5-4-3-2-1 Done: In the beginning of the week (Morning Meeting is a good time) students suggest five different ways to move their bodies (jumping jacks, claps, pogo, hands up, turn around, etc.). Jot each one down on a small piece of paper and toss in a cup. When you see your students need a blast of oxygen and an energy release, pick one out of the cup - Do the first movement 5 times, then the second movement 4 times, etc. down to 1. Put them back in the cup and use the same movements all week but in a different order. Start the next week with new movements.
Brain Break Cup: Write a selection of energizers on popsicle sticks and pick one out when a break is needed to pump some oxygen into the brains of your students. Some ideas include: 1 minute Yoga Pose, Three Tic Tac Toe Games, Mirror Your Partners Actions (each get one minute), Sky Writing Words of the Week (follow the leader on this), Silent Air Band-Minute - Select your instrument and rock out for 2 minutes without a sound!, One Minute Stretch-a-thon, One Minute Jogging Trail - Stay in one place but listen as the leader describes the hills, valleys, curves, rocks, etc., Calendar Jumping Jacks - Leader picks three numbers from the calendar and the class does that number of jumping jacks, with a 20 second rest between, 5 Minute Doodle - Students get a piece of scrap paper and doodle while music plays, Humming Conga Line - Students go around the room in a conga line tow or three times while humming a class song, cheer, or rap. Those are a few ideas to get you started - Now make up your own with your kids.
30 Seconds of ______________: When the class needs an activity break or is transitioning from one activity to the next, set a timer for 30 seconds and pick a card from a jar marked with a label that says "30 Seconds." The students will pantomime the activity selected until the buzzer goes off. Some ideas include 30 Seconds of ... sports, animals, transportation, tools, colors, seasons, fruits, vegetables, places, etc.
Roll a Place: Select six different places in the room (on the rug, near the closet, by the door, etc.) and teach the students the number of each place (Number one is on the rug, Number 2 is near the closet, etc.) and how to move to these places quickly. When you decide the students need to move about a bit, ask them to go to a place. Once they pick a place they must stay there. Remind them what the number of their place is. Roll a die and the students who are standing in the place whose number matches the number on the die must sit down. Continue rolling until all the numbers have been called and everyone has returned to their seats.
Clap With Your Feet (or other part besides your hands): Don't applaud with hands. Children can clap other parts of their body. Begin with feet and then ask students to figure out other ways to show appreciation, offer congratulations, and support for peers with their bodies.
Dance Party (or freeze dance): Set a timer (one, two, three, or four minutes) and turn off the lights. Play a short selection from a wide variety of music (pop, jazz, classical, big band, hip hop, etc.). When the buzzer goes off, flip the lights back on and students return to their seats.
Brain Break Cup: Write a selection of energizers on popsicle sticks and pick one out when a break is needed to pump some oxygen into the brains of your students. Some ideas include: 1 minute Yoga Pose, Three Tic Tac Toe Games, Mirror Your Partners Actions (each get one minute), Sky Writing Words of the Week (follow the leader on this), Silent Air Band-Minute - Select your instrument and rock out for 2 minutes without a sound!, One Minute Stretch-a-thon, One Minute Jogging Trail - Stay in one place but listen as the leader describes the hills, valleys, curves, rocks, etc., Calendar Jumping Jacks - Leader picks three numbers from the calendar and the class does that number of jumping jacks, with a 20 second rest between, 5 Minute Doodle - Students get a piece of scrap paper and doodle while music plays, Humming Conga Line - Students go around the room in a conga line tow or three times while humming a class song, cheer, or rap. Those are a few ideas to get you started - Now make up your own with your kids.
30 Seconds of ______________: When the class needs an activity break or is transitioning from one activity to the next, set a timer for 30 seconds and pick a card from a jar marked with a label that says "30 Seconds." The students will pantomime the activity selected until the buzzer goes off. Some ideas include 30 Seconds of ... sports, animals, transportation, tools, colors, seasons, fruits, vegetables, places, etc.
Roll a Place: Select six different places in the room (on the rug, near the closet, by the door, etc.) and teach the students the number of each place (Number one is on the rug, Number 2 is near the closet, etc.) and how to move to these places quickly. When you decide the students need to move about a bit, ask them to go to a place. Once they pick a place they must stay there. Remind them what the number of their place is. Roll a die and the students who are standing in the place whose number matches the number on the die must sit down. Continue rolling until all the numbers have been called and everyone has returned to their seats.
Clap With Your Feet (or other part besides your hands): Don't applaud with hands. Children can clap other parts of their body. Begin with feet and then ask students to figure out other ways to show appreciation, offer congratulations, and support for peers with their bodies.
Dance Party (or freeze dance): Set a timer (one, two, three, or four minutes) and turn off the lights. Play a short selection from a wide variety of music (pop, jazz, classical, big band, hip hop, etc.). When the buzzer goes off, flip the lights back on and students return to their seats.