# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Russel Tarr, International School of Toulouse

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
ClassTools.net: Create your own interactive learning resources

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Dozens of templates, quiz generators and learning tools for use in the classroom

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
It's that time of day. Your students are restless, perhaps due to the weather. You can see their eyes glazing over as you review decimals and fractions-for the third time this week. The room is stuffy, and everyone is tired. Students move to their tables and begin their group work, when suddenly, you hear loud arguing from the corner of the room. As you move to resolve the conflict, you overhear another student complaining about school.

That's when it hits you.

Break Breaks are simple games for the entire class, and t hey provide excellent opportunities to restore order to your classroom. By giving your class ownership of this small chunk of time, your students will remember why they love school. You can also use this time to reteac h b ehavioral skills such as responsibility, respect, and conflict resolution . In addition, Brain Breaks provide a much-needed escape from the academic rigors of the day, allowing learners to return to work with renewed energy and focus.

It seems like my classroom breaks into chaos when we take a break. What can I do?

Remember that, like recess, Brain Breaks are most successful when games are presented with clear rules and boundaries . Before the class begins to play, take time to:

organize the game,

deliver a clear set of instructions, rules, and guidelines, and

ask the class to participate in a practice round.

Then, you're ready to play!

I need some Brain Breaks that don't involve watching YouTube videos. Any suggestions?

Here are 10 Brain Break games that your students will love! Once your students have learned several games, be sure to allow them to choose which ones they want to play each day. Granting students the power of choice is an effective way to reverse a power struggle, often returning order to a chaotic classroom.

Grades K-1

This balancing game encourages students to use their imagination while concentrating and applying principles of good followership. Set the stage by describing an alligator swamp full of hungry gators. Students must stay in a tight line in order to avoid being eaten.

The instructor (or student leader) begins to make their way through the swamp, describing all of the animals and vegetation as they go. If a student steps out of line . . . "Chomp!" Be sure to encourage dramatic play as students visualize the alligators and quickly jump back in line.

In this fun animal-filled game, students will practice self-control and following directions. In order for this game to be successful, be sure to remind students of the classroom boundaries and expectations (i.e., no running, no climbing, etc.) and teach the "begin," "freeze," and "end" signals before you start to play.

Students get to use their imaginations as they silently pretend to be their favorite animal. When the "freeze" signal is given, participants get to make the noise of their animal three times. Then, they must wait patiently for the "begin" signal to start moving again. Encourage students to use their imaginations and pick different animals throughout the game. You can make this game more challenging by selecting a letter sound or name and encouraging the entire class to be animals whose names begin with that letter. Learn more>

Take a brain break and challenge your students to a few rounds of Up, Down, Stop, Go. This is a great game to refocus your students' minds and refresh their bodies after periods of sitting at their desk. Simple commands translate into simple movements. Challenge your students minds further by having them do the opposite of your commands and see who can hang on the longest. Learn more>

As any comic book collector knows, being a fan can be even more fun than saving the world. In this game, players get to do both. Players play Rock Paper Scissors in pairs. Whoever is less successful becomes the winner's number one fan, rooting for them as they find another player to challenge.

By the end of the game, the whole group is cheering and clapping for two finalists.

This game is a good excuse for all students to practice Rock Paper Scissors, but the real focus is teamwork. By cheering for each other, kids learn to celebrate teammates and to refocus on team goals after personal setbacks. Learn more>

Grades 2-3

It's a bird . . . It's a plane . . . It's a recess hero!

In Level Up, players unlock superpowers like strength, speed, and even flight. Students "level up" by winning a round of Rock Paper Scissors. They lose a level when they are the less successful player. For the chance to regain their superpowers, players simply play another round of Rock Paper Scissors with one of the other players at their level.

Use Level Up to introduce students to Rock Paper Scissors or remind them how to play. In a debrief, help students notice that winning or losing a round of Rock Paper Scissors was an opportunity to try something new, not the end of the fun. Learn more>

Focus is the name of the game! In this game, students will hone their listening skills while developing eye-hand coordination. The class sits in a circle with overlapping hands. As the instructor (or student leader) tells a story, students listen for the secret word.

When the secret word is heard, it's "Gotcha time!" Students try to grab their neighbor's finger with their left hand while keeping their other neighbor from grabbing their right hand. This game teaches students the importance of listening carefully and refocusing after defeat. Learn more>

Students will begin this game of cooperation and teamwork by sitting in two lines facing each other. All students are holding hands and have their eyes closed (except the line leader). The teacher (or student leader) flips a coin. If it falls on tails, nothing happens, and the instructor flips again. If it falls on heads, students pass a squeeze down the line. When the last student feels a squeeze, they jump up and race to beat the other teammate to the bandana across the room.

