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5e83b41b7df0210d47588d12_Supporting Families with PBIS at Home FINAL

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Learn Spanish parts of the body with BASHO & FRIENDS [Album Version]  - Baila Con Tu Cuerpo`

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Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Strong4Life

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Brain Break for Elementary School: Taking Deep Breaths

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Winter Edition Kids Fitness Brain Break, Physical Education, Movement, Activity, Virtual School FUN!

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TheLearningStation - Kids Songs and Nursery Rhymes

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Brain Breaks - Action Songs for Kids - Body Boogie Dance - Kids Dance Songs by The Learning Station

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TheLearningStation - Kids Songs and Nursery Rhymes

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Brain Breaks - Action Songs for Kids - Exercise Song for Kids - Kids Songs by The Learning Station

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How to Reduce Family Stress - UW - Extension

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How to Reduce Family Stress - UW - Extension

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3 Minutes Mindfulness: Body Relaxation for Classrooms I calmer classrooms

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Mindful Minute (Raindrops) *use can this on the fly when your class needs a mediation break 

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Mindful Minute (Raindrops) *use can this on the fly when your class needs a mediation break 

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Mindful Minute -  Raindrops (Classroom, Studying, School Mental Break)

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Jungle Boogie Dance | Dance Along | Pinkfong Songs for Children

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Simon Says Song for Children by Patty Shukla

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Morning Meeting Idea: Try Six Word Stories

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Morning Meeting Idea: Try Six Word Stories

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For younger students, you can use sight words or even magnetic poetry tiles. Just remember: 6 words (not 7, not 5!).

"The students arrived; all was well."

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There's a free extension called Kami you can download and login through Google. Then you just upload your pdf and you can then write on it. https://www.kamiapp.com/
(The uploads will go straight to your drive.) See my sample here:

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Bari Koral: Kids Yoga, Music & Mindfulness

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The Sun Dance Kids Yoga/Music Video by Bari Koral Family Rock Band

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HooplaKidz - Official Nursery Rhymes Channel

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Hooplakidz | The Hokey Pokey | Nursery Rhyme

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Morning Meeting idea: This is such a cool resource from the New York Times Learning Network that comes out every Thursday (see link below). Some photos may be more fitting depending on the grade. The caption of what is actually going on in the photo is revealed the following Thursday. You can present the students the photo and ask these three questions for discussion or writing prompts:

What is going on in this photo?

What do you see that makes you say that?

What more can you find?

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Intriguing Times images stripped of their captions — and an invitation to students to discuss them live.

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Take the Quiz: Are you smarter than a 1st grader?. This quiz is simply questions you would see if you were a first grader in school. So lets see if youre smarter than a first grader!

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KIDZ BOP Kids - Rain On Me (Official Music Video) [KIDZ BOP 2021]

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High Hopes - Panic! At The Disco - Just Dance

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Play Hidden Pictures™, My First Hidden Pictures™, and other fun games and puzzles for children.

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TheLearningStation - Kids Songs and Nursery Rhymes

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Brain Breaks - Dance Song - Dancing Robots - Children's Songs by The Learning Station

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TheLearningStation - Kids Songs and Nursery Rhymes

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Yoga for Kids - Children's Yoga - Brain Breaks - Kids Songs by The Learning Station

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TheLearningStation - Kids Songs and Nursery Rhymes

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Yoga for kids - Children's Yoga - Greetings Song - Kids Songs by The Learning Station

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Star Wars (The Force Awakens) | A Cosmic Kids Yoga Adventure!

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Alphabet Game                 Choose a category (e.g., movies, food, jobs etc.), then take turns naming something from that category while going down the alphabet. So if your category is food, one person might say “apples,” the next person “bananas” and so on. Categorization is an important skill to practice, but it should be fun, too! 

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Alphabet Game                 Choose a category (e.g., movies, food, jobs etc.), then take turns naming something from that category while going down the alphabet. So if your category is food, one person might say “apples,” the next person “bananas” and so on. Categorization is an important skill to practice, but it should be fun, too! 

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Roll the Dice - Break the Ice! ( (Have your students go here for an online dice:   https://www.online-stopwatch.com/chance-games/roll-a-dice/)

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Roll the Dice - Break the Ice! ( (Have your students go here for an online dice:   https://www.online-stopwatch.com/chance-games/roll-a-dice/)

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***Type in Online Stopwatch Chance Roll a Dice to your google search if you can't copy and paste the link above. Also - note this is just one dice! So you can choose six options and have them virtually posted. (Click on the dice to roll, you don't need to click 'start'.)

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Ways to Reboot Learning when Your Child Has Given Up

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Ways to Reboot Learning when Your Child Has Given Up

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45 Brain Teasers for Kids (scroll down to the "Riddles" section!)

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45 Brain Teasers for Kids (scroll down to the "Riddles" section!)

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Laney Kennedy

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Sometimes keeping your students engaged during a (long) school day feels like a losing battle. How do you gain their full attention while teaching the skills they need to succeed? How do you turn tough and intimidating concepts into fun, entertaining lessons that actually spark life in the classroom? We've gathered Brain teasers for kids differ from other complex or abstract problems because they're usually done As a bonus, use these riddles to challenge preconceived notions and a) b) Find the For example, the word MAc) Find These questions require logic and careful thought to solve. The most notable example of a lateral thinking problem is the classic Like These riddles are just as amusing as the ones above, but they're This A Here are just a few ways you can use brain teasers for kids as a No matter what subject or skill you want to focus on, a brain teaser is a great addition to traditional teaching methods. Plus, it's something students will actually be >> Brain teasers for kids are a great form of game-based learning that not only entertain children, but also inspire some creative thought in the classroom. People of all ages can indulge in these playful - yet challenging - activities. 45 examples of brain teasers for kids with answers, organized by category: We'll also take you through: Use the list below to find the perfect brain teaser for your class!

