio-books, that belongs to my amazing colleague Reidun, who makes me a better teacher every day. I am thankful she had the idea and decided to share it.

I have been looking for research and articles to discuss audio books versus paper books. Here are a few articles.
Why "Reading" Audio Books Isn't a Shortcut Audio Books vs Book Books, Which Does the Brain Prefer? Are Audiobooks Worse Than Real Books? Let's Ask Science Is Listening to Audio Books Really the Same As Reading? More research and ideas from Sound Learning New Research Shows Audiobooks have Powerful Impact on Literacy Development As Far As Your Brain is Concerned, Audiobooks Are Not Cheating Audiobooks: Legitimate "Reading" for Adolescents?
PPS: If you are wondering which book he had listened to in one night, it was, of course, Orbiting Jupiter.
If you are looking for a great book club to join to re-energize you in January, consider the Passionate Learners book club on Facebook. We kick off January 10th.

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"What should I read next?" he says, eagerly awaiting my answer. His question takes me by surprise, after all, there is no possible way he has finished the book I downloaded for him two days ago. He has mastered the art of fake reading a few months ago. "You're done already?

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Children who learn with no shoes on are more likely to behave better and obtain good grades than peers with footwear, a decade-long study has revealed.

Researchers at the University of Bournemouth found that pupils who leave their shoes outside the classroom are more likely to arrive to school earlier, leave later and read more widely - ultimately resulting in better academic achievement overall.

From observing thousands of children from 25 countries over ten years, academics say they want to encourage the practice to be adopted in UK primary and secondary schools.

There are already a number of schools in England where the policy has been implemented, following on from Scandinavian habits, where the practice is considered normal.

As well as visiting schools in New Zealand and Australia for the project, researchers studied children's attainment at a school in west London after the habit was introduced, analysing the pupils' academic results all the way up through to university.

Experts found that by removing shoes, classrooms were quieter, providing a calmer atmosphere where pupils were more willing to engage in learning activities.

In Scandinavia and other northern European countries, it is common practice to leave shoes outside the classroom during bad weather, so as not to bring in slush and snow from outside.

However schools in Spain, where it is more common to wear shoes indoors, also tested out the theory and found improved learning and pupil behaviour.

Experts believe having children remove their shoes for the classroom improves their learning because it makes them relax and "feel at home", and have called on teachers in the UK to apply similar "shoeless" policies "to give children the best possible chance of performing in their exams".

Professor Stephen Heppell, who led the research with the Centre for Excellence in Media Practice at Bournemouth University, said: "Children are much more willing to sit on the floor and relax if they have no shoes on."

"The last place a child would sit to read is an upright chair and we've found that 95 per cent of them actually don't read on a chair at home. When they go on holidays they read lying down.

"Having conditions in the classroom that are like those at home means that more boys are reading in the classroom."

"In shoeless schools children also arrive earlier and leave later, which translates into half an hour of extra learning a day on average."

Wearing socks inside also means schools spend around 20 per cent less on cleaning bills, according to Professor Heppel, and less money on furniture since children sit on cushions on the floor.

According to the academic, bullying in schools was also markedly reduced.

Because "everything is going in their favour", he added, children's academic standards tend to improve too.

"The key to attainment is engagement and if children want to be there and enjoy being there, universally they do better. When they arrive late and leave early and are disengaged, their performance suffers. Kids with shoes on are less engaged than those without shoes."

Should schools in the UK wish to introduce a no-shoe policy, Mr Heppel advises that staff including head teachers and guests should also adopt the habit.

As for smelly feet, the academic said this was not a problem - "children's shoeless feet do not smell, it is the shoes that make them smelly".

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Schools encouraged to adopt 'no-shoes policy' to improve pupils' learning and behaviour

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Children who learn with no shoes on are more likely to behave better and obtain good grades than peers with footwear, a decade-long study has revealed. Researchers at the University of Bournemouth found that pupils who leave their shoes outside the classroom are more likely to arrive to school earlier, leave later and read more widely - ultimately resulting in better academic achievement overall.

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A school in Salford has replaced its bell with music to mark the beginning and end of lessons. Is this the end of the school bell, asks Denise Winterman.

The bell can be one of the most cheerless sounds to puncture the school day or the sweet sound of freedom, all depending when it's rung. But for students at St Ambrose Barlow RC High School in Salford it no longer dictates their day. It has been scrapped in favour of music. A 30-second instrumental version of a Beatles' song or a track from the Lion King now breaks up the timetable of the school day.

Some days the school has a theme - Abba, film soundtracks and disco have all been popular. European national anthems were recently used to tell pupils when their lessons started and finished as the school had a Europe day. It's also planning a World War One-inspired soundtrack to mark the war's centenary. Students can also make requests.

