1. Using Brain Science for Inclusion in PE
Crystal Reimer, MS, CAPE Team All At Play, LLC crystal@teamallatplay.com
AAHPERD SHAPE  St. Louis, Missouri  April 4, 2014
Crystal Reimer, MS, CAPE  crystal@teamallatplay.com
Activity #1: Waking up the brain
Cross lateral warm ups for the brain.
Materials: None
1. Left hand on nose. Right hand on left ear. Switch to right hand on nose and left hand on
right ear.
2. Left hand on right knee. Right hand on left shoulder. Switch to left hand on right shoulder
and right hand on left knee.
3. Left index finger pointing out. Right thumb up. Switch to left thumb up and right index
finger point out.
Modifications
Activity #2: Write On!
Materials:
o String
o Wide tipped marker
o Posterboard or butcher paper and tape
1. Tape posterboard or butcher paperto floor. Tie strings directly to marker.
2. Students circle around writing area. Each grabs a piece of string, attached to marker.
3. One student from circle goes to coach to find out letter or word the group will be writing.
Start with a letter then move onto a word.
4. Students must work together to write letter or word. Every student must be holding their
string.
Modifications

2. Using Brain Science for Inclusion in PE
Crystal Reimer, MS, CAPE Team All At Play, LLC crystal@teamallatplay.com
Activity #3: Stations
Crossing the midline organizes the hemispheres of the brain. The more you cross the midline, the
stronger the neural connections are. These states activities increase heart rate that send oxygen
nutrients to the brain and will stimulate the vestibular system while raising fitness levels.
Modifications
Activity #4: Letter writing
Students visualize patterns, letters, and words to reinforce letter recognition.
Modifications
Activity #5: Multiplication stretches
Active learning while you are moving. Repetition until automaticity.
Modifications
Activity #6:
Repeated exposure over an extended period of time is the best way to encode information into our
long-term memories.

3. Using Brain Science for Inclusion in PE
Crystal Reimer, MS, CAPE Team All At Play, LLC crystal@teamallatplay.com
Activity #7: Closure breathing
Brains like to wander (it’s what they do). This activity brings calmness to your students and
integrates mindfulness into your gym. Mindfulness supports reduction of stress and social-emotional
health.
Modifications
Activity #8: Teams
Take the stress out of your classroom by increasing student’s sense of safety. Increase their sense of
safety by creating and including teams during PE. Teams help develop group identity and support.
Encourage positive relationships among learners. Strong interpersonal relation skills are created
when students are able to remain on teams for extended periods of time. Have affirming rituals,
including team cheers and praise / congrats to other teams.
Activity #9: Walk the Line
Students will practice balance while learning the states and capitals.
Modifications

4. Using Brain Science for Inclusion in PE
Crystal Reimer, MS, CAPE Team All At Play, LLC crystal@teamallatplay.com
Activity #10: Balloon Spelling
Modifications
Activity #11: Gotcha math
Cross lateral movements (crossing the midline) organizes and integrates the brain for better
learning. Variation on Gotcha!
GOTCHA:
1. Partner face each other and extend rights hands out palm up.
2. Place left index finger standing it in the palm of your partner.
3. When the leader yells “GOTCHA”, try to capture your partner’s finger as quickly as you can
by grabbing it with your left hand and try to escape by withdrawing your left finger before
your partner grabs it.
4. Repeat. Switch to left palm out and right index finger in the palm.
Modifications
Activity #12: Bull Ring
Object: carry item using Bull Ring through series of obstacles and place item into a goal.
Modifications