What are brain teasers?
Before you explore our examples, you might be wondering what brain teasers actually are. Brain teasers are a type of puzzle - and as the list below reveals, they come in many different forms. Often presented as a riddle, question or activity, brain teasers require a little extra brain power to solve. Cambridge Dictionary defines a brain teaser as "a problem for which it is hard to find the answer, especially one which people enjoy trying to solve as a game."
45 Brain teasers for kids
We've compiled a list of language, math and visual brain teasers to get your students thinking. Get inspired by the examples below - including answers! for fun. Although you can use them to analyze problem solving and critical thinking skills, they're often used as an amusing activity to encourage logical and lateral thinking, or thinking "outside the box."
Language brain teasers for kids

1. Riddles
When you hear the term "brain teaser," a riddle is likely the first thing that comes to mind. Riddles are perplexing - sometimes misleading - questions or statements that require creative thought to solve. Riddles are usually fun, and plenty of them can add some humor to your classroom. Enjoy our list of riddles for kids below!

Riddles

a) Billy's mother had five children. The first was named Lala, the second was named Lele, the third was named Lili, the fourth was named Lolo. What was the fifth child named?

b) Choose the correct sentence: "the yolk of the egg is white" or "the yolk of the egg are white."

c) It's as light as a feather, but the strongest person can't hold it for more than five minutes. What is it?

d) The more there is, the less you see. What is it?

e) What gets more wet while it dries?

f) You can find it in Mercury, Earth, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, but not in Venus or Neptune. What is it?

g) It likes food, but water kills it. What is it?

h) What's full of holes but can still hold water?

i) Which is heavier, a pound of feathers or a pound of rocks?

j) How far can a dog run into the woods?

k) You're driving a city bus. At the first stop, three women get on. At the second stop, one woman gets off and a man gets on. At the third stop, two children get on. The bus is blue and it's raining outside in December. What color is the bus driver's hair?

l) There are three houses. One is red, one is blue and one is white. If the red house is to the left of the house in the middle, and the blue house is to the right of the house in the middle, where's the white house?

m) It's at the center of gravity and you can find it in Venus, but not Mars. What is it?

n) What goes on four feet in the morning, two in the afternoon and three in the evening? (This is from the classic myth, Oedipus and the Riddle of the Sphinx)

o) What travels faster: heat or cold?

p) A man was walking in the rain in the middle of nowhere without a coat or an umbrella. He got soaked, but not a single hair on his head was wet. How can this be?

q) A cowboy rode into town on Friday. He stayed in town for three days and rode back out on Friday. How is this possible?

Answers

j) Halfway. Once it reaches halfway, it's running out of the woods.

a) Two boxers are in a match scheduled for 12 rounds. (Pure boxing only - no kicking, UFC takedowns, or anything else). One of the boxers gets knocked out after only six rounds, yet no man throws a punch. How is this possible? b) A father and son have a car accident and both are very injured. They are taken to separate hospitals for treatment. When the boy is taken in for an operation, the surgeon says, "I can't do this surgery.... this boy is my son!" How is this possible? a) The two boxers are women. b) The surgeon is the boy's mother. get students thinking about natural bias.
2. Language associations
These brain teasers for kids explore the complexities of the English language. Use them to boost student knowledge of sounds, words, spelling, categorization and more.

1. Cake, swiss, cottage

2. Glasses, screen, day

3. Cream, cube, cap

4. Knife, fly, cup

Answers: Hint: It's something you'll find outside.

1. RBAE & HREAS

2. WNROED & UTRHNDE

3. TUGHAT & HBTUGO

4. ODULC & ODOG

a) Word association: find a word that associates with the following sets of words.

1. Cheese

2. Sun

3. Ice

4. Butter

b)mystery word. Replace the third letter of each word with a new letter to create a different word. When read vertically, the new letters will reveal the mystery word. SAFE KE could become MA RE, MA LE, MA TE and so on. It's your job to figure out which one works to create the mystery word. rhyming pairs. Unscramble the words below so that each pair of words rhymes. POLE BOOT Answers: NEWT STEP BARE Mystery word: FLOWER c)

1. BEAR (or BARE) & SHARE

2. WONDER & THUNDER

3. TAUGHT & BOUGHT

4. COULD & GOOD

You can also use printable brain teasers for kids like this one: Image source: Spelling Words Well Answer: The "happy word" is SMILE.
3. Lateral thinking problems
Lateral thinking problems require creative thinking with an indirect approach. Here are two examples of lateral thinking problems kids can try to solve. Image source: Popular Mechanics A farmer is traveling with a fox, a goose, and a bag of beans. During his journey, he comes across a river with a boat to cross it. The farmer can only fit one thing in the boat with him at a time. If left alone together, the fox will eat the goose or the goose will eat the beans. How does the farmer get everything across the river safely? Monty Hall problem. There are three light switches outside of a room-- labeled number one, number two, and number three. The door to the room is closed and you can't see in. All three switches are off. You need to figure out which switch belongs to which bulb. You can use the switches however you want to, but can only enter the room once. How do you do it? a) The river crossing problem

1. The farmer brings the goose across the river first (if he leaves the goose alone, it will either eat the beans or be eaten by the fox).

2. The farmer brings either the fox or the beans across and leaves the other one alone.

3. Now the farmer has two items on the other side of the river, including the goose. If he leaves the goose again, the same problem will occur. So, the farmer must bring the goose back to the other side.

