Learning can be hard work and mind numbing for students at times. So utilizing transition times and brain breaks are important. This reduces students’ restlessness and gets them engaged. 

The ‘um’ game – this is an individual game where a student is chosen to come out in front of the class. They pull a topic word from a bag and then must speak for thirty seconds on their chosen topic without saying um.

Superhero - students turn to a partner and play ‘rock, paper, scissors’. Whoever wins from the pair becomes an egg (hands above their head together) and moves around the room to find another egg to play ‘rock, paper, scissors’. Whoever wins that round becomes a chicken (arms tucked under their armpits) and moves on to find another chicken. They they ‘rock, paper, scissor’ and the winner becomes a dinosaur (hands in claws in front). They find someone who is also a dinosaur and they ‘rock, paper, scissor’ and the winner becomes the superhero. First in the room to become a superhero wins.

Musical squats – students dance around the classroom while music is playing.  The teacher stops the music randomly and students must squat. The last child to hit the floor is eliminated from the game. Game continues until there is a winner.

Kim’s game – have pictures on the interactive whiteboard or otherwise items on the floor. Instruct students to close their eyes while you take one item away. Students open their eyes and then must guess which one is missing.

Body writing - have class stand up and write their name with their bellybutton

Corners – identify four corners in the room. Students must choose and stand in one of the corners. Spin a bottle and whoever is standing in the corner where the bottle is pointing towards, is out. Students can then change corners if they would like before the bottle is spun again. 

Classroom Races - Have a backwards race through tables and chairs, do a bear walk around the room

Why? - Put the large timer on the board, set it to 60 seconds and children have to explain why homework is bad, why feet smell sometimes, why our heart beats, why caterpillars turn into butterflies, why millipedes have so many legs, why we should smile, why take photos

Categories – name 3 fruits, 3 sports, 3 books, 3 tv shows, 3 types of cars, 3 essential workers, 3 breakfast foods, 3 outdoor activities

Do this, do that – follow instructions simple to Simon Says but when say do that, children get out of they do it

Musical squats – play music, dance about then when music stops, last person to squat is out

Kim’s game – have pictures on interactive whiteboard or items on the floor. Close their eyes, take one item away, which one is missing

Exercises - students draw a lazy eight with their hand in front of them, cross one leg over the other and cross arms over each other

Use your transition time constructively. Giving children a movement break or a quick dose of fun is good for all your students.

What brain breaks do you have up your sleeve? Feel free to join the conversation and leave a comment below.