"I want students to like being at school and that means making it enjoyable, even how it sounds," says head teacher Marie Garside. "The students love the music. They really listen to the songs and often ask what certain tracks are so it creates an opportunity to teach them something. You often see them dancing and singing along in the corridors as they go about their business, it really lifts the mood."

The traditional school bell has been losing its appeal for a while. Teaching unions have had their issues with it. If it's rung too loudly it can damage the hearing of pupils and staff, they've previously warned. Although the same can be said of a Abba soundtrack. The idea looks like it could catch on. Garside says she's had a lot of calls from other schools interested to find out more. And does she feel any nostalgia for the shrill ring of the old school bell? "I don't miss it at all. It was piercing, like a drill. No-one wants to listen to that."
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A school in Salford has replaced its bell with music to mark the beginning and end of lessons. Is this the end of the school bell, asks Denise Winterman. The bell can be one of the most cheerless sounds to puncture the school day or the sweet sound of freedom, all depending when it's rung.

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According to a recent MSNBC article, 69% of high school currently ban cell phones. But you'd be hard-pressed to find a school anywhere that has enacted a blanket ban on pens and pencils. Here are 10 reasons to reconsider the widespread acceptance of these distracting and potentially dangerous implements.

1. Pens and pencils are distracting. The tapping, clicking, flipping and rolling can drive just about any teacher around the bend. I remember a happy indoor recess spent throwing newly sharpened pencils at the classroom ceiling trying to make them stick.

2. Writing implements are dangerous. I still have a small lump of lead imbedded in the soft, fleshy area between my thumb and pointer finger. It's a souvenir from a mini-sword fight that occurred between my close friend and I in third grade. She won.

3. Pens can be used to cheat. Now that I'm at the head of a classroom instead of behind a desk, I've seen some ingenious cheating techniques. One student managed to write an entire history of media studies on the bottom of their shoe. I've also found forearms covered with vocabulary words, ankles tattooed with definitions, and hands dyed with smeared blue ink.

4. They are incredibly messy. Dusty pencil shavings litter the floor in many elementary classrooms and pens filled with liquid ink are just disasters waiting to happen. Have you ever tried to clean a child's backpack after a pen broke at the bottom of the bag? No amount of scrubbing can get the dye completely out.

5. Pens and pencils can be used to bully kids. Those notes that pass from hand to hand across the rows of desks are often far more sinister than they appear. Thanks to the ubiquitous use of writing implements in schools, kids have free reign to write and distribute messages that use offensive language and hateful speech. Recent high-profile cases of student bullying are just the latest examples of why we must crack down on these communication tools.

6. Kids will just use them to play games. Hangman, Tic-Tac-Toe, word searches, crosswords, and now the latest craze: Sudoko. How can any student be expected to keep their mind on lessons when there are so many tempting distractions just a pen stroke away?

7. Fancy pens and pencils will cause jealousy and other problems. I remember in fifth grade when the girl who sat across from me came to school with a brand new pack of orange, sparkly pens that wrote in neon ink. Her father had brought them back as a souvenir from a recent trip to Florida. They were the coolest and I wanted them, but they were too expensive for me to just go out and buy. Wouldn't it be better to nip those kinds of issue in the bud by instituting a widespread ban on pens in schools.

8. There are health concerns that can lead to bad habits. I think part of the reason I wore braces for six years stemmed from my lifelong habit of chewing pens and pencils. All that chomping in class had to affect my dental hygiene.

9. They lead to sedentary behavior. Have you ever seen a child running with a sharpened pencil? Or, writing a note while playing kickball? Writing and exercise don't mix. The obesity crises is reaching epic levels. Let's get pens and pencils out of our kid's pudgy hands so they can get moving.

10. They can be used to embarrass teachers. Sure, no teacher wants to see their goofs show up on YouTube, but a skillfully done caricature can do as much or more damage than photos or video. At least cameras and video capture actual events, when students are given free reign to create images, text or stories about their teachers, there's no limit to the damage they can do.

Let's hope this blog post helps open people's eyes to the danger of pens and pencils in schools. It's high time someone spoke out in support of a ban on such hazardous tools.

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10 Reasons to Ban Pens and Pencils in the Classroom

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According to a recent MSNBC article, 69% of high school currently ban cell phones. But you'd be hard-pressed to find a school anywhere that has enacted a blanket ban on pens and pencils. Here are 10 reasons to reconsider the widespread acceptance of these distracting and potentially dangerous implements.