4. The farmer brings the other item back (either the fox or the beans) and leaves the goose alone again. The fox and the beans are now on the other side of the river.

5. The farmer returns and brings the goose across the river again.

Math brain teasers for kids

1. Math riddles
b) The light bulb problem

Math riddles

a) Divide 30 by ½ and add 10. What's the answer?

b) A clerk at the butcher shop is six feet tall and wears size 10 shoes. What does he weigh?

c) A farmer has 19 sheep on his land. One day, a big storm hits and all but seven run away. How many sheep does the farmer have left?

d) Your sock drawer only contains 18 white socks and 18 blue socks. How many times do you need to reach inside the drawer and take out a sock to guarantee a matching pair?

e) You planted sunflower seeds in your back garden. Every day, the number of flowers doubles. If it takes 52 days for the flowers to fill the garden, how many days would it take for them to fill half the garden?

f) Using only addition, how can you use eight eights to get the number 1,000?

g) When Ashley was 15, her mother was 37. Now, her mother is twice her age. How old is Ashley?

Answers

c) Seven. The riddle says all but seven run away, meaning there are seven left who didn't.

2. Pattern problems
These questions require students to identify a pattern before they can answer a particular question. Kids must use creative and logical thinking to find the answers.
a) If:

2 + 2 = 44
Answers:
3 + 3 = 96
a) Here's the step-by-step solution:
4 + 4 = 168

5 + 5 = 2510
b) Turn o n the first switch and leave it on. Turn on the second switch for a few minutes, and then turn it off again. When you enter the room, one light bulb will be on. You'll know it goes with switch one because you turned it on. Another bulb will be hot. You'll know that goes with switch two because it was on for a little while. The bulb that's off and cold goes with switch three because you didn't touch it.
Then:
math puzzles, these brain teasers for kids can increase engagement with math content and inspire your students to work on math concepts and problems outside of regular lessons.
6 + 6 = ?
b) What makes this number unique: 8,549,176,320? math-focused. Use them to give students some extra math practice and encourage resourceful thinking. c) Solve the pattern puzzle below. Find the missing number to replace the question mark. Image source: Genius Puzzles d) Solve the following: Image source: AOL Answers: a) The missing number is 3612. The answer is the number multiplied by itself and then the number added to itself. Six multiplied by six is 36, and six plus six is 12. b) It contains each one-digit number, zero through nine, listed in alphabetical order. c) The missing number is 17. Each number in the circle is the sum of the numbers in the opposite quadrant. In this case, the numbers are eight and nine - added together makes 17. d) The answer is 14 (or 16, if you're on the other side of the debate).
3. Prodigy
Since Prodigy is curriculum-aligned, you can use it to supplement your regular math lessons.
Visual brain teasers for kids

1. Spot the difference
This ever-popular activity might remind you of your own childhood - and kids still love it! Spot the difference puzzles require lots of deduction and attention to detail. Here's an example of a printable spot the difference activity. Image source: Tim's Printables Answer: Image source: Tim's Printables
2. Rebus puzzles
A rebus is a visual word puzzle that uses lateral thinking to find its intended meaning. The word or phrase is depicted with a visual illustration, including letters and words. Students must think creatively to figure out the meaning from the clues they're given. a) Image source: math activity is a bit different from others on the list. It's not a traditional brain teaser, but it can also be used as a fun, skill-building alternative to traditional math class. Prodigy is a free game-based learning platform that takes kids on an online fantasy adventure while they answer math questions. It's engaging and effective at teaching necessary skills. Wikipedia b) Image source: Stack Exchange Answers: a) Top secret b) Think outside the box Visit the link below if you want more fun rebus puzzles for your students: |
3. Optical illusions
Get tricky with your students! Optical illusions use visual tricks that alter the perception of what you're really seeing. Students will love trying to figure out what's really going on in these examples. a) How many legs does the elephant have? Image source: Optics For Kids b) Are the two squares different colors? Image source: Brain Den Answers: a) Four b) They're exactly the same color. If you place your finger over the spot where the squares meet, you can see they're the same. Try this impossible paper puzzle if you want a more hands-on optical illusion. You can make one to show your class, then have students make their own as a fun brain teaser to show friends and family.
4. Stroop effect test
The Stroop effect was discovered in the 1930s by John Ridley Stroop. During the test, you're given a list of color names, with each word being a different color than what they describe. The test involves saying the color of a word, rather than reading the word itself. Your mind must process the two conflicting pieces of information, which slows down reaction speed and requires careful thought to get through. Image source: The Crafty Classroom
Benefits of brain teasers for kids
You know your students enjoy them, but did you know there are plenty of additional reasons to make brain teasers a regular activity in the classroom? Brain teasers for kids can also:

Strengthen problem solving and critical thinking skills

Encourage lateral thinking and build new perspectives

Improve cognitive abilities like memory and processing speed

Inspire teamwork and communication

Engage students and motivate them to learn

Provide necessary breaks from traditional class work

How to use brain teasers in the classroom
In addition to their many learning advantages, brain teasers are a great way to break up the day and engage your students.

Engagement-boosting activity before or after lessons

Bonus questions in assignments and tests

Optional "free time" activity

Encourage team building - split students into groups to solve them together

Supplement lessons - choose brain teasers about the subject you're teaching

Final thoughts on brain teasers for kids
Remember that brain teasers are designed to be fun for kids. it's not about finding the right answer, but the mental exercise they get from trying to find the solution. Use any of the brain teasers in this list whenever you need a boost of energy in your classroom. Bonus points if you can stump any adults!
Sign up now!
study on the attention spans of six-year-olds found children who were given brain teasers were more attentive than those who received a regular school curriculum - showing brain teasers were effective at boosting children's attention spans. teaching strategy and maximize the benefits in your classroom: excited to do. Create or log in to your teacher account on Prodigy - a free, game-based learning platform for math that's easy to use for educators and students alike. Aligned with curricula across the English-speaking world, it's loved by more than a million teachers and 50 million students.

