What is a brain break?
A brain break is a short pause in a lesson – one or two minutes – in which the class moves, breathes or laughs, and then goes back to work. After twenty minutes of sitting still, attention drops; a minute of moving brings it back.
Press SPIN! on the board and the wheel picks the break. The suspense of the spin is half the fun:
When to spin
- Between two tasks, before the class starts the next one.
- When the room gets restless – or too quiet after lunch.
- In an online lesson, with cameras on.
- As a reward: the class earns a spin.
Your own breaks
Edit the list to fit your room and your class – one break per line. Keep them short, safe in a classroom and doable at the desk:
For a quieter class, add calm breaks: five deep breaths, a stretch, a minute of silence. For a sports lesson, make them harder.
Make it a routine
Spin at the same moment every lesson, and the class will watch the clock for it. Past winners shows the breaks you have had, so the class does not do the penguin walk three times a day: