Brain Breaks Teaching Resources
Do you need new brain break ideas and activities for your primary classroom? Welcome to brain break central at Teach Starter!
This collection of teacher-created brain break activities and printables for foundation through Year 6 includes active games to get students up and out of their chairs, would you rather brain breaks, whole class escape games, creativity challenges and a whole lot more.
New to brain breaks? Take a peek at a primer from the teachers on the Teach Starter team!
What Is a Brain Break?
Not sure what qualifies as a brain break? A brain break is a short mental break incorporated into classroom instruction to provide literally what the name implies — a break for that hard-working brain.
Brain breaks can be done in the middle of a lesson or during a transition from one lesson to another, and the goal is to help the brain refocus so students can dive back into learning refreshed and ready to absorb the material.
Most brain breaks only last a few minutes. They're a break, after all!
Teachers can add as many or as few of these breaks into the school day as necessary. Younger children, such as a classroom full of early years students, may require more brain breaks than upper years students.
Why Are Brain Breaks Important?
Wondering how brain breaks help students? There is plenty of research on brain breaks for kids, and it all points to the importance of taking short breaks to help students succeed in the classroom.
For example, studies show that primary students often lose focus and become inattentive during lessons that drag on. Something as simple as a brain break in the middle of a lesson, however, gives students the redirection they need to get back on the attention train and absorb the information.
Brain breaks are also helpful in reducing student stress and increasing overall productivity, with research showing that students get a boost in their reading comprehension and divergent thinking skills when they get breaks in the school day.
How Often Should You Use Brain Breaks?
Frequency — and length — of brain breaks for your students will vary depending on the age and abilities of your students.
You know your students best, and you'll be best able to tell when they need a break. But if you're looking for a good rule of thumb for primary school, consider adding a break for students at least every 15 to 20 minutes for students to refocus their attention.
The later in the school day, the more important experts say it becomes for you to incorporate these breaks. One study by Danish experts even deduced that the cognitive fatigue students experience which each passing hour is equivalent to losing 10 school days’ worth of learning!
Fun Brain Breaks Students Love (And So Do Teachers)
Looking for fun brain breaks to get you started with this collection? Our teacher team designed every break in this resource collection to be fun, but here are a few favorites to add to the list!
- Hand Hockey — Have students stand in a circle with their feet touching, leaving a space on either side of the circle for goals. Toss a soft ball in the center, and tell your students they can only use their non-dominant hand to try to score a goal.
- Scissors, Paper, Rock — Take the popular rochambeau game up a notch with different versions. For example, you can challenge students to play using only their feet!
- Silent Ball — Challenge students to throw a ball around a circle for 5 minutes without making a sound.
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Shazzam! Active Game
A whole class active game that encourages teamwork.
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The Bean Game
A fun active game to play at any time.
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Picture-Based Sudoku for Kids
Use this set of sudoku for kids to enhance your students’ problem-solving and creative thinking skills.
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I’m Done, Now What? Early Finisher Activities Board
Provide your early finishers with a fun activity choice board to answer the question: I’m Done, Now What?
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How to Draw a Ship - Directed Drawing Activity
Learn how to draw a ship with a fun directed drawing activity sheet.
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Ball Game Drills - Task Cards
A set of 4 task cards containing drills and activities to develop ball skills.
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Search and Find – At the Beach
A beautifully illustrated beach scene containing everyday items that need to be found.
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Library Scavenger Hunt – Lower Primary
Explore the school library with a scavenger hunt!
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Origami Giraffe Step-By-Step Instructions
Visual instruction page to use when creating an origami giraffe.
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Origami Box Step-By-Step Instructions
Visual instruction page to use when creating an origami box.
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Fruit Salad Active Game
A whole class or large group active game that encourages listening skills.
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Fast Finisher Task Cards (Lower Primary)
Keep your fast finishers busy with this set of task cards targeted to lower primary students.
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Backyard Games - Gross Motor Activities
Have your students pick a card to choose a recess game with printable Gross Motor Activity Cards.
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How to Draw a Firetruck Directed Drawing
Inspire your little artists with an engaging ‘How to Draw a Firetruck’ directed drawing activity sheet.
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Name Five Things - Calming Strategy Task Cards
Use the ‘Name 5 Things’ Calming Strategy in your classroom to help students regain self-control with printable calming activity task cards.
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How to Draw a Grandpa - Directed Drawing
Draw and write about grandfathers on Grandparents’ Day with a ‘How to Draw a Grandpa’ directed drawing activity sheet.
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Would You Rather? Books and Reading - Movement Game
Engage your students in thought-provoking discussions and fun exercises in this books and reading edition of 'Would You Rather...?'
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Sloth Crossword Puzzle
Stretch your students’ vocabularies and reading skills with a sloth-themed crossward puzzle.
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Origami Fox Step-By-Step Instructions
Visual instruction page to use when creating an origami fox.
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How to Draw a Teddy Bear for Kids- Task Card
A task card that helps primary school students draw an awesome picture of a teddy bear!
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Chicken Evolution Active Game
A whole class active game that encourages cognitive processing skills, physical activity and social skills.
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The Team Freeze Frame Active Game
A fun active game that encourages the development of listening skills, creativity, spontaneity and team work.
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Mirror Mirror Active Game
A fun active game that can be played by the whole class in pairs.
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Four in a Row Game
Use this four-in-a-row game to enhance your students’ logical thinking skills in a fun and collaborative way,
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How to Draw a Soldier Directed Drawing
Draw and write to reflect on Remembrance Day with a How to Draw a Soldier directed drawing activity.
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Who Lives in a Haunted House? Finish the Drawing Activity
Draw and write about all the kooky nouns in a haunted house with a printable Halloween words worksheet for Year 2.
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How to Draw a Grandma - Directed Drawing
Draw and write about grandmothers on Grandparents’ Day with a ‘How to Draw a Grandma’ directed drawing activity sheet.
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Subitise and Exercise
Get active with this subitise and exercise teaching brain break presentation.
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100th Day - Would You Rather? Game
Engage your students in thought-provoking discussions on the 100th day of school with a fun game of Would You Rather?
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International Dot Day Creativity Challenge - Upper Years
Get creative on International Dot Day with a creativity challenge worksheet for older students.
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Add to the Scene - Theatre Improvisation Game
An active warm-up game that every student can participate in!
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Would You Rather...? Question Cards - 100 Days of School
Engage your students in thought-provoking discussions with this set of 27 random question cards that involve the number 100.