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Reading Corner idea

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The outgoing head of the prestigious Sydney Grammar School, John Vallance, has said laptops aren't necessary in the classroom. As a year 11 student that uses my laptop for learning and work everyday, I am dumb-founded by the move.

One of the roles of a 21st century school is to equip students in the best way possible for life outside the classroom. In today's technology-reliant world, learning how to effectively learn and work with technology is an absolute necessity.

It's akin to fencing off a swimming pool between 8am and 3pm and then throwing students in the deep end outside those hours, expecting them to swim. Isn't a much better approach having us students learn, with our teachers, how to effectively deal with the challenges that technology, such as laptops and iPads, presents us?

The incredible benefits of using this technology with intent and purpose far outweigh the negatives. Using technology purposefully in the classroom means students who are seemingly uninterested can be engaged as options to learn how you learn best grow. It means connecting us with new and varied information, ideas and perspectives that we'd traditionally not be exposed to (and also understand how to process that information and examine its credibility, which is becoming increasingly important). It means we learn how to collaborate with each other, to deal with different ideas and work together to produce something.

The undebatable reality is that technology is here to stay and its role in our lives is only going to get bigger.
Photo: Getty

Using this technology also means employing and developing many other essential life skills such as teamwork and communication - something that technology "inhibits" at Sydney Grammar, its headmaster says.

It also means teaching students how to work with the challenges that arise with the use of technology such as distractions and the seemingly endless flow of information. Distractions - notifications, games and messages - are just as much an issue to deal with for a senior executive as it is for a student in year 11. The distractions are always going to be there. Surely it is better that we are taught how to effectively manage these and use technology for good while in a safe and controlled environment where it's OK to sometimes fail, rather than on our own where the risks are much higher?

Here's the thing: regardless of what you think about technology, the undebatable reality is that it's here to stay and its role in our lives is only going to get bigger. As soon as that is acknowledged by schools, educators have a responsibility to students to help them manage that and show them how well it can really be used.

There is no doubt, of course, that technology is not always used for learning effectively, and it's up to school communities - students, teachers and parents - to take risks, experiment and see what works and what doesn't.

But it absolutely can be used really well. My learning experience at school has been so enriched by technology. For example, I'm able to express myself better when I make my own video documentaries, so I've done that - in fact, my school has created a green screen room where both students and teachers can record videos for classes. In the process I've learnt how to use video editing software, work with people I wouldn't normally and enjoyed doing it.

Learning is so incredible and mind-blowing. Let's find new ways of learning not by shunning technology and neglecting the necessary skills students need in the future, but by embracing change and recognising the incredible potential technology brings to learning.
Anthony Segaert is a year 11 student at St Andrew's Cathedral School.

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The outgoing head of the prestigious Sydney Grammar School, John Vallance, has said laptops aren't necessary in the classroom. As a year 11 student that uses my laptop for learning and work everyday, I am dumb-founded by the move.

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Use Google Hangouts, Skype, Facetime to connect to others

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Use Google Hangouts, Skype, Facetime to connect to others

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Using Google Hangouts in the classroom is a great way to connect and collaborate. It's also a powerful tool for making connections, working collaboratively and introducing the wider world to your students. Many educators have embraced Hangouts to enrich both their students' learning experiences and their own professional development. You can connect students with their peers from around the country, or even from abroad, if time zone differences permit.

How to Get Started on Google Hangouts

1. If you don't already have a Google account, sign up for one.

2. To use Hangouts on your smartphone or tablet, download the appropriate app for your device in the app store.

3. You can also use Hangouts on a computer. If you're using a Chrome browser, get the extension in the Chrome Store. If you prefer Safari, Firefox or Internet Explorer, download and install the plug-in.

4. If you need more information, here's a quick "Get Started With Hangouts" guide from Google.

7 Ways Teachers Use Google Hangouts for Learning

1. Form a virtual book club: Classes that are reading the same book or similar genres can discuss novels together and recommend books to one another. Before the Hangout, have each class brainstorm 10 questions they want to ask their book club partners. Then, send the questions to the other class before the meeting date to allow students ample time to construct their answers. When the classes meet, they each take turns asking and answering one another's questions.

2. Participate in a "mystery" Hangout: In this activity, two classrooms video-chat with each other but do not reveal their individual locations. Before meeting online, both classes research facts about their own state and create clues about their location. Then, each class takes turns asking "yes" or "no"-type questions in a race to solve the mystery. More details on how to get started can be found on my blog here. To find classes to connect with yours, visit the Mystery Location Calls Google+ Community or reach out to members of the Connected Classrooms Workshop Google+ Community.