Sometimes keeping your students engaged during a (long) school day feels like a losing battle. How do you gain their full attention while teaching the skills they need to succeed? How do you turn tough and intimidating concepts into fun, entertaining lessons that actually spark life in the classroom? We've gathered Brain teasers for kids differ from other complex or abstract problems because they're usually done As a bonus, use these riddles to challenge preconceived notions and a) b) Find the For example, the word MAc) Find These questions require logic and careful thought to solve. The most notable example of a lateral thinking problem is the classic Like These riddles are just as amusing as the ones above, but they're This A Here are just a few ways you can use brain teasers for kids as a No matter what subject or skill you want to focus on, a brain teaser is a great addition to traditional teaching methods. Plus, it's something students will actually be >>Brain teasers for kids are a great form of game-based learning that not only entertain children, but also inspire some creative thought in the classroom. People of all ages can indulge in these playful - yet challenging - activities. 45 examples of brain teasers for kids with answers, organized by category: We'll also take you through: Use the list below to find the perfect brain teaser for your class!
What are brain teasers?
Before you explore our examples, you might be wondering what brain teasers actually are. Brain teasers are a type of puzzle - and as the list below reveals, they come in many different forms. Often presented as a riddle, question or activity, brain teasers require a little extra brain power to solve. Cambridge Dictionary defines a brain teaser as "a problem for which it is hard to find the answer, especially one which people enjoy trying to solve as a game."
45 Brain teasers for kids
We've compiled a list of language, math and visual brain teasers to get your students thinking. Get inspired by the examples below - including answers! for fun. Although you can use them to analyze problem solving and critical thinking skills, they're often used as an amusing activity to encourage logical and lateral thinking, or thinking "outside the box."
Language brain teasers for kids

1. Riddles
When you hear the term "brain teaser," a riddle is likely the first thing that comes to mind. Riddles are perplexing - sometimes misleading - questions or statements that require creative thought to solve. Riddles are usually fun, and plenty of them can add some humor to your classroom. Enjoy our list of riddles for kids below!

Riddles

a) Billy's mother had five children. The first was named Lala, the second was named Lele, the third was named Lili, the fourth was named Lolo. What was the fifth child named?

b) Choose the correct sentence: "the yolk of the egg is white" or "the yolk of the egg are white."

c) It's as light as a feather, but the strongest person can't hold it for more than five minutes. What is it?

d) The more there is, the less you see. What is it?

e) What gets more wet while it dries?

f) You can find it in Mercury, Earth, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, but not in Venus or Neptune. What is it?

g) It likes food, but water kills it. What is it?

h) What's full of holes but can still hold water?

i) Which is heavier, a pound of feathers or a pound of rocks?

j) How far can a dog run into the woods?

k) You're driving a city bus. At the first stop, three women get on. At the second stop, one woman gets off and a man gets on. At the third stop, two children get on. The bus is blue and it's raining outside in December. What color is the bus driver's hair?

l) There are three houses. One is red, one is blue and one is white. If the red house is to the left of the house in the middle, and the blue house is to the right of the house in the middle, where's the white house?

m) It's at the center of gravity and you can find it in Venus, but not Mars. What is it?

n) What goes on four feet in the morning, two in the afternoon and three in the evening? (This is from the classic myth, Oedipus and the Riddle of the Sphinx)

o) What travels faster: heat or cold?

p) A man was walking in the rain in the middle of nowhere without a coat or an umbrella. He got soaked, but not a single hair on his head was wet. How can this be?

q) A cowboy rode into town on Friday. He stayed in town for three days and rode back out on Friday. How is this possible?

Answers

j) Halfway. Once it reaches halfway, it's running out of the woods.

a) Two boxers are in a match scheduled for 12 rounds. (Pure boxing only - no kicking, UFC takedowns, or anything else). One of the boxers gets knocked out after only six rounds, yet no man throws a punch. How is this possible? b) A father and son have a car accident and both are very injured. They are taken to separate hospitals for treatment. When the boy is taken in for an operation, the surgeon says, "I can't do this surgery.... this boy is my son!" How is this possible? a) The two boxers are women. b) The surgeon is the boy's mother. get students thinking about natural bias.
2. Language associations
These brain teasers for kids explore the complexities of the English language. Use them to boost student knowledge of sounds, words, spelling, categorization and more.

1. Cake, swiss, cottage

2. Glasses, screen, day

3. Cream, cube, cap

4. Knife, fly, cup

Answers: Hint: It's something you'll find outside.

1. RBAE & HREAS

2. WNROED & UTRHNDE

3. TUGHAT & HBTUGO

4. ODULC & ODOG

a) Word association: find a word that associates with the following sets of words.

