The presentation at EDU-CARNIVAL 2014 - the 6th International conference for school leaders, IIT DELHI.

2. Let us first try to understand what are
some of the possible reasons why
individuals do not / cannot focus in their
learning environment.

3. SOME DIVERSIFIED, INNOVATIVE
CONTEMPORARY METHODS SUPPORTED BY
RESEARCH TO BRING INDIVIDUALS TO
FOCUS IN A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
1. ICE-BREAKERS
2.ENERGISERS
3.ATTENTION
GRABBERS…

4. ALTHOUGH THERE IS ‘MADNESS IN THE
METHODS’, THERE IS PURPOSE TO THEM
• They promote active engagement that breaks
monotony & develop concentration skills
• They facilitate formation of synaptic
connections in the brain through the use of
movement.
• They encourage integrated functioning of the
left and right side of the brain
• They stimulate brain development through the
use of music, rhythm and singing that engage
both sides of the brain.
• They facilitate assessment of learning

5. Purpose (continued)
• They develop self esteem, self
awareness and confidence
• They encourage social and emotional
learning
• They stimulate brain functioning
through creative, logical & lateral
thinking exercises
• They encourage team building, rapport
building & communication skills
• They develop perspective, the ability to
see things and situations from diverse
points of views

6. Some facts to ponder
• Brain research reveals that the right
and left sides of the brain vary in their
functioning.
• Left brainers are systematic,
analytical, logical and sequential.
They write effectively however find it
difficult to talk about themselves
• Right brainers are creative, intuitive
and emotional. They love to talk to
people and work well in groups.

7. Some Facts to Ponder
A. In the year 2000, UNICEF identified the
following life skills necessary for
individuals / children to cope with the rapidly
occurring changes in this competitive world:
• Creative thinking, problem solving, decision
making, communication, empathy, critical
thinking, coping with stress and emotions,
interpersonal relationship skills and self
awareness.
• These can be implicitly integrated into a
curriculum through various methods like
energisers, ice-breakers and attention
grabbers

8. Some facts to ponder
• Best selling author & journalist Daniel
Pink in his book ‘Why right brainers will
rule the world?’ observes that in the 21st
century there is a shift in terms of the
expectations of abilities from people in
the work environment.
• No longer are the skills of accuracy,
calculation, tabulation and speed are
prized since humans can easily be
replaced by machines in case of these.
• In these times, it is the right brainers who
are creative thinkers, effective
communicators & empathisers, &
problem solvers that will excel.

9. Some other facts to ponder
• Emotional reasoning is as important as
intelligence quotient in leadership roles.
• The ability of a leader to understand what
team members feel about things is
equally important.
• The best strategic thinkers show more
activity in those parts of the brain linked
to emotion and intuition. In fact their
nervous system may even supress
rational thought to free those areas up.

10. Some other facts to ponder
• Music is said to develop a bank of
emotions.
• Hearing music, singing songs, and
moving provide what experts call "a
rich sensory environment." Researchers
believe this forges more pathways
between the cells in the brains.
• It has a tremendous impact on memory
and learning.
• Research shows that children who
study while Mozart is being played
show higher activation of both left and
right brain.

11. What implications does this research
have on human learning?
• Importance of encouraging active
involvement of the right (creative) brain.
• Body control: The right brain controls the
left side of the body and the left brain
controls the right side of the body.
Therefore, encouraging integration of
movement of both left & right side of the
body to promote effective integration of the
functioning of left and right side of the brain
in tangent. (sensory motor integration)
• These can be facilitated through the use of
energisers, attention grabbers, ice-breakers!

12. Ice-Breakers

13. Some ice-breakers! Knowing names!
1. Did You Catch That
Name? / Name Circle
2. Juggling Ball Game / Group
Juggle
3. Name Volleyball
4. Keepy Uppy

14. ICE-BREAKER GAMES BEYOND KNOWING
NAMES, KNOWING AND UNDERSTANDING
EACH OTHER, RAPPORT BUILDING
1. Names and adjectives
2. Action names
3. Names and metaphors /
symbols
4. Four Corners
5. What’s in a name?
6. Secret friend / admirer
7. How do you do?
8. Airplanes

16. Some left and right brain stimulation
energizers
1. COCONUT
2. Body writing / Names in the air
3. Mirror image
4. Swimming (opposing
directions)
5. Rolly-polly
6. ENT specialist
7. Tummy rub
8. Robots
9. BATO, BATO, BATOTA…

17. Some creative thinking energisers
(left brain activators)
1. Mime a lie
2. Don’t answer for yourself!
3. Lateral thinking exercise

18. OTHER KINDS OF ENERGISERS
1. Pass the energy
2. ZIP ZAP BOING
3. Samson and Delilah /
Stone, paper and
scissor / Giants,
Wizards, Elves

19. OBSERVATION AND MEMORY BUILDING
ENERGISERS
1. I’m going on a trip
2. Shopping list
3. What has changed?

20. Group formation and number
energisers
1. ‘Numbering’ off
2. Fruit salad
3. The animal game
4. Jigsaws/photos/pictures
5. Countdown
6. Fizz buzz

21. INTEGRATING ART INTO
EDUCATION
Activating the left side of the
brain through energisers that
involve engagement in art!

22. Art based energisers
1. Portraits / Drawing pictures
2. Design a flag /Fabulous Flags
3. Skills / Conceptual Pictionary
4. Art detectives
5. Art for environmental
conservation and urban design
6. Spaghetti & Marshmallow
sculptures

23. INTEGRATING
MOVEMENT INTO
EDUCATION THROUGH
ENERGISERS
INVOLVING DRAMA /
THEATRE AND ACTING

24. ACTING BASED ENERGISERS
1. Statue stop
2. Oh Kabita!
3. Yes/No game
4. React and Act Game
5. What is the adverb?
6. The continuation drama
7. THE INTERPRETER

25. ENERGISERS PROMOTING SOCIAL
AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING

26. SEL energisers
1. I love you but I just can’t smile
2. Check-in activities
3. I am feeling…

27. GROUP OR TEAM BUILDING GAMES
ENERGISERS
• Group Balance / Knots / Spider
• Rope Square
• Stranded / Lost On A Desert Island

28. Energisers promoting
communication skills
• Messenger
• Drawing game
• Talking object
• Action lines

29. INTEGRATING
MUSIC, MOVEMENT,
SING ALONG &
ACTION SONGS
INTO EDUCATION
THROUGH THE USE
OF ENERGISERS

30. SONGS & MUSIC
• Hokey Pokey
• Walking Through The Jungle
• Tita Rini Riki Rini
• I Willilis I Wallalas In…
• Rainforest / Rainsstorm
• Creative Visualisation With
Music

31. CONCEPT
FORMATION /
ATTENTION GRABBERS
/ ASSESSMENT FOR
LEARNING /
REINFORCEMENT OF
LEARNING / TEACHING
METHODOLOGY

32. • Famous people / Who am I?
• Who are you?

33. MEANING MAKING &
PERSPECTIVE
FORMATION THROUGH
EXPERIENCES, SELF
INTROSPECTION AND
SELF AWARENESS

34. 1. Blindfold pairs / Leading
and guiding
2. Group statues
3. The “E” game
4. In the euro-train / metro
train
5. The real world

35. CULMINATING
ACTIVITIES FOR THE
DAY / RAPPORT
BUILDING /
REINFORCING
LEARNING

36. • Presenting gifts
• Writing on backs
• Reflecting on the day
• A – Z Review / Alphabet
game

37. KEEP ON SWIMMING!