3. Rethink student presentations: Projects and presentations are authentic assessments that many teachers have embraced over the recent years. However, with Hangouts, teachers can take this assignment a step further by recruiting parents, community members or career professionals to be their captive audience. This is a perfect finale as a Project-Based Learning (PBL)-culminating activity. What better way to make learning real and relevant than to have students share their work with adults who can provide constructive feedback at the end of the presentation? Think Shark Tank but with much nicer panelists.

4. Work on projects together: Classes that are studying similar themes or topics can collaborate on a project together in a way never possible before. For example, two classes can work together to fight bullying in their schools. Using Hangouts, both classes collaboratively create a survey to better understand the extent of bullying in each of their schools. After polling their respective schools, they meet online to discuss results and examine similarities. Each class then sends their data set to the other class and each class is tasked with formulating an action plan for the other school. When the classes meet again a few weeks later, they present their action plan to the other class. At the end of the project, both classes build a Wiki or a Google Site together where they post their data, analysis and action plans.

5. Invite guest speakers: Inviting a speaker into the classroom has never been easier ... or less expensive. Video-calling enables anyone from around the world to "visit" a school. Also, as an added plus, Google Hangouts has the ability to handle up to 10 people in a video call at once and up to 15 using a Google Apps account. This means that there's never a dull moment or radio silence during the call. Last year, my classes were able to participate in two amazing Hangouts on Air. We got to speak with Nobel Peace Laureate Leymah Gbowee and Education Secretary Duncan.

6. Go on a virtual field trip: With video-calling technology becoming more popular, many companies are now offering virtual field trips via Hangouts on Air, which is a public Google Hangout that broadcasts a live recording of the event. After the video call ends, it is archived on the host's YouTube channel for anyone to view again later. Here are a few companies that are offering or (have recently offered) virtual field trips that could bring that out-of-classroom experience to your students: Learn Around the World, Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants and SeaTrek.TV. Occasionally, announcements of virtual field trips from various members of the Connected Classrooms Workshop Google+ Community will be posted. One upcoming event you don't want to miss is this invitation from Galatic Unite. To express your interest in joining a Hangout with Virgin Galactic Future Astronauts, fill out this form.

7. Collaborate with your PLN: With everyone just a video call away, educators can work on projects and share ideas with anyone around the world. Many educators have forged powerful connections (called PLNs) via social media platforms like Twitter and Google+, and they're using Google Hangouts to learn together or to plan professional development events for educators like Edcamps and PLAYDATEs.

The possibilities of using Hangouts in education are endless. How will you transform your learning and the learning of your students? Also, check out this post on using Google docs in the classroom.

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7 Ways to Use Google Hangouts in the Classroom - WeAreTeachers

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Using Google Hangouts in the classroom is a great way to connect and collaborate. It's also a powerful tool for making connections, working collaboratively and introducing the wider world to your students. Many educators have embraced Hangouts to enrich both their students' learning experiences and their own professional development.

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Impressing on Young Minds

By Jessica Remitz

Having a classroom pet to care for, interact with, and learn more about can be a wonderful opportunity for elementary and middle school-aged children. There is no better way to observe the life cycle of an animal and gain real life experience. While it may seem like any small animal would be suitable to serve as a teaching tool, not every pint-sized pet is appropriate for the classroom. Here's our expert-approved list for the best classroom pets.

1. Bearded Dragon

Despite the rather scary-sounding name, Bearded Dragons are gentle by nature. They are named for the spiny skin under their throat that, when puffed up, looks like a beard. Bearded dragons are originally from the desert, so they'll require a warm and dry habitat (Read PetSmart's Bearded Dragon Care Guide for more info). According to the website Pets in the Classroom, they will need a few days to adjust to a new environment. Once settled in, students can take it out occasionally for handling sessions. However, like many small animals, bearded dragons are fragile in places. Always supervise students while they are handling a bearded dragon and never allow them to hold the lizard by its tail, since it can break off.

2. Guinea Pigs

Among small mammals, guinea pigs make great classroom pets because of their minimal care requirements. And because they're larger than hamsters or gerbils, they can be handled more easily, said Dr. Clark Fobian, DVM and president of the American Veterinary Medical Association ( AVMA). While they're easy to care for, guinea pigs do need space to run and often prefer to be in the companionship of another guinea pig of the same gender, according to the website Pets in the Classroom. They're very social animals and require daily interaction and activity to keep from being bored. Guinea pigs also require a source of vitamin C, so it's important to provide them with fresh food, Dr. Fobian says.