1. Cheese

2. Sun

3. Ice

4. Butter

b)mystery word. Replace the third letter of each word with a new letter to create a different word. When read vertically, the new letters will reveal the mystery word. SAFE KE could become MARE, MALE, MATE and so on. It's your job to figure out which one works to create the mystery word. rhyming pairs. Unscramble the words below so that each pair of words rhymes. POLE BOOT Answers: NEWT STEP BARE Mystery word: FLOWER c)

1. BEAR (or BARE) & SHARE

2. WONDER & THUNDER

3. TAUGHT & BOUGHT

4. COULD & GOOD

You can also use printable brain teasers for kids like this one: Image source: Spelling Words Well Answer: The "happy word" is SMILE.
3. Lateral thinking problems
Lateral thinking problems require creative thinking with an indirect approach. Here are two examples of lateral thinking problems kids can try to solve. Image source: Popular Mechanics A farmer is traveling with a fox, a goose, and a bag of beans. During his journey, he comes across a river with a boat to cross it. The farmer can only fit one thing in the boat with him at a time. If left alone together, the fox will eat the goose or the goose will eat the beans. How does the farmer get everything across the river safely? Monty Hall problem. There are three light switches outside of a room-- labeled number one, number two, and number three. The door to the room is closed and you can't see in. All three switches are off. You need to figure out which switch belongs to which bulb. You can use the switches however you want to, but can only enter the room once. How do you do it? a) The river crossing problem

1. The farmer brings the goose across the river first (if he leaves the goose alone, it will either eat the beans or be eaten by the fox).

2. The farmer brings either the fox or the beans across and leaves the other one alone.

3. Now the farmer has two items on the other side of the river, including the goose. If he leaves the goose again, the same problem will occur. So, the farmer must bring the goose back to the other side.

4. The farmer brings the other item back (either the fox or the beans) and leaves the goose alone again. The fox and the beans are now on the other side of the river.

5. The farmer returns and brings the goose across the river again.

Math brain teasers for kids

1. Math riddles
b) The light bulb problem

Math riddles

a) Divide 30 by ½ and add 10. What's the answer?

b) A clerk at the butcher shop is six feet tall and wears size 10 shoes. What does he weigh?

c) A farmer has 19 sheep on his land. One day, a big storm hits and all but seven run away. How many sheep does the farmer have left?

d) Your sock drawer only contains 18 white socks and 18 blue socks. How many times do you need to reach inside the drawer and take out a sock to guarantee a matching pair?

e) You planted sunflower seeds in your back garden. Every day, the number of flowers doubles. If it takes 52 days for the flowers to fill the garden, how many days would it take for them to fill half the garden?

f) Using only addition, how can you use eight eights to get the number 1,000?

g) When Ashley was 15, her mother was 37. Now, her mother is twice her age. How old is Ashley?

Answers

c) Seven. The riddle says all but seven run away, meaning there are seven left who didn't.

2. Pattern problems
These questions require students to identify a pattern before they can answer a particular question. Kids must use creative and logical thinking to find the answers.
a) If:

2 + 2 = 44
Answers:
3 + 3 = 96
a) Here's the step-by-step solution:
4 + 4 = 168

5 + 5 = 2510
b) Turn o n the first switch and leave it on. Turn on the second switch for a few minutes, and then turn it off again. When you enter the room, one light bulb will be on. You'll know it goes with switch one because you turned it on. Another bulb will be hot. You'll know that goes with switch two because it was on for a little while. The bulb that's off and cold goes with switch three because you didn't touch it.
Then:
math puzzles, these brain teasers for kids can increase engagement with math content and inspire your students to work on math concepts and problems outside of regular lessons.
6 + 6 = ?
b) What makes this number unique: 8,549,176,320? math-focused. Use them to give students some extra math practice and encourage resourceful thinking. c) Solve the pattern puzzle below. Find the missing number to replace the question mark. Image source: Genius Puzzles d) Solve the following: Image source: AOL Answers: a) The missing number is 3612. The answer is the number multiplied by itself and then the number added to itself. Six multiplied by six is 36, and six plus six is 12. b) It contains each one-digit number, zero through nine, listed in alphabetical order. c) The missing number is 17. Each number in the circle is the sum of the numbers in the opposite quadrant. In this case, the numbers are eight and nine - added together makes 17. d) The answer is 14 (or 16, if you're on the other side of the debate).
3. Prodigy
Since Prodigy is curriculum-aligned, you can use it to supplement your regular math lessons.
Visual brain teasers for kids

1. Spot the difference
This ever-popular activity might remind you of your own childhood - and kids still love it! Spot the difference puzzles require lots of deduction and attention to detail. Here's an example of a printable spot the difference activity. Image source: Tim's Printables Answer: Image source: Tim's Printables
2. Rebus puzzles
A rebus is a visual word puzzle that uses lateral thinking to find its intended meaning. The word or phrase is depicted with a visual illustration, including letters and words. Students must think creatively to figure out the meaning from the clues they're given. a) Image source: math activity is a bit different from others on the list. It's not a traditional brain teaser, but it can also be used as a fun, skill-building alternative to traditional math class. Prodigy is a free game-based learning platform that takes kids on an online fantasy adventure while they answer math questions. It's engaging and effective at teaching necessary skills. Wikipedia b) Image source: Stack Exchange Answers: a) Top secret b) Think outside the box Visit the link below if you want more fun rebus puzzles for your students: |
3. Optical illusions
Get tricky with your students! Optical illusions use visual tricks that alter the perception of what you're really seeing. Students will love trying to figure out what's really going on in these examples. a) How many legs does the elephant have? Image source: Optics For Kids b) Are the two squares different colors? Image source: Brain Den Answers: a) Four b) They're exactly the same color. If you place your finger over the spot where the squares meet, you can see they're the same. Try this impossible paper puzzle if you want a more hands-on optical illusion. You can make one to show your class, then have students make their own as a fun brain teaser to show friends and family.
4. Stroop effect test
The Stroop effect was discovered in the 1930s by John Ridley Stroop. During the test, you're given a list of color names, with each word being a different color than what they describe. The test involves saying the color of a word, rather than reading the word itself. Your mind must process the two conflicting pieces of information, which slows down reaction speed and requires careful thought to get through. Image source: The Crafty Classroom
Benefits of brain teasers for kids
You know your students enjoy them, but did you know there are plenty of additional reasons to make brain teasers a regular activity in the classroom? Brain teasers for kids can also:

Strengthen problem solving and critical thinking skills

Encourage lateral thinking and build new perspectives

Improve cognitive abilities like memory and processing speed

Inspire teamwork and communication

Engage students and motivate them to learn

Provide necessary breaks from traditional class work

How to use brain teasers in the classroom
In addition to their many learning advantages, brain teasers are a great way to break up the day and engage your students.