Through this game, students develop patience and learn the importance of cooperating with their teammates. Learn more>

Grades 4-5

In this sequencing game, students will develop comfort with their peers and strengthen their concentration skills. To begin, teach the students a hand gesture to go with the words "Zip," "Zap," and "Pop." The leader will begin by "passing" a zip to a neighbor. The neighbor follows with a "zap," and passes it to another player. The last player provides the "pop." If a player hesitates, they must leave the circle and try to distract the other players. Learn more>

Knowing each other's names builds community, and what better way to memorize names than through a tag game? In this fast-paced game, students form a circle with one student leader in the middle. The student leader calls a peer's name-and the race is on! The person whose name was called must call another peer's name before they get tagged! Make this game more inclusive by encouraging boys to call girl's names, and vice versa. Students will have a ball building community, learning names, and making new friends. Learn more>

This game of concentration will stump your students and keep them wanting more. In this game, students begin in a circle with one student leader in the middle. The student leader walks up (or points) to a peer in the circle and points to his elbow while saying, "This is my nose." The other student must do the exact opposite (point to his nose while saying, "This is my elbow.").

The student leader then moves on to another participant and selects different body parts to misname. When a player makes a mistake, they move to the middle and replace the student leader. This fun game provides a much-needed break from academic rigor and will make your students laugh while they practice concentration skills. Learn more>

Find 156 fun games in our newest Game Guide.

Includes everything from games you can play in a small space with no materials, to games you can play in a big group during recess. Search for games by age level, time/space/materials available, and by the life skills used (like problem solving or teamwork).

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
10 Brain Breaks That Will Help Your Students Refocus | Playworks

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
It's that time of day. Your students are restless, perhaps due to the weather. You can see their eyes glazing over as you review decimals and fractions-for the third time this week. The room is stuffy, and everyone is tired. Students move to their tables and begin their group work, when suddenly, you hear loud...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Have you ever tasted an Arab taco?

When was the Arab taco invented?

What is shawarma?

Find it out

How are currency exchange rates determined?

What was the gold standard?

Which type of currency exchange rate system does the U.S. use?

Find it out
Which of the following is usually NOT a factor in determining currency exchange rates?

Test your knowledge

How can I use Wonderopolis?

What are the parts of a Wonder?

How do writers make a Wonder?

Find it out
Based on information from the Wonder, what was Lou Castro known for when he was alive?

Test your knowledge

What is an okapi?

Where do okapis live?

What do okapis eat?

Find it out

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Where the Wonders of Learning Never Cease | Wonderopolis

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Where the Wonders of Learning Never Cease

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Kindergarten Common Core State Standards Learning Objectives - ELA

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Common Core Standards are often confused with being Learning Objectives. Core Standards are the content and skills students need to know by the end of a school year. Learning Objectives are the content and skills students need to know by the end of a lesson.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Get access to files anywhere through secure cloud storage and file backup for your photos, videos, files and more with Google Drive.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Get access to files anywhere through secure cloud storage and file backup for your photos, videos, files and more with Google Drive.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Get access to files anywhere through secure cloud storage and file backup for your photos, videos, files and more with Google Drive.

# data[].attributes.body
Shared Folder

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Get access to files anywhere through secure cloud storage and file backup for your photos, videos, files and more with Google Drive.

# data[].attributes.body
Kindergarten Smorgasboard

# data[].attributes.body
Kindergarten Smorgasboard

# data[].attributes.body
Kindergarten Smorgasboard

# data[].attributes.body
Kindergarten Smorgasboard

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Make these easy, DIY no bake cinnamon applesauce ornaments for your Christmas tree. They can also be used as gift tie-ons or stocking stuffers!
The holiday season is here...and it's time for a very fun craft project! These cinnamon applesauce ornaments are simple and so satisfying. Not only are they a perfect Christmas decoration, they make an adorable gift for just about anyone!

Sometimes I decide to tackle a craft project and wonder "what was I thinking?" However, not this time! These little ornaments were very fun to make and more important than that, they were quick and easy. I made three batches of dough, and from start to finish, the initial part of this project took about an hour.

This is a great Christmas craft to make with your kids or grandkids. They would love rolling out the dough, and using the cookie cutters to make the ornaments. The entire process was enjoyable, but cutting out the stars, trees, and gingerbread men was the best part!

Note: to simplify the process, I have included a printable recipe with the ingredients and instructions at the end of the post.

Dough Ingredients

1 cup ground cinnamon

3/4 cup applesauce

2 tablespoons basic white glue

1 tablespoon ground nutmeg, ground cloves, or other preferred spices

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Use a spatula, or large spoon, and make sure all the cinnamon is absorbed into the applesauce.

Gather the mixture with your hands. Knead it several times, pressing the dough firmly into a ball. It will be about the size of a softball.