3. Rabbits

Like guinea pigs, rabbits are also able to tolerate handling by young children and have minimal care requirements, Dr. Fobian says. They're intelligent, affectionate, and social, and require daily interaction with people or other rabbits in addition to a large enough habitat to run and exercise comfortably, according to Pets in the Classroom. To prevent boredom and encourage healthy habits, Dr. Fobian recommends making sure hay or a type of grass is included in their feed or provided to them in addition to fresh greens, vegetables, and a high grade feed.

Rabbits aren't neccessarily for every classroom, though. Some rabbits are more skittish than others and will become defensive when mishandled or overstimulated, which can end in tears for the scratched or bitten child. The House Rabbit Society, a nonprofit rabbit education and rescue organization, has a page of detailed tips and questions for teachers to consider before making the decision.

4. Rats

Though they may not seem like a natural choice for a classroom pet, rats are a favorite among young children for their loving and affectionate nature, Dr. Fobian says. They're intelligent, with easier care requirements, a better smell, and less of a tendency to bite than their mouse or hamster peers, he adds. Their habitat should be glass, plastic, or metal, with a solid bottom and secure hinges to prevent any escapes, according to Pets in the Classroom. Their diet should include dry food in addition to vegetables and fruits. Broccoli, kale, grapes, and bananas are some good choices, and they should be provided chew sticks to help grind down and maintain the length of their incisor teeth, according to the website.

5. Fish

They aren't as hand-on as other classroom pets may be, but keeping cold-water fish in the classroom is visually intriguing for young children and can also help teach them responsibility with feeding and water changes, Dr. Fobian says. There is also some evidence that fish are great for relieving stress and anxiety, a plus for fidgety kids. Fish are also great classroom pets because they can be incorporated into the classroom curriculum, from basic chemistry and biology principles to water quality and environmental lessons, according to the website of Dr. Scott Weese, DVM.

The care and maintenance of fish is also very straightforward and simple, an essential aspect of having a classroom pet, Dr. Fobian says. The biggest problem with any pet is their upkeep, including their diet, environment and cleaning. By keeping these requirements to a minimal, educators can simplify the care needs of their classroom pet and allow students to play a more active role in their lives.

Other Classroom Pet Tips to Keep in Mind

Before bringing any pet into the classroom, teachers should make sure to do their research into the care requirements for the pet, as well as any diseases that may be transferred from the particular animal to people. According to Dr. Fobian, the animal should see a veterinarian yearly, especially before entering a classroom for the first time, to confirm there is no evidence of dental conditions, skin problems, or parasites. He adds that many clinics will check classroom pets at no charge, so educators should talk to their veterinarian about this option to help prevent any issues with their animals.

Once a pet is brought into the classroom, their eating habits, bowel movements, and overall health should be monitored to make sure there are not any issues of illness or discomfort in a classroom environment. Fobian also stresses the importance of having a plan for the animal during summers, holiday breaks, and vacations to make sure that the pet is housed in a suitable environment and cared for properly year-round.

"There are a lot of things an instructor needs to be aware of, and they need to think ahead, particularly with geriatric pets," says Dr. Fobian. "Make sure they're in a good environment and know they can be taken care of and come back for the following school year."

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By Jessica Remitz Having a classroom pet to care for, interact with, and learn more about can be a wonderful opportunity for elementary and middle school-aged children. There is no better way to observe the life cycle of an animal and gain real life experience.

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For more than 30 years and in over 80 countries Brain Gym has been helping people of all ages and abilities - babies, children, adults and seniors.

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From the Proms to Glastonbury, music is part of the fabric of British culture. It's something we're rightly proud of. After all, your favourite song can cheer you up after a bad day, calm you down if you're feeling anxious or turn a good mood into an even better one.

But how? What's happening in your brain to cause this reaction? And are there any other ways that music can benefit your health?

We asked our smart network of doctors to help us unlock the mysterious power of music. As usual, they were only too happy to help!

Music keeps your mind sharp

The ability to concentrate is important in everyday life. Tasks like driving and preparing a meal can have a potentially negative impact on your health if you're not concentrating properly.

There are plenty of studies that show music can help you focus on the task at hand, while it can also make a boring task seem less of a chore and prevent your mind wandering.

This might seem like a strange concept. After all, isn't noise distracting? This is where your choice of music comes into play.

A 1993 study claimed to have discovered a 'Mozart Effect', suggesting that his was the most effective music to encourage high performance. However, as this study didn't test any other types of music (other groups were tested in silence, or heard verbal instructions), all it really showed was that any music can be good for your concentration.

Check out some Mozart here on Spotify or learn how to improve concentration with foods.

Does this mean that music you like is best?

As you might expect, this claim has divided opinion.

Some claim that music you're not keen on is likely to distract you, so it follows that music you enjoy will have the opposite effect. However, one Taiwanese study in 2011 claimed that music you neither like nor dislike is best, as both can prove equally distracting.

Then there's the type of music. For example, dance music will tell your brain that it's time to throw some shapes, which isn't what you need when you're trying to get something done. On the other hand, music that's too sad can ruin your enthusiasm for the task at hand.

It's not hard to see how the politics of your office playlist can become such a hot topic!

One thing we can say for sure is that playing an instrument is great for your concentration. It's a crucial skill for tasks like reading sheet music and keeping time with other performers. Playing a musical instrument exercises parts of your brain linked to visual, auditory and motor skills, so it's one of the best things you can do to keep your mind sharp.

Music makes you happy

Music has the potential to relieve stress and put you in a great mood. When you hear a song you like, your brain releases dopamine, which looks after the reward and pleasure centres of the brain. It also suppresses cortisol, the hormone responsible for stress.

It doesn't seem to matter what sort of music you listen to. The key is to choose songs you like, even if they're essentially sad (which is good news for Morrissey fans).

If you really want to boost your mood, playing a musical instrument can improve your self esteem and confidence. People who play instruments are cool. Everyone knows this. It's a skill that other people admire and when your achievements impress others, you'll feel great!

Music makes exercise easier

Exercise is hard. In fact, it can be so challenging that many people simply give up before they have a chance to notice any real benefit. If this situation sounds all too familiar, music could provide the solution.

A 2016 study from McMaster University in Canada allowed healthy 20-somethings to choose their own playlist before a session of interval training on an exercise bike. They also had a second set of participants perform the same workout without any music.

The researchers discovered that the people who had their favourite tunes on in the background enjoyed the workout more. The same group also reported that they were more likely to make the workout a habit than those who pedalled in silence.

So, we've established that music can encourage you to exercise, but will it make you perform any better? It turns out the answer is yes. A 2015 study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research found that athletes performed better if they listened to music that motivated them.

Or, to put it another way...

Music can take your pain away

This might sound a bit dramatic, but it's true! Most of us are familiar with the idea that music can help you deal with various different emotions, including sadness and anger. What you might not know is that music can also tackle physical pain.

Music affects the areas of your brain that process pain and changes the way our bodies react to it. It disrupts your brain's thought pattern, which in turn alters your response to stress. For example, one study showed that playing music to people after they'd had surgery reduced their anxiety so well that they actually needed less morphine than other patients to manage their pain.

Calming music slows your heart rate and relaxes your muscles, relieving the tension that can cause aches and pains. Music therapy has even provided effective pain relief for people with fibromyalgia.

Music improves your hearing

We've all heard people talk about having 'an ear for music'. Well, those lucky enough to have this gift may notice that they can pick up on things that others can't.

Playing a musical instrument improves your hearing to such an extent that some people find it easier to identify individual sounds in a noisy environment, such as a crowded room. For the rest of us, these noises may all just blend into one.

The musically talented are also more sensitive to factors like tone of voice. This may help them work out people's emotions more easily - for example, they're likely to be better at detecting a hint of sadness or disappointment in someone's voice.

Of course, you can have too much of a good thing. Regularly listening to loud music can actually damage your hearing and lead to conditions such as tinnitus, so be careful and invest in a good set of earplugs.

Music will help you make good choices

Life is all about decisions. It turns out that music can help you make better ones.

Researchers in Holland found that music had a calming influence on drivers, making them less likely to make a potentially rash decision (such as going through the lights on amber) or get angry.

Their results even showed that switching to a more soothing song in stressful situations, such as a traffic jam, had the ability to make a driver more mellow. Drivers who listened to faster, louder music were more likely to get agitated.

Another study showed that playing gentle music in the background caused people to eat more slowly during a meal. Your brain takes around 20 minutes to catch up with your stomach, which means that shovelling your food down often means you eat more than you need and end up with calories you can't burn off.

By reducing your eating pace, you're less likely to over-face yourself, so music even has the potential to help you lose weight!

Now for the encore

As you can see, music is more powerful than you might think. Of course, there'll be times when it takes more than music to deal with a health issue you're having and you can always rely on our doctors to provide the help you need.

Whether you're looking for help with a mental health issue, struggling to lose weight or dealing with hearing loss that affects your ability to enjoy your favourite songs, you can download our app today and speak to an experienced GP in minutes.

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Health Benefits of Music: The Power Behind Your Favourite Songs

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From the Proms to Glastonbury, music is part of the fabric of British culture. It's something we're rightly proud of. After all, your favourite song can cheer you up after a bad day, calm you down if you're feeling anxious or turn a good mood into an even better one.

