brain breaks winter
TRANSCRIPT
Brain Breaks
for WinterIncludes 30 brain break cards, 5 brain break spinners,
Roll Some Winter Brain Breaks and the Calm Down poem.
Your Therapy Source Inc
Your Therapy Source, Inc.43 South Main StreetSchaghticoke, NY 12154www.yourtherapysource.com
Copyright © 2015 by Your Therapy Source, Inc. All rights reserved.
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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.
If you are not the original purchaser, download the item at www.YourTherapySource.com before making any copies.
Clip art graphics by EduClips at http://edu-clips.com/.
Brain Breaks for WinterPurpose 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.
© Your Therapy Source Inc www.YourTherapySource.com
© Your Therapy Source Inc www.YourTherapySource.com
Snowboard Squats
Squat down and touch the floor
with your right hand. Stand up.
Squat down and touch floor
with left hand. Stand up.
Repeat 10x.
Downhill Ski
Stand with your feet together.
Bend your knees and hold
your arms out. Hold this
position for 10 seconds.
Ski Jumper
Squat down low. On a count
of 3, jump up as high as you
can into the air. Return
to squat position.
Repeat 5x.
Slalom Ski
Stand with your feet
together. Put your pencil on
the floor. Jump side to side
over the pencil 10 times.
Ice Skating #2Balance on your left foot
holding your arms out for
10 seconds. Repeat balancing
on your right foot for 10
seconds. Be graceful!
Ice HockeyPretend to skate quickly like an
ice hockey player. Use a
pencil as a pretend hockey
stick. Keep both hands on
the pencil.
Snow Angels
Stand against the wall and
pretend to make snow
angels. Perform for 10
seconds.
Ice Skating #1Slide feet out and in pretending
to ice skate counting to 10 then
spin to the right. Repeat but
spin to left..
Snowboard Turns Face your body to the right side
of the room. Jump and turn
with feet together so that your
body is facing left side of room.
Repeat 3x.
Sit and Sled
Sit in your chair. Hold your legs
up off of floor (knees straight)
and put arms in air. Hold
this position for 10 seconds.
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Snow Goose Waddle
Squat down low and
waddle like a snow
goose around the room.
Seal Clap
Kneel up tall on the floor. Clap
your hands together like
a seal. Clap 10x and do
not lose your balance.
Polar Bear WalkPut your hands and feet on
the floor (do not put knees
on the floor). Walk like a
polar bear around the room.
Snowy Owl FlightStand up tall. Keeping arms
straight flap your owl wings up
and down 10x. Then hold arms up
in air like you are gliding in the
air for 5 seconds. Repeat.
Wolf StretchPut your hands on your desk.
Arch your back and lean your
head back pretending to howl
like a wolf. Hold this stretch for
5 seconds. Repeat 2x.
Husky Pose
Go on your hands and knees
on the floor. Rock back and
forth for 20 seconds.
Penguin Waddle
Put your feet and knees
together, arms at your side
and hands out. Waddle like
a penguin around the room.
Arctic Hare
Jump in place like an
arctic hare. Perform 20
jumps.
Seal Walk Seals only use their flippers to move.
Lay on the floor. Pull yourself
forward only using your arms to
move. Try to move forward
10 feet.
Reindeer Gallop
Move around the room galloping
like a reindeer. Go slow and fast.
Go left and right.
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Snow Day
Make your body into the letters
in S-N-O-W D-A-Y.
Warm Hugs
Brrr.....
It’s cold. Give yourself a big
hug for 10 seconds.
Snowflake Sparkle
Feet apart, arms out, sparkle
your feet and fingers like a
snowflake.
Snow Stomp
Stomp your feet, knees high,
through deep snow 20x.
Hand RubPretend it is very cold out. Rub
your hands together in front of
you to warm them up for 10
seconds. Rub them over your
head for 10 seconds.
Snowman
Pretend to be a snowman.
Start like a round ball and
then get taller. Then slowly
melt to the ground.