Sprinkle some cinnamon on a cutting board or other smooth surface. Flatten the ball into a disc with your hands. Using a rolling pin, begin to roll out the dough. Turn the dough several times while rolling, adding more cinnamon to prevent sticking.

Roll until the dough is about 1/4 inch thick and cut out the shapes using cookie cutters.

Gather the leftover dough after the first cutting and again knead it several times, pressing it firmly into a ball. Repeat the rolling process.

Repeat until all the dough is used.

Place the ornaments on a cookie sheet covered with wax or parchment paper. Using a skewer or small drinking straw, make a hole in the top of each ornament.

Ornaments should dry at room temperature in 24 to 48 hours. It helps to turn them occasionally so they dry evenly.

String with a piece of twine or ribbon to hang.

We're not going for perfection here, but I do have a few tips that will make your easy homemade cinnamon ornaments pretty enough for gift giving.

Of course, you don't have to give them away...it's perfectly fine for you to keep them for yourself!

Tips and Tricks

The dough, when rolled out, should be at least 1/4 inch thick. If you roll it any thinner, the ornaments may curl when they are drying. They can definitely be a little thicker than 1/4 inch, but keep in mind they will take a little longer to dry.

Each batch of dough makes about 12 ornaments. If you need more ornaments than one batch will make, do not double or triple the recipe. It's best to mix up separate batches of dough. The individual batches of dough are much easier to mix up and roll out.

Try to roll out all the batches of dough to the same thickness. This will give your cinnamon applesauce ornaments a uniform look, and they will look beautiful when packaged for gift giving. This also helps the ornaments dry at the same rate, so they are all finished drying at the same time.

Depending on how sharp your cookie cutters are, the edges can be a little ragged. After you have cut out a batch of shapes, wet your finger and run it along the outside edge of each ornament. This will smooth the edges, and it only takes a few extra minutes.

If you are in a hurry, you can bake the ornaments in a 200 degree F oven for about two hours. Turn them over halfway through the baking time. (I did not bake mine...they took two full days to dry.)

If you choose to let them air dry, turn them over whenever you think about it. I turned mine several times over the two day period, and they dried nicely.

Because there is glue in the recipe, which is a necessary ingredient, these are not edible. I packaged mine in little cellophane bags with THESE TAGS. I would hate for someone to bite into one of them and be totally shocked!

Tips from Readers

Preheat your oven to 200 degrees F. Place the baking sheets with the ornaments in the oven. TURN THE OVEN OFF. The next morning the ornaments are perfect!

Wear gloves to handle the dough. It will save your fingernails from getting messy.

"I hang these on my kitchen cabinet knobs and they smell delightful."

How to Store Cinnamon Applesauce Ornaments

To store the ornaments safely, use a plastic container with a tight lid. Place the ornaments in single layers, with wax or parchment paper in between the layers.

If possible, store these ornaments in a place where the temperature is controlled. Avoid attics, damp basements, garages, etc.

Of course, in addition to looking adorable, these little ornaments have a wonderful scent. I dried them on my dining table, and every time I walked by, it smelled just like Christmas.

These handmade ornaments are slightly imperfect, but they come from the heart...and that's very special indeed.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
No Bake Cinnamon Applesauce Christmas Ornaments Recipe

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Make these easy, DIY no bake cinnamon applesauce ornaments for your Christmas tree. They can also be used as gift tie-ons or stocking stuffers!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Free Google Slides themes and Powerpoint templates | Slidesgo

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Discover the best Google Slides themes and PowerPoint templates you can use in your presentations - 100% Free for any use.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Get access to files anywhere through secure cloud storage and file backup for your photos, videos, files and more with Google Drive.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Get access to files anywhere through secure cloud storage and file backup for your photos, videos, files and more with Google Drive.

# data[].attributes.body
Share supplements for TWIG here.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Get access to files anywhere through secure cloud storage and file backup for your photos, videos, files and more with Google Drive.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
A*List! English Learning Videos for Kids

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Marble Run Race ASMR Sand Pyramid Survival !!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Get access to files anywhere through secure cloud storage and file backup for your photos, videos, files and more with Google Drive.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Get access to files anywhere through secure cloud storage and file backup for your photos, videos, files and more with Google Drive.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
101 Great Attention Getters to Get Classrooms Under Control

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Use these fun attention getters in your classroom to quickly prompt your elementary, middle, and high school students to focus and listen.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Summer Celebrations!

Hooray! It's summer time, summer time, sum sum summertime! Rest, relax, and enjoy a well-earned vacation! But just in case you get a little bored, here are some "cheer cards" you can make to use in your classroom when school starts.

