BRAIN BREAKS
Do you have students who are falling asleep or are not engaged within your classroom?
start here and find the perfect brain breaks!
Middle school
brain breaks
BRAIN BREAKS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL
- Simon Says: It’s a classic and students love it!
- Crab Walk around the Room: Put on a song and have students walk in the CRAB POSITION around the room. At some point, have students go in reverse.
- Macarena: Teach students the hand movements for the old-school song! You can find the song for free on YouTube.
- Cupid Shuffle: This dance isn’t just fun at weddings! You can find the song and dance on YouTube. It may take students a few tries to learn it, but you will inevitably have a natural dancer in the group that can help other students learn.
- Doodle Time: Give students some blank paper and markers and let them DOODLE and talk for five minutes. It sounds simple but students love to draw and doodle.
- Dance Party: Turn on the radio and let students DANCE until the song ends.
- 50 Jumping Jacks: Get students’ heart rates up with this QUICK physical exercise.
- Bingo: Depending on time…the song OR the game!
- Heads Up, 7-Up: Another classic that is easy and exciting for students!
- Cha-Cha Slide: Find the lyrics and dance moves on YouTube!
- Stretching: Choose a student to come up and lead a minute of stretching. All of the kiddos know various stretches from gym class, and they will enjoy leading their peers!
- Mirror-Mirror: Have students pair up and mirror the actions of their partner. Students will get a kick out of this activity!
- Thumb Wrestling: Have students choose a partner and participate in some old-fashioned thumb wrestling. Be sure to establish your expectations before this little brain break.
- Rock, Paper, Scissors: Let kiddos partner up for five rounds of Rock, Paper, Scissors. The winners get a high five from their partner. :)
- Silent Yoga: Strike a yoga pose and see how long your students can hold that pose. Google "Kid Yoga" for some easy examples.