This document provides instructions for several "brain break" activities that incorporate physical movement to help students focus in the classroom. The activities include things like thumb wars, tracing letters and numbers with thumbs, twisting and stretching the body, coordinating movements like blinking and snapping, and developing handshakes with partners. The goal is to engage students physically for short breaks during lessons to enhance learning.

1. Brain Breaks!
Incorporating Physical Activity
into your classroom lesson!

3. Time for “Hands On” Learning…
THUMB WARS
1,2,3,4 … I declare a thumb war!
THUMB PEACE
Students will trace numbers or letters with
their thumbs. One person must trace normal
while the other traces in reverse.

4. Hands out in front. CLAP and miss
Thumbs Down
Hands Together
Pull hands in towards you
Roll Shoulders
Place right foot over left foot
Roll neck clockwise
Place left foot over right foot
Roll neck counterclockwise
Spell your first name backwards
Say your last name backwards
Add whatever flair you want!
Let’s get TWISTED!

5. How’s your COORDINATION?
ABC, 123
Trace your ABCs as you count
outloud.
A -1
B -2
C- 3
D- 4
……
How far can you get without
messing up?!?
Blink & Snap
Start by blinking your left eye
and snapping your left fingers.
Then right eye, right fingers.
Get faster!
When teacher calls
out, “SWITCH!” everyone starts
to blink left eye: snap left
finger, blink right eye: snap right
finger!
Work on speed and accuracy!

6. 1. Stand up and find a partner. Decide who is A and who is B.
2. Shake right hands. Shake left hands.
3. Now do a right hand fist bump, and then a left hand fist bump. (A fist bump is making a fist, and lightly
touching finger sections that are closest to the wrist)
4. Now do a right hand hammer tap. Person A will put their right fist out. Person B will lightly tap A with
the bottom of their fist. Now Person A will lightly touch the bottom of their fist to person B’s fist. Now do
a left hand hammer tap.
5. Now while crossing your arms do a high ten.
6. Now do a double fist bump. (Opposite hands will be touching)
7. Lastly do a regular high ten.
8. Repeat this handshake over and over as fast as you can.
Handshake #1

7. 1. Stand up and find a partner. Decide who is A and who is B.
2. Tap your right elbows together. Tap your left elbows together.
3. Person A: Give a crossing over low side five to your partner with your right hand. (right hand
to right hand) Now do a fist bump with your right hand. (A fist bump is making a fist, and
lightly touching finger sections that are closest to the wrist) Person B: Give a crossing over low
side five to your partner with your left hand and then do a fist bump with your left hand.
4. Bump your right shoulders together. Bump your left shoulders together.
5. Person A: Make an X in the air with your right arm over your left. Person B: Make an X in the
air with your left arm over your right. Now while slapping each other’s hands move them
together back to their correct side.
6. Now do a double fist bump. (Opposite hands will be touching)
7. Repeat this handshake over and over as fast as you can.
Handshake #2
(NEW PARTNER)

8. YOU AND A FRIEND CREATE
YOUR OWN UNIQUE
HANDSHAKE!

9. - Sandwich hands with a partner
- Slide your hands back toward yourself
- Clap together (your own hands)
- (A) Clap across with partner (right hand to right hand), Clap together (your
own hands)
- (B) Clap across with partner (left hand to left hand), Clap together (your
own hands)
- (C) Clap backs of hands together with partner, Clap palms together with
partner (high 10)
- Clap together (your own hands)
- Repeat (A)x2, (B)x2, (C)x2
- Repeat (A)x3, (B)x3, (C)x3 … and on & on & on & on
Lastly, it’s time to SLIDE!
(Lots of kids already know this game, they can help you out!)

10. Visit
http://brainbreaks.blogspot.com/
Or observe a PE teacher this year!
For more information...