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This article provides helpful information about power foods to improve a child's memory and attention in school. Affiliate links are included for your convenience.
There is a never ending nutritional and fitness hype that creates new article headlines to catch the next reader's eye. It can be tiring. I think we all know that a healthy diet that includes foods from a variety of natural sources and a balanced look at nutrients is the best bet. Kids need food that feeds not only their growing bodies and muscles to help them move, but foods that help with brain power. Children are in school for roughly one third of every day. School is their job. Nutritionally, they need foods not only for physical energy but for cognition, focus and memory. Most foods support this endeavor; however, there are a few foods on the elite team of nutritional choices.

But let's be real, a plate of sautéed kale and grilled salmon is not always going to happen (if ever) for a child's lunch box. An elaborate breakfast would be nice, but not realistic on busy school mornings, so how do we get those brain power foods in our kids' bodies?

Elite Brain Foods

Here are five elite foods that are proven to provide those needed brain energy boosts that are achievable even on the busiest days. In addition, all children, especially those with attention and focus issues should be taking daily vitamin supplements with plenty of Omega 3s, calcium, magnesium and zinc. Studies show deficiencies with these vitamins and can prevent a child from learning and can cause children to fidget in class.

Oatmeal

Start out right with breakfast. We've heard it countless times, but it's worth mentioning again. Don't let your child skip breakfast. Numerous have confirmed the powerful effects of a healthy breakfast on a child's school day. Breakfast is critical for school-aged children, and at least 37 percent of kids in this country blow off this important meal. ( Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor University) There are many good food choices for the student, and oatmeal may be one of the best options for a "brain power" breakfast. Quaker Oats sponsored a where researchers looked at the effects of educational performance of school-aged kids eating different items for breakfast. Tufts University completed the studies and looked at kids who ate oatmeal versus students who ate cold cereal or had no breakfast at all. The results concluded that kids who ate oatmeal increased their spatial memory skills by 46 percent compared to those children that ate cereal every morning. It also found that nearly half of the children who ate cereal increased their skills compared to those who did not eat breakfast. The results were similar when the researchers looked at performance on concentration and attention tests.

Oatmeal has so many benefits for the developing brain of a young learner. Oatmeal is a whole grain that is rich in fiber. It not only digests slowly, giving the child a steady stream of energy, but it provides a good protein source as well.

Berries and Cherries

Here is a quick solution to an afterschool snack and recess energy boost. Not only do berries, cherries and even grapes reduce toxin levels in a child's bloodstream, but they contain antioxidants and phytonutrients that have been shown to improve blood flow to the brain. This in turn increases neural activity. Another positive function of these delicious fruits, especially the dark colored berries such as blackberries and blueberries, is that they contain anthocyanins that may improve memory function. A child can benefit from eating these yummy fruits in a variety of ways including: fresh, frozen or even dried.

Nuts

All kinds, unless your child has allergies. Discover which nut your child likes best. A particular favorite at my house is cashews and almonds and we eat almond butter on everything. Packing snack containers of nuts are the easiest mid-morning snack or recess snack and my kids love them. Nuts have long-term benefits that reach into old age. It was found that eating a diet full of vitamin E rich nuts can reduce cognitive decline as you age. Nuts also contain essential fatty acids that help students focus. These delicious snacks provide a good amount of , which provides increased oxygen to the brain for better alertness and the ability to retain information. Nuts provide a great deal of energy for a small amount of food. This sounds like the perfect recipe for better performance at school!

Eggs

No longer just a breakfast food, eggs are finding themselves in every meal of the day. While eggs are an excellent breakfast choice, along with a bowl of oatmeal, they can also hold their own in a lunchbox. I pack hard boiled eggs almost daily for my kids' lunches. To simplify the lunch planning process, I boil a dozen eggs on Sunday and we are good to go for the week. Egg salad sandwiches are another great option for a mid-day protein grab. Those bright colored yolks contain tons of choline, which helps your child's brain make acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter, that may be important for memory recall. Eggs are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins B12 and D, which are imperative for cognitive power.

Dark Chocolate

Yesssss! This is my favorite. I have always preferred dark chocolate, while my son on the other hand not so much. Before we get further, yes, it needs to be dark chocolate to reap the nutritious benefits. Dark chocolate can be bitter and some kids do not like the taste, but here's how I got my son to eat it. First, I bought some dark cocoa powder and put it in his milk. He loves that! Another trick was buying those dark chocolate chips and putting them in raspberries. That is an ongoing requested treat in his lunchbox. Dark chocolate has tremendous brain power benefits, including increasing blood flow to multiple parts of the brain. Also, don't forget the caffeine. Dark chocolate contains a healthy minimal amount of caffeine that improves brain function in children.