Engagement-boosting activity before or after lessons

Bonus questions in assignments and tests

Optional "free time" activity

Encourage team building - split students into groups to solve them together

Supplement lessons - choose brain teasers about the subject you're teaching

Final thoughts on brain teasers for kids
Remember that brain teasers are designed to be fun for kids. it's not about finding the right answer, but the mental exercise they get from trying to find the solution. Use any of the brain teasers in this list whenever you need a boost of energy in your classroom. Bonus points if you can stump any adults!
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study on the attention spans of six-year-olds found children who were given brain teasers were more attentive than those who received a regular school curriculum - showing brain teasers were effective at boosting children's attention spans. teaching strategy and maximize the benefits in your classroom: excited to do. Create or log in to your teacher account on Prodigy - a free, game-based learning platform for math that's easy to use for educators and students alike. Aligned with curricula across the English-speaking world, it's loved by more than a million teachers and 50 million students.

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45 Fun Brain Teasers for Kids [With Answers]

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Laney Kennedy All Posts Sometimes keeping your students engaged during a (long) school day feels like a losing battle. How do you gain their full attention while teaching the skills they need to succeed? How do you turn tough and intimidating concepts into fun, entertaining lessons that actually spark life in the classroom?

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Rainbow Yoga 🌈 Yoga For All Ages!  🌈 Yoga With Adriene

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Have a Blast With This Family Fun Cardio Workout!

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Ants in Your Pants #99 - by Eric Herman and the Invisible Band

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😊 🌺 Breath Meditation for Kids 😊 ❤️‍ Mindfulness for Kids

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New Horizon - Meditation & Sleep Stories

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Mindfulness Meditation for Kids | BREATHING EXERCISE | Guided Meditation for Children

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They Might Be Giants - Clap Your Hands (Official video)

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Design & animation by ColourMovie. From TMBGs debut kids album No!

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Share it Maybe! (take off on "Call Me Maybe")

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Share it Maybe! (take off on "Call Me Maybe")

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Make positive/ encouraging language a part of your classroom culture. Create a classroom or school-wide mailbox where students can write compliments and positive messages to each other. These messages can be regularly shared out publicly (e.g., during morning meeting or checkout). Or students can create their own mailbox where they can receive personal messages throughout the year.

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Take on this challenge by writing a letter to someone they love, care about, or would like to encourage.

Send handwritten letters of thanks to servicemen and women (Operation Gratitude project)• Write letters to senior citizens in a retirement community (Love for the Elderly project)• Create get well cards and letters for children in the hospital (Cards for Hospitalized Kids project)

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It is important for students to understand how their words affect people and the world around them. It takes time and effort to develop empathy. Allow students to practice understanding another person’s feelings or experiences by role playing the scenarios below. (One student can act out for the class:
-You are playing on the playground and you fall off the swing.
-You are sharing your writing with a group of friends and they laugh.
-You are moving to a new home and have to change schools.

Allow students to offer intentional words for these situations.

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Bulldog Finds His Quiet Place (Great for students with busy home environments)

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Bulldog Finds His Quiet Place (Great for students with busy home environments)

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Happy Minds - Sleep Meditation & Bedtime Stories

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Mindfulness Meditation for Kids - 5 Minutes Guided Meditation for Children

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Yoga For The Classroom - Yoga With Adriene

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Ultimate List of Would You Rather Questions

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Ultimate List of Would You Rather Questions

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Have you played the "Would You Rather?" game with your family? We love this game because it's fun for all ages. You can play it with everyone from toddlers through grandparents, and it is truly fun and interesting for all. Also, it's a perfect spur of the moment game when you need help passing the time.

"Would You Rather?" is a boredom buster for car rides and long lines. Most importantly, it's also an eye-opening conversation starter to get to know your kids on a different level. If you're looking to get conversation going during family dinnertime, these silly questions are a fun way to do so.
More: 50+ Questions to Ask Your Kids to Get Them Talking
We've put together a list of 100 "Would You Rather?" questions that are appropriate for kids of all ages, and organized them into five different categories for you: Funny, Food, Gross, Dream Big, and Out of this World.
Pin it to save these for later:

Funny Would You Rather? Questions

Food Would You Rather? Questions

Gross Would You Rather? Questions

Dream Big Would You Rather? Questions

Out of this World Would You Rather? Questions

Looking for ways to keep the kids busy and learning during social distancing? Sign up for the Prepared Parent, a daily newsletter filled with everything to help mom and dad in their roles as teacher-parents.

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The Ultimate List of Would You Rather Questions to Get Your Kids Talking

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Have you played the "Would You Rather?" game with your family? We love this game because it's fun for all ages. You can play it with everyone from toddlers through grandparents, and it is truly fun and interesting for all. Also, it's a perfect spur of the moment game when you need help passing the time.

