Brain Breaks for the Classroom

Move · 2 min · Multiplication or addition facts

Fact fingers

• 1. Stand facing a partner.
• 2. On "3, 2, 1, show!", both show 1–5 fingers.
• 3. First to say the product (or the sum) gets a point. Play to 5.

Seated version: Play with the person beside you without standing.

Move · 1 min · Counting back from 20

Countdown reach

• 1. Reach up high and count down from 20 together.
• 2. Bend a little lower with every number.
• 3. Touch your toes on zero, then roll up slowly.

Seated version: Reach up and slowly lower your hands to the desk while you count down.

Think · 2 min · Spelling and vocabulary

Word chain

• 1. Say a word. The next person says a word that starts with its last letter: cat → tiger → rain.
• 2. Stay in a topic if you like: animals, food, countries.
• 3. Keep the chain going around the room.

Seated version: Designed for sitting.

Move · 1 min · Letter and number formation

Air writing

• 1. Write the letter or number the teacher says in the air with your finger.
• 2. Now write it bigger with your whole arm, then tiny with your elbow.
• 3. Guess the letter your partner writes in the air.

Seated version: Works just as well sitting down.

Move · 1 min · Even and odd numbers

Even and odd hop

• 1. The teacher counts slowly from 1 to 20.
• 2. Hop on even numbers, squat down on odd numbers.
• 3. Speed up for the last round!

Seated version: Hands up for even, hands on your head for odd.

Calm down · 1 min

Box breathing

• 1. Breathe in while the teacher counts to 4.
• 2. Hold for 4, breathe out for 4, hold for 4.
• 3. Draw a square in the air as you go. Do four boxes.

Seated version: Designed for sitting.

Think · 1 min · Rhyming and word families

Rhyme time

• 1. The teacher says a word, like "cat".
• 2. Say as many rhyming words as you can in 30 seconds: hat, mat, sat.
• 3. Made-up words count only if they follow the pattern!

Seated version: Designed for sitting.

Move · 2 min · Words in a sentence

Sentence steps

• 1. The teacher says a sentence.
• 2. Take one small step forward for each word.
• 3. How many words? Then make the sentence one word longer.

Seated version: Tap a finger on the desk for each word.

Move · 2 min · Spelling and letter shapes

Spelling cheer

• 1. Spell a word from today's list out loud, letter by letter.
• 2. Tall letters (b, d, f, h, k, l, t): reach up high. Short letters: hands on hips. Tail letters (g, j, p, q, y): touch your knees.
• 3. Cheer the whole word at the end!

Seated version: Make the same moves with your arms only.

Think · 3 min · Number sense

Guess my number

• 1. The teacher picks a secret number from 1 to 100.
• 2. Ask yes-or-no questions: "Is it more than 50?" "Is it even?"
• 3. Find it in 7 questions or fewer.

Seated version: Designed for sitting.

Move · 2 min

Count and freeze

• 1. Move on the spot while the teacher claps and counts to 8.
• 2. When the counting stops, freeze like a statue.
• 3. Anyone who moves sits for the next round and becomes a judge.

Seated version: Move only your arms and shoulders, then freeze.

Move · 2 min · Syllables

Syllable stomps

• 1. Say a word slowly together, like "di-no-saur".
• 2. Stomp once for each syllable.
• 3. Hold up fingers to show how many syllables. Try your own names!

Seated version: Tap the desk once for each syllable.

Think · 3 min · Story order and sentences

Story chain

• 1. The teacher starts: "One morning, a small dog found a key..."
• 2. Each person adds one sentence to the story.
• 3. The last person gives it an ending.

Seated version: Designed for sitting.

Think · 2 min · Reasoning

Riddle time

• 1. The teacher reads a riddle twice.
• 2. Think silently for 20 seconds, then whisper your guess to a partner.
• 3. Reveal the answer — who can explain it?

Seated version: Designed for sitting.

Calm down · 2 min

Squeeze and let go

• 1. Squeeze your hands into fists for 5 seconds, then let go.
• 2. Do the same with your shoulders, your face, then your feet.
• 3. Notice how loose your body feels at the end.

Seated version: Designed for sitting.

