Brain Breaks Teaching Resources
Do you need new brain break ideas and activities for your elementary classroom? Welcome to brain break central at Teach Starter!
This collection of teacher-created brain break activities and printables for kindergarten through middle school includes active games to get students up and out of their chairs, would you rather brain breaks, whole class escape games, creativity challenges and a whole lot more.
New to brain breaks? Take a peek at a primer from the teachers on the Teach Starter team!
What Is a Brain Break?
Not sure what qualifies as a brain break? A brain break is a short mental break incorporated into classroom instruction to provide literally what the name implies — a break for that hard-working brain.
Brain breaks can be done in the middle of a lesson or during a transition from one lesson to another, and the goal is to help the brain refocus so students can dive back into learning refreshed and ready to absorb the material.
Most brain breaks only last a few minutes. They're a break, after all! Teachers can add as many or as few of these breaks into the school day as necessary. Younger children such as a classroom full of kindergartners may require more brain breaks than older kids in middle or high school.
Why Are Brain Breaks Important?
Wondering how brain breaks help students? There is plenty of research on brain breaks for kids, and it all points to the importance of taking short breaks to help students succeed in the classroom.
For example, studies show that elementary students often lose focus and become inattentive during lessons that drag on. Something as simple as a brain break in the middle of a lesson, however, gives students the redirection they need to get back on the attention train and absorb the information.
Brain breaks are also helpful in reducing student stress and increasing overall productivity, with research showing that students get a boost in their reading comprehension and divergent thinking skills when they get breaks in the school day.
How Often Should You Use Brain Breaks?
Frequency — and length — of brain breaks for your students will vary depending on the age and abilities of your students.
You know your students best, and you'll be best able to tell when they need a break. But if you're looking for a good rule of thumb for elementary school, consider adding a break for students at least every 15 to 20 minutes for students to refocus their attention.
The later in the school day, the more important experts say it becomes for you to incorporate these breaks. One study by Danish experts even deduced that the impact of just an hour of learning without a break is equivalent to losing 10 school days’ worth of learning!
Fun Brain Breaks Students Love (And So Do Teachers)
Looking for fun brain breaks to get you started with this collection? Our teacher team designed every break in this resource collection to be fun, but here are a few favorites to add to the list!
- Hand Hockey — Have students stand in a circle with their feet touching, leaving a space on either side of the circle for goals. Toss a soft ball in the center, and tell your students they can only use their non-dominant hand to try to score a goal.
- Rock, Paper, Scissors — Take the popular rock, paper, scissors game up a notch with different versions. For example, you can challenge students to play using only their feet!
- Silent Ball — Challenge students to throw a ball around a circle for 5 minutes without making a sound.
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Interactive Icebreaker Game
Looking for a fun interactive way for your students to get to know each other at the beginning of the school year? This is it!
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100th Day of School - Would You Rather? Game
Engage your students in thought-provoking discussions on the 100th day of school with a fun game of Would You Rather?
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Curious Creature – Whole-Class Art Activity
A collaborative whole-class art activity to create a curious creature.
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Easy Origami Animals Worksheet and Step-By-Step Instructions for Kids
Make origami animals with your students with printable step-by-step instructions plus a 2D shapes worksheet for your math lesson planning.
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Snake Sheds Its Skin Active Game
A whole class active game that encourages teamwork.
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Shazzam! Active Game
A whole class active game that encourages teamwork.
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Mirror, Mirror Active Game
A fun active game that can be played by the whole class in pairs.
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Human Knot Active Game
A fun active game for small groups that encourages teamwork.
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Zip Zap Zoom! Active Game
A whole class active game that encourages concentration and listening skills.
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Ocean-Themed Movement Cards
Get your students up and moving with this set of 12 ocean-themed movement cards.
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Icebreaker Game Cards
Help your students get to know each other with this set of 20 icebreaker games.
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How to Make an Origami Dog — Step-By-Step Instructions for Kids
Teach students how to make an origami dog with an easy origami guide for kids.
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I Need a Break - Choice Boards
Help upset students regulate their emotions in the classroom with our printable ‘I Need a Break!’ choice boards.
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Animal Features Playdough Mats
Use our Animal Playdough Mats to introduce your kindergarten students to the physical features of animals.
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This or That? Christmas Edition
Take a Holiday Brain Break and play a game of This or That! Christmas Edition!
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Would You Rather? Christmas Edition
Engage your students in thoughtful and hilarious discussions in an engaging, interactive game of Christmas Would You Rather?
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Christmas Brain Breaks - Activity Slides
Add some Christmas Brain Breaks to your classroom festivities to help boost engagement and attention during the holiday season.
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How to Draw a Cake Slice - Directed Drawing Worksheet
Learn to draw a cake slice with a fun directed drawing activity sheet.
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How to Draw a Ship - Directed Drawing Activity
Learn to draw a ship with a fun, directed drawing activity sheet.
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How to Draw a Soldier Directed Drawing
Celebrate Veterans Day at school and encourage creativity with a How to Draw a Soldier directed drawing activity.
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Christmas Collaborative Art Project - Coloring Mural
Create a beautiful whole class holiday bulletin board with this collaborative Christmas-themed classroom mural.
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Do-a-Dot Thanksgiving Worksheets for Preschool
Do a dot painting with printable Thanksgiving worksheets for preschool and kindergarten.
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How to Draw a Firefighter — Directed Drawing for Kids
Encourage creativity and boost fine motor skills with a pair of "How to Draw a Firefighter" worksheets.
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Halloween Adjectives Word Search - Lower Grades
Bring in the Halloween spirit this year, starting with a printable Halloween word search filled with spooky adjectives!
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Halloween Activity Mat - Lower Grades
Give your students a fun warm-up this October with a printable Halloween activity mat .
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Exploring Rotational Symmetry Worksheets - Drawing Prompts
Encourage creativity and practice knowledge of rotational symmetry with a set of exciting symmetry drawing worksheets.
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National Dot Day Coloring Sheets - Kandinsky Circles
Introduce your students to the circle art style of Wassily Kandinsky with a set of fun National Dot Day Coloring Sheets.
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International Dot Day Textured Mandala Template
Celebrate International Dot Day in style with a printable Dot Day Textured Mandala Template.
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Brain Break Movement Cards - Mother's Day Theme
Celebrate Mother’s Day with these cute animal movement cards, perfect for a brain break.
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Basketball Brain Breaks - Task Cards
Get your students up and moving with a set of fun Basketball Brain Break Activity Cards.
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Would You Rather? International Women's Day Active Game
Engage your students in thought-provoking discussions with this set of International Women’s Day-themed "Would You Rather" questions.
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How to Make an Origami Bunny Rabbit: Step-By-Step Instructions for Kids
Teach students how to make an origami bunny with printable step-by-step instructions for kids perfect for a classroom spring or Easter activity.