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You're on the right track now!
You've got it made.
SUPER!
That's right!
That's good.
I'm very proud of you.
You're really working hard today
You are very good at that.
That's coming along nicely.
GOOD WORK!
I'm happy to see you working like that.
That's much, much better!
Exactly right.
I'm proud of the way you worked today.
You're doing that much better today.
You've just about got it.
That's the best you've ever done.
You're doing a good job.
THAT'S IT!
Now you've figured it out.
That's quite an improvement.
GREAT!
I knew you could do it.
Congratulations!
Not bad.
Keep working on it.
You're improving.
Now you have it!
You are learning fast.
Good for you!
Couldn't have done it better myself.
Aren't you proud of yourself?
One more time and you'll have it.
You really make my job fun.
That's the right way to do it.
You're getting better every day.
You did it that time!
That's not half bad.
Nice going.
You haven't missed a thing!
WOW!
That's the way!
Keep up the good work.
TERRIFIC!
Nothing can stop you now.
That's the way to do it.
SENSATIONAL!
You've got your brain in gear today.
That's better.
That was first class work.
EXCELLENT!
That's the best ever.
You've just about mastered it.
PERFECT!
That's better than ever.
Much better!
WONDERFUL!
You must have been practicing.
You did that very well.
FINE!
Nice going.
You're really going to town.
OUTSTANDING!
FANTASTIC!
TREMENDOUS!
That's how to handle that.
Now that's what I call a fine job.
That's great.
Right on!
You're really improving.
You're doing beautifully!
SUPERB!
Good remembering.
You've got that down pat.
You certainly did well today.
Keep it up!
Congratulations. You got it right!
You did a lot of work today.
Well look at you go.
That's it.
I like knowing you.
MARVELOUS!
I like that.
Way to go!
Now you have the hang of it.
You're doing fine!
Good thinking.
You are really learning a lot.
Good going.
I've never seen anyone do it better.
Keep on trying.
You outdid yourself today!
Good for you!
I think you've got it now.
That's a good (boy/girl).
Good job, (person's name).
You figured that out fast.
You remembered!
That's really nice.
That kind of work makes me happy.
It's such a pleasure to teach when you work like that!
I think you're doing the right thing

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100 Ways to Say "Good Job" or "Very Good"

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You're on the right track now! You've got it made. SUPER! That's right! That's good. I'm very proud of you. You're really working hard today You are very good at that. That's coming along nicely. GOOD WORK! I'm happy to see you working like that. That's much, much better! Exactly right.

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An opportunity to discuss the responsibility all students have before they post. Does their post pass the THINK test?

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Blogging! Older students can create their own free blogs using EduBlogs which can be shared with the class. Privacy settings can also be adjusted. 

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Blogging! Older students can create their own free blogs using EduBlogs which can be shared with the class. Privacy settings can also be adjusted. 

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Struggling with a Student? Try the 2/10 Strategy:

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Struggling with a Student? Try the 2/10 Strategy:

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Spend 2 minutes a day for 10 days in a row connecting with the student about their interests or about different aspect of their life. While this is difficult in the virtual setting, you can get creative by doing a private chat message, a personal message with feedback on a piece of work, or of course a 2 minute 1:1 virtual conversation.

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If You're a Kid [Animal Remix] (song for kids about animal sounds & movements)

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SHAKE BREAK ♫| Action Songs for Kids | Sing and Dance! | Pancake Manor

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SHAKE BREAK ♫| Action Songs for Kids | Sing and Dance! | Pancake Manor

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I Like To Move It (Original Video)  Madagascar HD

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The Sid Shuffle - Ice Age: Continental Drift

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101 Ways to Teach Children Social Skills

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101 Ways to Teach Children Social Skills

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Setting Goals - tie this video to a setting goals activity for the new calendar year

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Setting Goals - tie this video to a setting goals activity for the new calendar year

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Be the Pond | Mindfulness for Kids | Cosmic Kids Zen Den

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The Very Hungry Caterpillar - Read Aloud

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The Very Hungry Caterpillar - Read Aloud

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The Very Hungry Caterpillar - Official Animated Film | Made For Kids | Eric Carle Book

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Brain Break  - Would You Rather?  Energizer Game 1

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Bully: A Read Aloud Story (kindergarten)

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Bully: A Read Aloud Story (kindergarten)

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Bully: A Read-along Story About Bullies for Kids: Read-Aloud Stories from PlayKids

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TheLearningStation - Kids Songs and Nursery Rhymes

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Shake Your Sillies Out ♫ Brain Breaks Songs for Kids ♫ Kids Action Songs by The Learning Station

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Trolls: Can't Stop The Feeling | GoNoodle

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Celebrate - Blazer Fresh | Songs For Kids | Dance Along | GoNoodle

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Happy New Year - Dancing Song for Children

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compliments of Mrs. Brown!

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*for Google forms or Whole Group

-How did you sleep last night?
-How do you feel about learning online today?
-Tell me something you ate for breakfast?
-Provide an emoji for your feelings today
-What do you need from me today (I need to talk to you, I need encouragement that I'm doing well in class, Nothing - I'm all good!, Other: _______ )

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Count to Ten

The teacher stands at the front of the class and raises both hands above her head, spread open and facing the class. The students raise their hands over their heads, fingers spread, and facing the teacher. The teacher begins counting slowly from one to ten, and at ten lowers her hands to her sides. The class follows until everyone is back in the position they started in.

