Brain Breaks for the Classroom, by Age, Mood and Season

Lists of short classroom activities. Each page picks one your class has not done yet and times it.

A brain break is a minute or two away from the lesson: a quick game, a doodle, a march behind the chairs. Each page here holds one list of 30 to 40, for one kind of class or moment.

34 pages

0–9, A–B 13

3rd Grade Brain Breaks With a Step Up for Grades 4 and 5One press brings up an elementary classroom activity, marked for grades 2 and 3, grades 4 and 5 or both. One pencil, two hands
ABC Brain BreaksPress Pick another brain break for one letter and its move, with the clock already set. V is for volleyball
Animal Brain BreaksPress Pick another brain break for one animal themed brain break: a walk, a stretch or a guessing game. Rooster at sunrise
Brain Break Dances in the ClassroomPress Pick another brain break for one dance: a freeze dance brain break, a new step or a seated dance. Mirror dance
Brain Break ExercisesPress Pick another brain break for one exercise with its counts and the clock already set. Jog on the spot
Brain Break GamesPress Pick another brain break for a short class game with its rules and the clock already set. Finger catch
Brain Break RiddlesOne riddle at a time for the board, with the answer covered until the class has had its guesses. I am an odd number. Take away one letter and I become even. Which number am I?
Brain Break StretchesOne slow stretch for a chair, the space beside a desk or tired hands, named for what it looks like. Tie both shoes
Brain Break YogaOne yoga pose by its usual name, with how to get into it and how long to hold it. Mountain pose
Brain Breaks for Adults at a Desk, in a Meeting or on a CallOne press brings up a break for a desk, a staff meeting or a video call, timed to its length. Borrow an expert
Brain Breaks for High School Students, No Dancing RequiredPress once for an activity that asks nobody aged 16 to dance, sing or perform in front of the room. Back-of-the-envelope estimate
Brain Breaks for Middle School With Nobody on the SpotA short activity for grades 6 to 8, run at tables, in pairs or alone with a pencil. Stand if
Brain Breaks for PreschoolersOne short activity for three and four year olds, written for the adult to read and lead. Pop the bubbles

C–H 7

Calming Brain Breaks for After Recess and Before a TestA quiet activity for after recess or before a test, picked at random, with an optional soft tone at zero. Lights off, heads down
Choir Brain BreaksOne short break for a choir rehearsal, done on the spot: a stretch, a breath drill or a rhythm. Clapping round
Christmas Brain Breaks for Kindergarten and First GradeForty December activities for kindergarten to grade 2, from paper snowball games to winter moves, 21 of them winter only. Slalom hops
First Day of School Brain BreakOne name game or get-to-know-you move for a class that met this morning, with nothing to hand out. Name and a move
Fun Brain Breaks for the Classroom, Picked at RandomPress Pick another brain break for an activity your class has not done yet, with the clock already set. Partner cross claps
Halloween Brain Breaks for the Last Week of OctoberA short Halloween activity a class can do beside their desks, with no costume, candy or prop to find. Owl turns
Hallway Brain BreaksOne silent break for a line of students in a hallway, with a timer set to its length. One-head line

I–W 14

Individual Brain BreaksOne silent break for one pupil, done sitting down, with a timer set to its length. Right hand wins
Kindergarten Brain Breaks a Teacher Can Read Out LoudOne press, one short game for 4 to 7 year olds, plain enough to read aloud as they stand. Left or right
Literacy Brain BreaksA movement break that practices spelling, syllables, rhyme or grammar, with starter words in most lines. Spell up, spell down
Math Brain Breaks That Get a Class Moving and CountingA short number activity that gets a class moving and counting, with a worked example you can read out cold. Nines on your fingers
PE Brain BreaksOne game for a gym or a field that needs no equipment, with a timer set to its length. Line tag
Spring Brain BreaksOne spring activity to read aloud and do, from umbrellas in the wind to paper nests. Sun out, sun in
St Patrick's Day Brain BreaksPress once for a leprechaun move, a gold hunt, a jig step or a shamrock to draw, timed. Clap in sixes
Summer Brain BreaksA beach move, a camp game or a last-week activity comes up with every press, clock set. Tide in, tide out
Superhero Brain BreaksOne press brings a made-up hero move with its calls and counts, and a clock set to its length. Three jobs, in order
Thanksgiving Brain Breaks for KidsPress for a turkey move, a parade move, a kitchen job to act out or a question, with its timer. Turkey strut
Valentine Brain BreaksEach press brings one Valentine's Day brain break about hearts, mail or kind words, with its timer. Stamp, stamp, slide
Virtual Brain Breaks for KidsOne short brain break for a virtual classroom, each student at one chair, with a timer. Only your eyes
Winter Brain Breaks for KidsEvery press brings a winter sport to act out, a snow move or a snowman game, already timed. Crack in the ice
Would You Rather Brain BreakPress Pick another brain break for a would you rather question with a move for each answer. Would you rather drink a milkshake through a very long straw or eat ice cream with a tiny spoon?

More about these tools

It picks an activity your class has not done in this browser, says how to run it and sets a clock to its length. Start with the fun list, which is not tied to a grade. Other lists cover kindergarten, grades 2 to 5, middle school, high school and adults, a calming list for after recess and math breaks that practice facts on the move. The seasonal lists are Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, winter, Valentine's Day, St Patrick's Day and summer. Others hold animals, superheroes, the ABCs, dances, games, would you rather questions with a move for each answer, and plain exercises. The same kind of activity prints as brain break cards.

0–9, A–B 13

C–H 7

I–W 14

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