So when it comes to nutrition, eating smarter makes kids smarter! Try to implement a few of these suggestions and see what works for your kids.

In addition, share your creative ideas and tips on how you get your kids to eat brain power foods for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks.

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Integrated Learning Strategies is a Utah-based center dedicated to helping mainstream children and children with learning disabilities achieve academic success. Our services provide kids with non-traditional tutoring programs within the Davis County, Kaysville, Layton, Syracuse, Farmington, and Centerville areas. Areas to find Integrated Learning Strategies include: Reading tutors in Kaysville, Math tutors in Kaysville, Common Core Tutors in Kaysville, Tutors in Utah, Utah Tutoring Programs

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Power Foods Kids will Actually Eat to Improve Attention and Memory in the Classroom

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Power Foods Kids will Actually Eat to Improve Attention and Memory in the Classroom This article provides helpful information about power foods to improve a child's memory and attention in school. Affiliate links are included for your convenience. There is a never ending nutritional and fitness hype that creates new article headlines to catch the next reader's eye.

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Written by Holly (Teach Starter)
Posted Tuesday October 18, 2016

Gone are the days of making your students sit still for hours at a time. We now know, thanks to extensive research, that kids need to move and take brain breaks to improve their concentration and brain activity.

The image below shows two brain scans. The first is of a student who has been sitting quietly doing a test, the other, is that of a student who has just been for a 20 minute walk. The brain is much more active after some form of a brain break. This blog will outline some quick and easy ways to get your students to take a brain break, even if it is for 10 minutes, it is sure to limit distractions and improve attention. Make it part of your classroom routine...

20 Brain Break Activity Cards

Use our brain breaks activity cards and signs to create a 'Brain Break Board'. Included in this resource are coloured circles that can be stuck on the end of paddle pop sticks. Use these signs to indicate to your students what activity they will be doing. I used our Letter, Number and Punctuation set - Cartoon Green for the heading.

Here are some of the 20 different activities:

Dance Off

Choose an age appropriate song for your class. Play the music and have the students dance. When the music stops, students have to freeze. Whoever moves, is out. Keep playing until there is one person left. Those students who are out, help spot students who move when the music is off.

Hot Potato

Classmates gather in a circle and toss a beanbag or tennis ball to each other while music plays. The player who is holding the 'hot potato' when the music stops is out.

The winner is announced when one player is left.

Scissors Paper Rock

This is a 2-player game, but the whole class can play in a knock-out round tournament. On the count of three, players pick their position:

rock - hand in a fist

paper - hand flat, palm down

scissors - extending the first two fingers and holding them apart.

The winner of that round depends on the items formed. If the same item is formed, it's a tie.

rock crushes scissors

scissors cuts paper

paper covers rock

Silent Ball

Find an area where you can safely toss a ball around. No one can talk or make a sound - being silent is the aim of the game.

The ball is tossed between classmates. Students cannot throw the ball back to the person who threw it to them. If a player misses the ball, talks or makes a bad pass, that student is out. The last two players are the champions.

Heads and Tails

Students stand in a group or at their desks. The teacher calls out true or false statements.

True - hands on your head. If a student thinks the statement is true, then they put their hands on their heads.

False - hands on your bottom. If a student thinks the statement is false, then they put their hands on their bottoms.

If your guess is incorrect, you must sit down. The last person standing wins.

Other Brain Break Ideas

Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs and Spades

Using each of the suits in the deck of cards, place one in each corner of the classroom. From the remaining deck of cards, remove the Aces and then shuffle, pull out a card and show it to the students, they must yell out 'hearts, diamonds, clubs or spades' and run to the correct corner. Students who go to to the incorrect corner or the last few students to the correct corner are out.

Shuffle, Shuffle, Group!

In this game students shuffle around the classroom until the teacher says, "Groups of 5," at which point the students must quickly group themselves into groups with the correct number of people. Students who are left over must do three jumping jacks before the next round starts. The teacher can call out any number for the group size.

Timed Chatter

Allow the students to do what they are desperate to do. Set a 3 minute timer and allow the students to get up and talk to their friends.

Fitness Lucky Dip

Place our 24 fitness exercise cards in a bucket and have students randomly select an activity to perform.

Fitness Bingo

Use our different fitness bingo cards. Kids love playing BINGO so why not incorporate a little bit of a brain break with some fitness bingo!

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25 Brain Break Ideas for the Classroom - Teach Starter Blog

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Written by Holly (Teach Starter) Posted Tuesday October 18, 2016 Gone are the days of making your students sit still for hours at a time. We now know, thanks to extensive research, that kids need to move and take brain breaks to improve their concentration and brain activity.