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*Resources to have at hand for Second Step

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HANUKKAH FITNESS FUN! Spin Like a Dreidel!  🕎 Go with YoYo

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Christmas Songs | Kids Dance Along | Christmas Roo Rock by Pevan and Sarah | Brain Break

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Jam Junior Holiday Dance Video feat Boss Kids NYC

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KIDZ BOP Kids – Santa Tell Me (Dance Along) [KIDZ BOP Christmas]

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Do You Want to Build a Snowman Sing-a-Long

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Do You Want to Build a Snowman Sing-a-Long

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Frozen | Do You Want to Build a Snowman? | Disney Princess | Disney Arabia

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FROZEN | Let It Go Sing-along | Official Disney UK

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Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Dance for Kids | 赤鼻のトナカイ【振り付け】

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10 Questions to Replace 'How was school today?'

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10 Questions to Replace 'How was school today?'

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These questions will help you draw out important information from your kids.

© digitalskillet/Getty Images

How many times have you asked your child, "How was school today?" and been frustrated by the lack of response? As a parent, I'm guilty of asking my son this question all the time, even though I usually don't get much in return.

Sometimes (to be honest), I haven't had the energy for a real conversation. Other times, I just can't think of what to ask. As a teacher, I have often wished that kids would share stories of the awesome things we were doing with their parents, but I couldn't figure out how to make that happen.

Now that my son is in middle school-where communication from teachers is less than it was when he was in elementary school and more stuff is happening at school that I need to be aware of-I've identified a list of questions that draw out important information. I wish that when I was in the classroom I'd been able to offer this list to parents so that they could hear about what we were doing in our class.

The Questions

1. Tell me about a moment today when you felt excited about what you were learning.

2. Tell me about a moment in class when you felt confused.

3. Think about what you learned and did in school today. What's something you'd like to know more about? What's a question you have that came from your learning today?

4. Were there any moments today when you felt worried? When you felt scared?

5. Were there any times today when you felt disrespected by anyone? Tell me about those moments.

6. Were there times today when you felt that one of your classmates demonstrated care for you?

7. Were there any moments today when you felt proud of yourself?

8. Tell me about a conversation you had with a classmate or friend that you enjoyed.

9. What was challenging about your day?

10. What do you appreciate about your day?

11. What did you learn about yourself today?

12. Is there anything that you'd like to talk about that I might be able to help you figure out?

13. Is there anything you're worried about?

14. What are you looking forward to tomorrow?

15. Is there a question you wish I'd ask you about your day?

With slight wording modifications, these questions can work with children of all ages:

Tips for Asking Questions

How and when we ask these questions makes a big difference in the information we receive from our kids. First, you don't want to ask all of these questions on the same day. You might ask one or two. After a while, you'll figure out which ones elicit the most meaningful responses. You'll want to ask during a time when you have the ability to focus so that your child feels they have your full attention. With my child-and in my household-dinner and driving in the car are optimal times for these conversations.

Now these conversations have become routine. My son knows that when we drive to school I'll ask him what he's looking forward to, if there's anything he's worried about, and if there's anything he wants to talk about with me that I might be able to help him figure out.

More Suggestions

Don't interrupt. This is a good rule for any conversation, but especially if you want to get a lot of information out of a kid.

Ask for more. Simply say, "I'd love to hear more about that..." Or, "Can you expand on that a little?"

Ask about feelings. After a child describes an experience, ask, "How did you feel in that moment? What did you notice about your feelings?"

Validate feelings. Whatever your kid feels is normal and okay. Let them know that. Feelings are okay. Tell them this.

Tell them it's not okay for teachers or kids to be unkind or mean. If they tell you a story about a teacher who yelled or disrespected them (regardless of what they said or did) let them know that it's not okay for an adult to treat them that way. Same goes for how they are treated by other children.

Thank them for sharing with you. Always appreciate their honesty and willingness to share the highlights and bright spots, as well as the difficult moments. This will fuel their confidence in telling you more.

The following can help your conversations be positive and powerful:

What questions bring about the most conversation between you and your kids?

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15 Questions to Replace 'How Was School Today?'

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These questions will help you draw out important information from your kids. © digitalskillet/Getty Images How many times have you asked your child, "How was school today?" and been frustrated by the lack of response? As a parent, I'm guilty of asking my son this question all the time, even though I usually don't get much in return.

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Have a select student(s) sing karaoke links (there are others on the web) 

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Have a select student(s) sing karaoke links (there are others on the web) 

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Deck The Halls in the style of Traditional karaoke video with lyrics

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20 Questions for Morning Meeting: Guess the Gift 

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20 Questions for Morning Meeting: Guess the Gift 

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Tip: Frequently and consistently say students' names during instruction to keep their attention :)

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Tip: Frequently and consistently say students' names during instruction to keep their attention :)

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Kids Holiday Trivia link for Morning Meeting

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Kids Holiday Trivia link for Morning Meeting

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Question: What popular holiday activity tests people's knowledge of Christmas history and customs?

Answer: Christmas trivia, of course!

Of all the holiday themed party games out there, trivia games are perhaps the best for filling people up with the Christmas spirit. That's because they challenge us to recall details about all those Christmas songs, movies, and traditions that hold fond places in our hearts.

So, if you're planning to incorporate trivia into your holiday gathering, kudos to you. You can surely come up with many of your own questions by browsing Wikipedia for a few hours, but why bother when someone else has already done the work for you? Here's a list of Christmas trivia questions and answers you can use, organized by difficultly.

Easy

Not So Easy

Hard

If you answered at least 25 of these correctly, congratulations - you made the Nice List. If not... well, Merry Christmas anyways!

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31 Christmas Trivia Questions For Your Next Holiday Gathering

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Question: What popular holiday activity tests people's knowledge of Christmas history and customs? Answer: Christmas trivia, of course! Of all the holiday themed party games out there, trivia games are perhaps the best for filling people up with the Christmas spirit.