Energizing Brain Breaks
- David Sladkey - Naperville Central High School, IL
The fastest way to keep your students engaged
It's an all too familiar sight: that glazed look in your students' eyes. They've been sitting or listening for too long. What they need is an Energizing Brain Break—a quick physical and mental challenge that's like hitting the refresh button on your computer, but for your students.
This practical full-color flip book contains 50 highly effective, classroom-tested brain breaks that you can put to immediate use across the grades. No preparation or supplies are required; just one to two minutes of your time when you see a need. You'll find pictures, directions, and online videos for activities such as:
- Slap Count Letters: students alternate slapping each other's hands while spelling a word
- Rock, Paper, Scissors, Math: partners reveal a certain number of fingers to each other, and the first person to add them together wins
- Bizz-Buzz: groups of students count from 1 to 40 using a combination of numbers and words
There's no better way to help students remain sharp and alert, reenergized to take on the next task of learning!
Also available in these versions for free with your purchase: Videos, PowerPoint, SmartBoard.
Trim size: 4.25 x 5.5
Free resources
Webinar: Move & Learn
Quick physical and mental activities are perfect for transitions and help learners re-focus and refresh. In this exciting webinar, authors David Sladkey and Scott Miller share the surprising effects of incorporating movement in the classroom, plus ready-to-go Brain Breaks that you can use with your students.
Hook Ups Brain Break
In this activity from Energizing Brain Breaks, one partner twists another partner's arms so that his/her brain really has to think to decide what finger to move.
Paper Twirling Brain Break
In this activity from Energizing Brain Breaks, each student moves a piece of paper around his/her waist without grabbing it. (K-12)
Different Direction Circles (thumbs) Brain Break
In this activity from Energizing Brain Breaks, students move their thumbs in different directions at the same time, which forces the brain to think two things at the same time. (K-12)
"We use Energizing Brain Breaks in our teacher workshops so they will use them with their students. They enjoy the break and activity as much as their students do!"
"This book is AWESOME!!! I feel that every teacher should have one in their classroom. Not only does it give the students a quick break, but they get excited about them. It also has so many choices: whole group, individual, partner, and small group. No matter the age, any student can perform most breaks."
"Energizing Brain Breaks is an excellent resource for quick, simple, and challenging activities that students can do to activate their brain for more optimal learning. Many of the activities were developed by students, for students and really engage the adolescent brain. This is the resource that teachers need to get their students moving in learning."
“Energizing Brain Breaks is a great teaching tool. I use it daily with my kids. They LOVE the short activities and get so excited. One of their favorites is 'Gotcha.'"
“Physical movement and academic learning should not be separated. Research shows that physical movement and exercise are beneficial for the brain and learning. Dave Sladkey regularly incorporates movement in his high school math lessons, which helps to make his classroom a vibrant learning atmosphere. I strongly encourage every classroom teacher to use this book as a resource to transform your classroom into a place where students are alert and ready to learn at their full potential!”
“Dave's book is a terrific way to refocus and energize your students in the classroom. I have used his brain breaks in all kinds of settings and every time people smile, laugh, and have fun. This is a must have in any teacher's classroom and in any administrator's meeting!”
"I have witnessed the effect of brain breaks in the classroom. After a simple minute or two, students become re-energized and re-engaged in the learning process. Thank you Dave Sladkey for creating a book that simplifies the process of selecting them and understanding them.”
“I have successfully used Brain Breaks with my school staff and these strategies also have the potential to enhance students’ learning by breaking the lesson into bite-sized chunks, and then turbo-charging the next part of the lesson. On reflection, this important strategy is rarely taught to preservice teachers and it is an area of teaching that can imperil not only the efficacy of the lesson but the teachers’ status in their classrooms.”