Shovel SnowPut your two hands together.
Pretend to shovel snow over
your right shoulder then over
your left shoulder. Repeat 10x.
Winter Dress UpPretend to put all your winter gear
on starting at the top. Touch
your head, wrap your scarf, put on
mittens and then boots.
Cross Country Skiing
Pretend to cross country ski.
R foot, R hand forward and
switch L arm L foot
forward. Repeat 10x.
Pull the Sled
Walk backwards around the
room pretending to pull a sled.
Sit and Sled
Sit in your chair. Hold your legs
up off of floor (knees straight)
and puts arms in air. Hold
this position for 10 seconds.
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
Snow Angels
Stand against the wall and
pretend to make snow
angels. Perform for 10
seconds.Ice Hockey
Pretend to skate quickly like an
ice hockey player. Use a
pencil as a pretend hockey
stick. Keep both hands on
the pencil.
Ski Jumper
Squat down low. On a count
of 3, jump up as high as you
can into the air. Return
to squat position.
Repeat 5x.Ice Skating #2Balance on your left foot
holding your arms out for
10 seconds. Repeat balancing
on your right foot for 10
seconds. Be graceful!
Slalom Ski
Stand with your feet
together. Put your pencil on
the floor. Jump side to side
over the pencil 10 times.
Brain Break
Spinners
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Column #1 Column #2 Column #3 Column #4 Column #5
1
2
3
4
5
6
Slide feet out and in pretending to ice skate
20x.
Jump 5x, knees up high, over
some pretend snow banks.
Make your body into a small tree,
medium tree and tall
pine tree.
Brrr......Rub R foot
with L hand. Switch,
rubbing L foot with R hand.
Feet apart, arms out,
sparkle your feet and
fingers like a snowflake.
Using your feet, spell
F-R-O-S-T-Y on the floor.
Stomp your feet, knees
high, through deep snow
20x.
Hands on floor, knees straight hold position like polar bear
for 10s.
Make your body into the
letters inL-E-T I-TS-N-O-W.
Pretend to fly around
like a snowy owl.
Pretend to make a
snow angel.
Gloves On!Squeeze each
finger on R hand with L hand.
Squeeze each finger of L hand
with R hand.
Brrr..... It’s cold.
Give yourself a big hug for 10 seconds.
Twirl around 3x to R and then 3x to L like an ice
skater.
Boots on!Reach with
2 hands, pretend to put R boot on then L.
Put knees together,
hands at side, waddle like a
penguin.
It’s cold out...Rub
your entire L arm with
your R hand.
Make body straight like an
icicle - arms overhead, feet
together on tiptoes. Hold
straight for 10s.
Stand up tall, pretend to melt slowly to floor like
a melting snowman.
Sit in chair hold both feet up,
knees straight. Lean L then R. Pretend to sled
downhill for 10 s.
Keep fingers together like
mittens are on. Press hands
together for 10 s.
Arms up at shoulder
height, form a big, round
circle like an snowman. Turn to the L and R.
Pretend you can see your breath in the cold. Take 10 deep breaths
in and out.
Pretend to cross country ski. R foot, R hand forward and
switch L arm L foot forward. Repeat 10x.
Pretend to have snow ball fight.
Bend down, make snowball,
stand up and throw 10x.
Hands together on R side of
body, Pretend to shovel
snow over L shoulder.
Repeat 10x.
Float and spin like a
snowflake 3 times to the
right.
Bend knees, squatting slightly,
pretend to ski jump. Hold
for 10s.
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Roll Brain winter - Some BreaksDirections: 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 6-3-2-1-4 you would perform the following brain breaks: pretend to have a snowball fight, squeeze fingers like gloves on, stomp feet through snow, make body like icicle and make body into different sized pine trees.
Float and spin like a
snowflake 3 times to the
left.
Hands together on L side of
body, Pretend to shovel
snow over R shoulder.
Repeat 10x.
© Your Therapy Source Inc www.YourTherapySource.com
Calm Down Poem
Breathe 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.