Core Strength Brain Breaks

Here are some great ideas for CORE STRENGTH BRAIN BREAKS.  They are easy to implement and most have you stand on one leg. 
They are done by Dave Racey from Naperville North High School in Naperville IL.  Thanks Dave!

FORWARD and BACKWARD CIRCLES
1.  Point your arms toward the ceiling.
2.  Keep your elbow straight and move your right arm forward creating a large circle.   Continue making forward circles with this arm.  Now do the same with your other arm except go  BACKWARD.  Continue with both arms moving at the same time. Make sure you have this pattern working before you continue.
3.  While both arms continue to move, lift your right foot off the ground and make a ninety degree angle with your knee.  Hold this for a few seconds.
4.  Now extend your right knee out to make your leg parallel to the ground.  Hold for a few seconds.
5.  Stop.
6.  Repeat the same process again with your left leg.

AIRPLANE
1.  Point your arms toward the ceiling.
2.  Lift your right leg and put it behind you.  Try to keep your knee straight.
3.  Lean forward with your body.  Try to make your body, arms and leg parallel with the ground.  Hold for 10 seconds.
4.  Now try the same sequence with your left leg behind you. 

DON'T FALL
1.  Point your arms toward the ceiling.
2.  Lift your right leg and put it to the side of you.  Try to keep it straight.
3.  Point your body in the opposite direction.  Try to make your body, arms and leg parallel with the ground.  Hold for 15 seconds. 
4.  Now try the same sequence with your left leg to the side. 

Energizing Brian Breaks Number Spots Addition

Get your students moving!  They should get up and out of their seats every 25-30 minutes.  If you have seen their eyes growing tired, then GIVE THEM A BRAIN BREAK!  It is easy, fast and effective.  It will only take about 2 minutes of your class time and you will surely make that time up when they are refreshed and ready to go. 

Here it is.
1.  Stand Up and find a partner
2.  Here are the spot values:  right shoulder = 1, right ear = 2, nose = 3, left ear = 4 and left shoulder is 5.
3. Without talking, one person will touch two of their own number spots and the other person will have to say the numbers out oud and then add them together. 
4.  Once one person has done a few problems, the other person can give some problems. 


This brain break is great becasue it forces you to READ your partner's number spots.  You have to think of the spots in THEIR perspective.  I have students who often turn their back so as to "think" of their partners vantage point. 

There are Letter Spots and Number Spots Multiplication as Energizing Brain Breaks.
Check out the Video, it might help you visualize this Brain Break.

Don't forget that we have the new SMARTBoard Edition with Video Links as well as the new PowerPoint Edition with Video Links. Click here to check them out.

 

SMARTBOARD EDITION $14.95

POWERPOINT EDITION $14.95

More Resources at www.energizingbrainbreaks.com

Standardized Tests and Brain Breaks are a GREAT Combination

Its that time of year again. It's standardized testing time. It's the time of year students are to be sitting most of the day without any activity. It is a very stressful time for students. I hope you consider my suggestions for your standardized tests this year. Here are my 4 suggestions that are detailed below:

1. Be active before the test.

2. Eat before the test.

3. Give a Brain Break between segments of the test.

4. Offer manipulatives for your fidgety hand students during the test.

1. In preparation for the standardized test encourage your students to walk around the building before they go to class. Some schools actually have a school wide march around the outside of the school for 15 minutes. If the weather doesn't permit you to do this then have your march inside. Get the blood flowing for the students.

2. Encourage students to eat BEFORE the test. Some schools provide breakfasts for the students. Last year I acquired (through my daughters college Ultimate Frisbee team) a boxful of at least 100 bananas. I thought I would see if any of my students would eat a banana. It was unbelievable. In one class there was 80% of the class that took a banana. I asked them right away how many of them had any breakfast that morning and almost 50% said they had nothing to eat yet. Encourage your students to eat. I'm sure the administration could provide some funds for a banana or apple to each student on standardized test days.

3. Give students a BRAIN BREAK after segments of the test. Brain Breaks are short 1-2 minute brain and body challenges that help student to refocus. They get students up out of their seats and crossing the mid-line of their bodies and gets the blood flowing. If you would like more information on Brain Breaks go to www.energizingbrainbreaks.com . Here are two easy ones to use between segments of your standardized test.

