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Energizing Brain Breaks
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Energizing Brain Breaks

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January 2013 | 64 pages | Corwin

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


 
Part I. Individual Brain Breaks
 
Arm Stretch
 
Arm Wrap
 
Choir Director
 
Different Direction Circles Index Fingers
 
Different Direction Circles Thumbs
 
Ear and Nose Switch
 
Elbow to Knee Stretch
 
Elbow to Knee Tap Patterns
 
Figure Eights
 
Finger Aerobics Patterns
 
Finger Aerobics Ripple
 
Finger Tips
 
I Bet You Can’t Do This
 
Inch Worm Stretch
 
Lap Tap
 
Palm Tapping
 
Paper Twirling
 
Pretzel Outline Index Fingers
 
Pretzel Stretch Fists
 
Right On Left Balance
 
T Stretch
 
Thumb and Pinkie
 
Touch Your Fingers Behind Your Back
 
Twisted
 
X Bob and Wiggle
 
Part II. Partner Brain Breaks
 
Bizz Buzz
 
Five
 
Hand Shake #1
 
Hand Shake #2
 
Hook Ups
 
Letter Spots
 
Number Spots Addition
 
Number Spots Multiplication
 
Rock, Paper, Scissors, Math Addition
 
Rock, Paper, Scissors, Math Multiplication
 
Rock, Paper, Scissors, Math Negative
 
Say 21 and Win
 
Slap Count and Say 21 and Win
 
Slap Count Letters
 
Slap Count Numbers Going Down
 
Slap Count Numbers Going Up
 
Ten
 
Thumb War or Peace
 
Part III. Group Brain Breaks
 
Gotcha
 
Let it Rain
 
Passing out Papers
 
Snowball
 
Wave Clapping Patterns
 
Wave Motion
 
X’s and O’s

Supplements

Companion Website
Helpful videos as well as downloadable PowerPoint and SMART Board versions can be found on the companion website.

"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!"

Sue and Randy Pippen, Educational Consultants
Pippen Consulting, Plainfield, IL

"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."

Kathleen Richards, 5th Grade Teacher
Elmwood Elementary School, Naperville, IL

"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."

Jean Blaydes, Educational Consultant/Speaker
Action Based Learning, Murphy, TX

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.'"

Judy Sterling, 2nd Grade Teacher
Scott Elementary School, Naperville, IL

“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!”

Bill Wiesbrook, Principal
Naperville Central High School, IL

“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!”

Scott Miller, High School Math Teacher/Instructional Coordinator
Naperville Central High School, IL

"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.”

Paul Zientarski, Founder
Learning Readiness Physical Education, Naperville, IL

“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.”

Neil MacNeill, Headmaster
Ellenbrook Independent Primary School, Ellenbrook, WA, Australia
Key features
  • Includes easy step by step instructions for each brain break and requires no extra materials or prep time.
  • Photos that demonstrate students performing the brain break.
  • Video clips that demonstrate each of the brain breaks in action in elementary and secondary settings.
  • Also available in these versions for free with your purchase: PowerPoint and SMART Board.

For instructors

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