Download - Brain Breaks Summer
Brain Breaks
for SummerIncludes 30 brain break cards, 5 brain break spinners,
Roll Some Summer Brain Breaks and the Calm Down poem.
Your Therapy Source Inc
Your Therapy Source, Inc.43 South Main StreetSchaghticoke, NY 12154www.yourtherapysource.com
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Publisher’s Note: The publisher and author has made every attempt to make sure that the information in this book is correct and up to date. All physical activities require approval from a child’s pediatrician. The author or the publisher will not be liable for any impairment, damage, accident or loss that may occur from any of the suggested activities in this book. Terms of Use: The electronic books from Your Therapy Source Inc can only be purchased from this site. They are copyrighted by Your Therapy Source Inc. This book can only be used by the original purchaser. The files may not be reproduced or transferred to others in print or electronically. All rights reserved.
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Brain Breaks for Summer
Purpose of Brain Breaks: Research has shown a positive association between 5-20 minute movement breaks in the classroom and cognitive skills, academic achievement, test scores, attitude and behavior. These quick movement breaks require no equipment and minimal space. The students can perform the activities right in the classroom or in a larger area if available. Reference: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The association between school based physical activity, including physical education, and academic performance. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2010.
Directions: 1. Print out the brain breaks. Cut out the cards. Laminate for durability. The directions for the dice brain breaks are on the page.
2. Try having the students take a movement break at least every 60 minutes. Pick a card and perform the brain break. Perform 3-5 brain breaks each for 1 minute at least.
3. Finish with the Breathe In, Breathe Out poem each time.
Tips on Movement Breaks:
1. Provide a structured environment even though children are moving. Have a consistent routine with the movement breaks. Make sure you teach children what STOP and GO means before starting.
2. Set up boundaries and rules in the room.
3. An adult or child can demonstrate the movement breaks as necessary.
4. Finish each movement break with the Breathe In, Breathe Out poem to return to a calm body so that children are ready to work.
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© Your Therapy Source Inc www.YourTherapySource.com
WindsurfingStand up tall with arms out in
front, spin around one time
and jump up. Repeat 3x.
Sand Stretch
Sit on the floor with your legs wide.
Slowly reach forward and stretch.
Then reach your arms up high
over your head. Repeat 3x.
Surf’s Up
Stand sideways with your arms
out to the side. Pretend to
surf some waves. Move your
body side to side.
Sunscreen
Starting at the top of your
body, pretend to firmly rub
in sunscreen all over your
body.
Sunny Day
Spread your arms and
legs out wide. Move just
your feet and hands like
the rays of the sun.
Beach Ball Bounce
Squat down low and then pop
up like a bouncing beach ball.
Repeat 10x.
3 Scoops
Do 3 jumping jacks, 3
lunges and 3 windmills.
Jet Skiing Stand with one foot slightly in front
of the other with arms out at
shoulder height. Pretend to
jet ski swaying left and
right and jumping up. .
Waterskiing
Squat down low arms in
front, stand up tall and
jump side to side.
Repeat 5x.
Umbrella Stand Stand up tall. Balance on one foot
with your arms straight at shoulder
height. Maintain your
balance for 10 seconds.
Switch feet.
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Tummy TubingTurn in your chair so your back is not
resting on the back of the chair. Lean
back and lift up your legs and
arms. Hold the position for
5 seconds. Repeat 3x.
Water BalloonsPretend there is a bucket of water
balloons by your right foot. Bend down
and grab a “balloon” with your left hand
and pretend to throw it. Repeat
to other side. Do each side 3x.
Splash
Use your whole body to make the
letters in the word S-P-L-A-S-H.
Pool Jumps
Squat down low and jump
up as high as you can with
arms overhead.
Repeat 10x.
Underwater SwimLay on your belly or stand up. Put
your arms at your side and point
your toes or go up on your toes if
standing. Hold this position for
10 seconds.
Water Slide
Lay on the floor with your
arms and legs up. Rock side
to side for a count of 10.
Swimming StrokeLay on your belly or stand up. Lift
your right arm up and kick your left
leg back. Then lift left arm up and
kick right leg back. Repeat 10x.
Scuba Diver Put your hand on your nose and
one hand overhead. Slowly
lower yourself down into a
squatting position. Slowly stand
back up. Repeat 5x.
Feet Up
Put your hands on the floor. Try
and kick both your feet up in the
air. Repeat 10x.
Sprinkler Run
Run in place like you are running
through a sprinkler for 30 seconds.
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Move around the room
like you are a floating
ghost in the woods.
Hiking
Pretend to hike around the room
for 30 seconds. Lift your
knees high as you hike.
Tenting
Bend down with one knee on the
ground and one knee up. Pretend to
hammer in some tent stakes. Stand
back up. Repeat 4x.
