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Brain Break

Brain Breaks: Listening Ears

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You will need:

 

The Activity:

Children are introduced to the concept of using very part of their bodies not just our ears to show someone that we are listening to them. We then focus on the way we use our EYES to show that we are listening.

 

Goals:

Teaching children whole body listening provides them with a concrete understanding as to what are our expectations when we ask them to be good listeners in class. They understand that we don’t just use our ears to show someone that we are in fact listening to them.

Brain Breaks: Indoor Scavenger Hunt

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You will need:

 

The Activity:

Children will learn to look around the house for items and mark it on their chart.

 

Goals:

This activity works on a variety of visual perceptual skills. Children learn to scan the room in an organized way and also work on figure ground skills, looking for an item in the environment.

Brain Break: I Point My Nose in the Direction of the Speaker

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You will need:

 

The Activity:

Children are introduced to the concept of using very part of their bodies not just our ears to show someone that we are listening to them. We then focus on the way we use our EYES to show that we are listening.

 

Goals:

Teaching children whole body listening provides them with a concrete understanding as to what are our expectations when we ask them to be good listeners in class. They understand that we don’t just use our ears to show someone that we are in fact listening to them.

Brain Break: Figure 8 Breathing

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You will need:

 

The Activity:

Mindfulness teaches us to be present in the moment – not thinking of the past or future. In this activity, children will learn how to be present in the moment by learning to quiet their minds and body. We will practice taking deep breaths as we learn to follow the figure 8 breathing with our finger.

Goals:

This can help children visualize a way to breathe and bring mindfulness to the present moment. This can Improve attention and self-regulation.

Brain Break: Butterfly Breathing

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You will need:

    No tools are needed for this activity. You can sit on the floor, on a mat or in a chair. Just make sure you’re in a quiet place.

The Activity:

Mindfulness teaches us to be present in the moment – not thinking of the past or future. In this activity, children will learn how to be present in the moment by learning to quiet their minds and body. We will practice taking deep breaths as we learn butterfly breathing. Once your child completes the activity, he/she can add a sticker or checkmark to their reward chart!

Goals:

Although many fine motor goals are addressed with this craft, the main goals addressed are simple cutting skills while following sequenced directions.

Brain Break: Blame It on the Rain

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You will need:

    No tools are needed for this activity. You can sit on the floor, on a mat or in a chair. Just make sure you’re in a quiet place.

The Activity:

Mindfulness teaches us to be present in the moment – not thinking of the past or future. In this activity, children will learn how to be present in the moment by learning to quiet their minds and body. We will listen to different kinds of rain sounds and imagine what kind of animals may be outside. Once your child completes the activity, he/she can add a sticker or checkmark to their reward chart!

Goals:

Research shows that mindfulness can improve behavior and the well-being of our children. Mindfulness teaches self-control, can lower anxiety and stress, improve emotional regulation, and even boost self-esteem.

Brain Break: Balloon Activity

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You will need:

• 1 green balloon

• 1 blue balloon

• Sharpie

 

The Activity:

Children tap one balloon and don’t allow it to fall to the ground. Then they can challenge themselves by adding a second balloon. Children then write letters on one balloon and tap t while naming a letter that they see.
 

Goals:

Children work on eye hand coordination skills. Tapping balloons is an easier way for young children and those that find ball skills challenging, to improve their ball skills.

Brain Break: Asteroid Toss

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You will need:

• Asteroid Toss targets PDF

 

The Activity:

Create a rocket ship with paper towel roll and write letters on it. Identify and match letters by using letter stickers and placing them over the letter on the rocket ship.

 

Goals:

This activity can be used for letter recognition or for learning to match upper and lower case letters

Brain Break: Animal Walks

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You will need:

    No tools are needed for this activity.

The Activity:

Animal walks are a great way to work on many important skills! In this activity, children will learn different kinds of stretches based on animals that hibernate. This activity can be completed indoor or outdoor, have fun with it!

Goals:

Animal walks help strengthen the upper body, core, and hand/fingers. Important skills such as motor planning and bilateral coordination are targeted when practicing animal walks.

Brain Break: ABC Move & Groove

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You will need:

    You do not need any tools for this activity however if you would like a list of these activities, you can print out the ABC Move and Groove PDF.

The Activity:

ABC Move and Groove is a great way to get your little ones moving! In this activity, each letter corresponds to a specific action. Children are asked to complete movement activities that spell out the word SPRING. You can also spell your own name and get moving!

Goals:

Movement activities help children prepare their bodies and minds for learning. With these exercises we can also Improve bilateral coordination, motor planning, balance and crossing the midline of our bodies.

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