Move · 2 min · Quick check of today's lesson

Stand up if it's true

• 1. The teacher reads a statement about today's lesson.
• 2. Stand up if it's true, stay seated if it's false.
• 3. Ask one person to say how they knew. Do five statements.

Seated version: Thumbs up for true, thumbs down for false.

Move · 3 min · Discussing answers

Four corners

• 1. Label the corners A, B, C and D.
• 2. The teacher asks a question with four answers; walk to the corner you choose.
• 3. Talk with your corner for 30 seconds, then one person explains your choice.

Seated version: Hold up 1, 2, 3 or 4 fingers for A, B, C or D.

Move · 2 min · 2D shapes

Make the shape

• 1. In groups of three or four, make the shape the teacher calls with your arms and bodies — no touching needed.
• 2. Try a triangle, a square, a circle, then a rectangle.
• 3. Count the corners and sides out loud.

Seated version: Draw the shape in the air with both hands and say how many sides it has.

Calm down · 2 min · Adjectives

Picture it in words

• 1. Close your eyes and picture a calm place for 30 seconds.
• 2. Open your eyes and write three describing words for it.
• 3. Share your best word with a partner.

Seated version: Designed for sitting.

Think · 2 min · Giving reasons

Would you rather

• 1. The teacher reads a would-you-rather question.
• 2. Choose an answer, then give one reason starting with "because".
• 3. Hear one reason for each side.

Seated version: Designed for sitting.

Calm down · 1 min · Counting and turn-taking

Quiet count

• 1. The class counts to 20 one person at a time, in a whisper.
• 2. Nobody plans who goes next; if two people speak at once, start again from 1.
• 3. Can you reach 20 calmly?

Seated version: Designed for sitting.

Move · 2 min · Vocabulary

Teacher says: word hunt

• 1. Only follow instructions that start with "Teacher says".
• 2. Teacher says: touch something rectangular. Point to something rough. Wave if you know what "enormous" means.
• 3. Use this week's vocabulary words.

Seated version: Point instead of touching, and stay in your seat.

Calm down · 2 min

5-4-3-2-1 senses

• 1. Silently find 5 things you can see, 4 you can hear, 3 you can feel.
• 2. Then 2 things you can smell and 1 you can taste.
• 3. Share one with a neighbour in a whisper.

Seated version: Designed for sitting.

Think · 2 min · Vocabulary and spelling

Letter and category

• 1. The teacher picks a letter.
• 2. In 30 seconds, write an animal, a food and a place that start with it.
• 3. Score a point for each answer nobody else has.

Seated version: Designed for sitting.

Move · 3 min · Explaining your thinking

Walk and talk

• 1. Walk quietly around the room.
• 2. When the teacher says "Pair up!", find the nearest partner.
• 3. Answer the question on the board together, then walk again. Do three rounds.

Seated version: Turn to a different shoulder partner for each round.

Think · 1 min · Number bonds to 10

Make ten

• 1. The teacher shows a number of fingers from 0 to 10.
• 2. Everyone shows the fingers needed to make ten.
• 3. Say the fact together: "7 and 3 make 10!"

Seated version: Designed for sitting.

Think · 2 min · Patterns

Clap patterns

• 1. The teacher claps and taps a pattern: clap, clap, tap.
• 2. The class copies it, then keeps it going.
• 3. Name the pattern (AAB) and invent a new one.

Seated version: Designed for sitting.

Calm down · 1 min

Five-finger breathing

• 1. Hold up one hand, fingers spread.
• 2. With a finger of your other hand, trace up each finger as you breathe in, and down as you breathe out.
• 3. Trace all five fingers slowly, then back again.

Seated version: Designed for sitting.

Move · 2 min · Skip counting

Skip-count jumps

• 1. Stand behind your chair.
• 2. Jump lightly and count by 5s to 50 together.
• 3. On 50, freeze and sit down. Try 2s or 10s next time.

Seated version: Clap on each number instead of jumping.

Calm down · 2 min

Slow-motion stretch

• 1. Reach up to the sky in slow motion while the teacher counts to 10.
• 2. Reach left for 5, right for 5.
• 3. Bring your arms down as slowly as you can.

Seated version: Do every stretch from your chair.