Fishing Fun
Sit down and pretend to fish. Then
jump up to reel in your pretend
fish. Repeat 10x.
Squishy Marshmallows
Marshmallows are squishy. Squish
your entire right arm with your left
hand. Now squish your left arm
with your right hand.
Repeat 2x.
Camp Song
Sing a song and dance
around playing your “air
guitar”.
Canoeing
Put your hands together and
pretend to row your boat. Row
slowly for a count of 5 then
quickly for a count of 10.
Tall Treehouse
Pretend to climb a ladder to a
tall tree house. Move your
arms and legs.
Summer Camp
Clasp your hands together and air
write the words -
Summer Camp.
Camp Bus
Sing “Wheels on the Bus” as you
pretend to drive around the room.
Ghost Stories
Scuba Diver Put your hand on your nose and
one hand overhead. Slowly
lower yourself down into a
squatting position. Slowly stand
back up. Repeat 5x.
How to Use the
Brain Break Spinners
Step 1: Print out the brain break spinners on the following page.
Step 2: Place a paper clip in the middle of the circle.
Step 3: Put a pencil tip in the middle of the paper clip.
Step 4: Spin the paper clip with your fingers.
Step 5: Perform the brain break that the paper clip lands on. Find and refer to the brain break cards for directions on how to complete the activities.
Step 6: Repeat spinning the paper clip on each of the 5 spinners for a total of 5 brain breaks.
© Your Therapy Source Inc www.YourTherapySource.com
Water Slide
Lay on the floor with your
arms and legs up. Rock side
to side for a count of 10.
Pool Jumps
Squat down low and jump
up as high as you can with
arms overhead.
Repeat 10x.Underwater Swim
Lay on your belly or stand up. Put
your arms at your side and point
your toes or go up on your toes if
standing. Hold this position for
10 seconds.
Sprinkler Run
Run in place like you are running
through a sprinkler for 30 seconds.
Tummy TubingTurn in your chair so your back is not
resting on the back of the chair. Lean
back and lift up your legs and
arms. Hold the position for
5 seconds. Repeat 3x.
Brain Break
Spinners
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Column #1 Column #2 Column #3 Column #4 Column #5
1
2
3
4
5
6
Bounce up and down like a beach ball
20x.
Crab walk across the
floor.
Squat down low and
pretend to pick strawberries.
Do 10 squats.
Move your arms and legs
like you are swimming for 20 seconds.
Stand sideways and lean forward and back like
you are surfing.
Sit with legs apart, feet together.
Flutter your legs like
butterfly wings.
Squat down and wrap your arms
around your legs like you are
doing a cannonball into
the water.
March around the room like you are in a
parade.
Go backpacking! Walk around
the room with your knees
high.
Pretend to throw a frisbee
5x with left hand.
Flap arms up and down 10x like you are opening and
closing a beach umbrella.
Keep feet on floor, bend over and touch the
floor making body in a rainbow.
Shake your hands and
legs like the rays of the
sun.
Clasp your hands together. Pretend to row a
canoe 10x on the right side
then 10x on the left side.
Squat down low, slowly stand up
opening up arms like a blooming sunflower.
Pretend you are walking across hot
sand on your tip toes for 20
steps.
Move like a floppy fish.
Pretend to jump over
ocean waves 10x.
Twirl 3x to the left as if
floating in the breeze.
Jump side to side like you
are on a jet ski jumping waves.
Make your body into the
letters in S-U-M-M-E-R.
Take 10 long, deep breaths
in and out.
Flap your butterfly wings
slowly 10x.
Buzz around the room like a
bee.
Clasp hands together. Air
write the wordS-W-I-M-M-I-N-G
Stomp your feet very quickly to make the
sound of a thunderstorm.
Hold your hands up in
the air and run in place like
you are flying a kite.
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Roll Some Summer Brain Breaks Directions: Roll one die for each of the columns. Perform the quick brain break that matches the number you rolled on the die. For example, if you roll a 3-1-4-6-2 you should perform the following actions: stand sideways and pretend to surf, stand up slowly like a sunflower, squat down and pretend to pick strawberries, stomp feet to make a thunderstorm and make your body into the letters in SUMMER.
Pretend you are a flamingo and
balance on your right foot
for 10 sec.
Pretend to throw a frisbee
5x with your right hand.
Pretend you are a flamingo and
balance on your left foot
for 10 sec.
© Your Therapy Source Inc www.YourTherapySource.com
Calm Down PoemBreathe In, Breathe Out
5... 4... 3... 2... 1...,
Now we are all done.
Slowly, take a deep breath in,
And blow that breath out.
Again, take a deep breath in,
And blow that breath out.
One more time, breathe in,
And blow that breath out.
Time to take your seat,
And quiet your hands and feet.