In Finland, regular brain breaks are a common practice in the classroom, and they have been shown to have positive effects on student learning and well-being. Incorporating brain breaks into your classroom routine can be a simple and effective way to help your students stay engaged and focused throughout the day.
We understand that not every teacher can take a 15-minute break within each hour but how about smaller breaks that don’t require leaving the classroom?
Brain breaks can be short, 1–5 minute activities that give students a mental or physical break from a lesson.
Even a quick break in the routine will help students refocus their attention, improve their concentration, and reduce stress.
Brain Break Ideas
Here are a few ideas for brain breaks that you could use in your classroom:
- Stretching or yoga: Lead your students in a short stretching or yoga sequence to help them relax and refocus.
- Deep breathing: Have your students practice deep breathing exercises to help reduce stress and increase focus.
- Dance or movement: Put on some music and lead your students in a short dance or movement activity to help them release energy and refocus.
- Mindfulness: Lead your students in a short mindfulness exercise, such as a body scan or visualization, to help them relax and refocus.
- Quick games or puzzles: Have your students work on a quick game or puzzle to help them break up the monotony of a lesson and refocus their attention.
Remember, brain breaks should be short, simple, and fun, and they should be incorporated regularly throughout the day to have the greatest impact. By incorporating brain breaks into your classroom routine, you can help your students stay engaged, focused, and motivated to learn.