ELBOW TO KNEE ENERGIZING BRAIN BREAK VIDEO AND EXPLANATION
CHOIR DIRECTOR (LAZY 8) ENERGIZING BRAIN BREAK VIDEO AND EXPLANATION

GET THE BOOK! There are 50 activities all ready to go for you. Each book costs $14.95 plus shipping. Go to http://www.energizingbrainbreaks.com/ for more information.

.

4. Give your students the opportunity to do something while they take the test. Fidgety students love to keep themselves moving. We can relieve this tension for them by giving them something to work with in their hands while they take the test at their seat. Here are some examples.
a. Pipe Cleaners (Get them at the dollar store)
b. Koosh or Nerf ball
c. Rubber hand strengtheners.
d. Kneadable eraser.
e. Silly Putty
f. Paper Clip.
g. Rubber bands

GIVE THESE A TRY AND LET ME KNOW HOW IT GOES!

All the best,

Dave

Toe Tapping Energizing Brain Break

Toe Tapping

1. Stand Up.
2. Face your partner.
3. Both you and your partner put out your right leg and tap your right feet together 1 time and say "1" out loud.
4. Tap your left feet together 3 times and say "3" out loud.
5. Tap your right feet together 2 times and say "2" out loud.
6. Continue the 1,3,2 toe tapping pattern alternating feet.
7. See how fast you can go.

Goto http://www.energizingbrainbreaks.com/ to get the book.

WHAT ARE ENERGIZING BRAIN BREAKS? Energizing Brain Breaks are quick 1-2 minute activities for your classroom. They take virtually no preparation and no extra materials to perform. Students of all ages love them. Why do they love them? Because they are fun and make you laugh. They also challenge your brain. Energizing Brain Breaks help you to cross the mid-line of your body which helps both sides of your brain engage. It is suggested to use an Energizing Brain Break every 30 minutes with your class. They are terrific during exams and standardized tests. Just give an Energizing Brain Break between sections of tests or even right in the middle of the test. If you would like to see some in action, go to www.energizingbrainbreaks.com. The Energizing Brain Breaks book is laminated; spiral bound, and has 50 activities on card stock paper. The ISBN number is 978-0-578-05058-4 and is a $14.95 value.

Energizing Brain Breaks DVD is HERE!

Each DVD comes in a shrinkwrapped protective DVD case.

Energizing Brain Breaks DVD is a collection of 50 quick activities that you can see in action. The DVD has videos that match the book "Energizing Brain Breaks" page for page. They are 1-2 minute brain and body challenges that are fun and help you regain your efficiency. The collection includes individual, partner and group activities. Both the book and the DVD have sample pages at the site

Go to energizingbrainbreaks.com

What are Energizing Brain Breaks?

Purchasing the Book/DVD

Sample Pages from the Book

Sample Videos from the DVD

Multiple Book/DVD Ordering

You can get the book alone, or with the DVD. If you get both the DVD and the book the price is reduced.

If you have a large order for a school or an organization, then you can go to our multiple order page to check out the possibilities. If you have any questions please email energizingbrainbreaks@gmail.com

Energizing Brain Break Crab

I got this idea from Tony Schlorff who got the idea from the good folks in El Paso Texas. Thanks for passing this one along.

I call it the Crab. This is an individual Brain Break

1. Stand Up
2. Put your arms out in front of you and match your fingers from each hand together and then match your thumbs together.
3. Now put lower your middle fingers so that the knuckles touch. Keep them flat against each other.
4. Now un-touch and retouch your thumbs.
5. Now un-touch and retouch your index fingers.
6. Now un-touch and retouch your ring fingers.
7. Lastly, un-touch and retouch your pinkies.
Good luck. This one was difficult.

ITSY BITSY SPIDER Energizing Brain Break for Students

ITSY BITSY SPIDER Energizing Brain Break for Students

You know the old rhyme that goes "The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout..."

1. Stand up.

2. Put your hands out in front of you.

3. Take your right hand thumb and touch it to your left hand index finger.

4. Now take your right hand index finger and touch it to your left hand thumb.

5. Rotate both hands to move upward so that you can now reach your right hand thumb to your left hand index finger. Then keep rotating your fingers and thumbs so that you are "walking up the water spout"

6. Now do this behind your back. Try going "down the spout" as well.

7. Once you've mastered this, then do the same process with your index finger and your pinkie. This is tough.

I have not done this one yet with my students, so once I have, I will video-tape it and post it.

There is a Brain Break Book available. It has 50 activities that incorporate movement, crossing the mid-line, and brain challenges. Click here for more information. Also, 50% of the profits from this book go to great causes like building schools in Angola or also giving away books to underprivileged schools.