Technology can be used as a tool towards helping students produce movement in the classroom, contributing to optimal brain function.

1. Brain Breaks: Breathing and Movement
A brain break is a short mental break, taken at regular
intervals during instruction, and used to achieve optimal
learning. During these breaks, students are physically
moving, practicing their breathing, singing, dancing and
making connections with each other.

2. Benefits of Deep Breathing
 Improvement in the health of the nervous system,
including the brain, spinal cord, nerve centers and
nerves.
 Relaxation in the mind and body. Slow, deep, rhythmic
breathing causes a reflex stimulation of the
parasympathetic nervous system, which results in a
reduction in the heart rate and relaxation of the
muscles.
 Breathing boosts oxygen levels in the brain. The higher
the oxygen level in the brain, the better you can focus
and stay alert.

3. Practice Correct Breathing Habits
 The first rule for correct breathing is that we should
breathe through the nose. This may seem obvious,
but many people breathe principally through the
mouth. Mouth breathing can adversely affect the
development of the thyroid gland. It can retard the
mental development of children.

4. Breathing Activities:
Various breathing activities can be streamed through
the internet and onto the promethean board for
students to practice.

5. Stretching
Stretching turns off the stress response and also
increases oxygen flow throughout the body.

6. Movement
Movement stimulates the frontal lobes of the brain,
allowing for more integration of the brain and
understanding of material.

7. Music
 Music can influence the brain’s internal reward
center’s in the brain- if the children find the music
pleasurable.

8. Brain Break: Activity that Unites
 Conducting Brain Breaks in the classroom involves
everyone doing something that brings everyone
together and puts everybody on the same page.
This helps build safety, relationships and
endorphins.

9. Brain Breaks: Activity that Connects
 Brain Breaks can sometime involves eye contact,
touch , presence and playfulness. This helps build
relationships, AND helps students maintain focused
attention/motivation to learn.

10. Getting Started…
 One can find a multitude of activities that provide
Brain Breaks for students as daily physical exercise
through on-line resources such as Pinterest, Google
and Youtube. One free and interactive website that
gets students moving is GoNoodle.com.
 Click on the above website to get started!