Multiple Intelligences: Brain Breaks

These brain breaks cover a range of multiple intelligences and are so helpful in giving students some time-out from their students and an opportunity to re-focus.

When I notice my student's concentration on their work begin to waver, I select a quiet work to come and draw a stick from our 'Brain Breaks Bin', and the whole class is participates in a quick activity to help motivate them with their studies. 

The following are some ideas I have used, and below that is an elaboration of what each brain break activity entails:

1. Macarena: Students dance the Macarena for one minute.
2. O's and X's: we play noughts and crosses on the board using a grid to consolidate 'position' concepts.
3. 3x Table Star Jumps: Chant the 3x tables while jumping
4. 4x tables clapping: clap a beat whilst chanting the 4x tables.
5. Scissors, Paper, Rock: play with your neighbour.
6. Stretches: complete some stretching exercises led by teacher.
7. Shake the Sillies Out: dance to the Wiggles song "Shake Your Sillies Out".
8. Simon Says: play a game as directed by teacher or peer.
9. Star Jumps: jump as many times as you can in a minute.
10. 10x Tables Marching: march on the spot whilst chanting the 10x tables.
11. 5x Tables: chant 5x tables as a whole class.
12. Shuffle: Everybody shuffle to 'Party Rock Anthem'.
13. Follow The Leader: follow the leader around the classroom.
14. Stare Off: stare at your neighbour and see who cracks a smile first!
15. Mirrors: Facing your neighbour, copy each other's exact moves as if you are each other's reflection.
16. Charades: play a game of charades (see previous activity found here).
17. Hang Man: play a game of Hang Man on the board using a weekly spelling word.
18. Joke: have a student share their favourite joke with the class.
19. I'm Thinking of a Number: think of a number and have students guess by saying "higher" or "lower".
20. Silent Ball: throw a soft ball around between students silently.
21. Brain Gym: massage ears, march on the spot, and cross over centre of gravity.
22. Jogging on the Spot: jog as fast as you can while being timed.
23. Chicken Dance: dance for one minute to the Chicken Dance.
24. Deep Breathing: inhale and exhale deeply.
25. Tap Dance: students tap dance for a minute.
26. Paper Pick Up: quickly clean up the room!
27. Buzz: x Tables round-robin game. The student who incorrectly says the next multiple buzzes out.
28. Mexican Wave: perform the Mexican Wave from one end of the room to the other.
29. Dance Party: dance to a song request from a student.
30. High Five: high five five friends from around the room.
31. Grouping: teacher calls out a characteristic and students have to group accordingly. ie hair or eye colour
32. Animal Acting: students act like an animal as called out by their teacher.
33. Line Up: line up in height or age order.
34. Human Knot: all students hold the hand of someone else in a huddle and then have to untangle themselves.
35. Jump Skip Counting: skip count whilst jumping or swaying.
36. Freeze! students dance and then freeze on the spot when the music stops.