Eight cards on one page. You will find four separate files listed below:

A. Just select the one you want and click. Each file contains 8 different cards.

B. The file should download to your computer.

C. Print the file on cardstock.

D. Cut out your cards, and place them in a Cheer detergent box or Cheerios box.

E. Enjoy cheering with your students.

Cards 1 through 8 includes Ole! Ole!, Cowboy Cheer and Silent Cheer

Cards 9 through 16 includes Firecracker, Rattlesnake and Lookin' Good

Cards 17 through 24 includes Parrot Cheer, Train Whistle and Wow

Cards 25 through 32 includes Make Rain, Awesome and Fantastic

Daneene Taylor of Child Care Resource and Referral in Cedar City, Utah, can "kiss her brain" for designing the cards and allowing me to share them on my website. Thank you, Daneene!

Hint! Take one cheer each day and use it all day long. Put it in the box at the end of the day. The next day, select another cheer and use it all day long. After about two weeks, you'll have a box full of celebrations. Let children choose a cheer out of the box to celebrate an accomplishment or to reinforce positive behavior.

The celebrations are also great for a "brain break" or a "smile break." Encourage your students to create their own cheers and teach them to the class!.

Choose a Page Below for More June 2004 Cheer Cards

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Summer Celebrations! Hooray! It's summer time, summer time, sum sum summertime! Rest, relax, and enjoy a well-earned vacation! But just in case you get a little bored, here are some "cheer cards" you can make to use in your classroom when school starts. Eight cards on one page.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled.

JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser.

Hands-On Math Goes Digital In and Beyond the Classroom!

Explore Our Collection of FREE Virtual Manipulatives

From Number Lines to Base Ten, Pattern Blocks to Place Value, Disks our collection of free Virtual Manipulatives gives educators and families access to visual and hands-on digital resources that lead to understanding. Students can use these resources in class and at home to practice math concepts, reinforce their growing math understanding, technology they love in the process.

Free Resources & Instructions for Teachers and Families

We've developed these resources for easy access and easy use:

How-To Videos

There's a short video for each of the Virtual Manipulatives in our collection so teachers can use these digital materials easily and confidently with students.
Watch Now

Activities

Activities from the Didax books that teachers use most for easy download. Engaging challenges address core math operations, concepts and skills, from early numeracy all the way to introductory geometry and algebra.
Access Now

FAQ

Download this document of FAQ's to answer your Virtual Manipulative questions.
Download Now

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Demonstrate key math concepts in your classroom using our new virtual manipulatives!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
ClassDojo and Stanford's PERTS Research Center teamed up to create the the first season of The Mojo Show. The five-episode video series (along with a few incredible activities) highlight the power of having a growth mindset, and how any student can learn this skill!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
ClassDojo and Stanford's PERTS Research Center teamed up to create the the first season of The Mojo Show. The five-episode video series (along with a few incredible activities) highlight the power of having a growth mindset, and how any student can learn this skill!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Watch & Stream Free Kids Yoga Videos | Cosmic Kids

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Watch and stream kids yoga videos in a safe space on our website. Cosmic Kids' most popular adventures can be found here as well as on our app.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
2100+ FREE workouts, fitness programs, monthly challenges and training guides.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Random Name Picker! | Random Name Picker Wheel

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A free online random name picker. Spin the wheel / fruit machine and decide to pick a competition winner! A fun app for teachers, classrooms, raffles, contests!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Click the wheel below to spin:

You can customize your own spinner with your own labels using the tools below the spinner.

You can save your spinner for later use by either copying the address from the browser
or by using the sharing buttons embedded on this page.

Spinner Home

Sorry, your browser doesn't support canvas. Please try another.

Copyright 2023 Superteachertools.com

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Use our free, customizable online Spinner, which allows you to quickly create a custom spinner for games or whatever else you need it for!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The SAG-AFTRA Foundation's Daytime Emmy-nominated, Storyline Online, features celebrated actors reading children's books to inspire a love of reading in millions of children worldwide.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
See elephants, lions and naked mole-rats on animal cams streaming live, 24/7 from the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.

Download Animal Cam Bingo Cards (link opens in new window). These activities are designed to engage learners of all ages in looking closely and thinking deeply about animal behavior and habitats. Welcome to the wild side of learning!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Zoo's animal webcams are some of the most famous on the internet. Tune in to watch the Zoo's elephants, lions and naked mole-rats - live, 24/7!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Unite for Literacy provides free digital access to picture books, narrated in many languages. Literacy is at the core of a healthy community, so we unite with partners to enable all families to read with their young children.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Bouncy Balls – Manage classroom noise with bouncing balls!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A free classroom noise level meter, monitor and management tool. Perfect if your school kids are too noisy! Bouncing balls react to sounds from the microphone.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Enter names, spin wheel to pick a random winner. Customize look and feel, save and share wheels.