Brain breaks can help students reset, focus, and get ready to learn. Find out how to use brain breaks in the classroom. Plus, get a printable list of brain break ideas.
Updated May 31, 2024
When you’re creating a lesson plan or reviewing student work, do you often need a break? Do you take a walk or listen to your favorite song to get your mind refocused? Your students need these “brain breaks,” too.
Brain breaks are quick, structured breaks. They can use physical movement, mindfulness exercises, or sensory activities. Brain breaks can be done individually (like deep breathing) or as a whole class (like a round of Simon Says).
Different brains need different kinds of breaks. For example, students who struggle with focus, attention, and hyperactivity may need more energizing breaks. Other students may need to quiet their minds.
No matter what the type or form, brain breaks take only a few minutes of instructional time. They give your students a brief rest from what they’re doing. And that helps their brains shift focus and return ready to work and learn.
Here are two examples of brain breaks you can use in the classroom.
Take a dance break with this video from Koo Koo Kanga Roo.
Watch how students at the Momentous School take a break with “flower and candle” breathing.
Objective: After taking a one- to five-minute teacher-directed or self-directed break, students will be ready to refocus on what they’re supposed to be doing.
Grade levels (with standards): K–5 (CASEL Core SEL Competencies: Self-management)
Best used for instruction with:
As you plan your lessons — especially ones with a lot of teacher talk or complex material — build in time for brain breaks. Plan a break before fatigue, distraction, or lack of focus sets in. This may be after 10 to 25 minutes of intensive work.
1. Start the brain break. Set a timer and begin the break. Remember, the break should only be one to five minutes long. Try using a visual timer so students can see the time remaining.
2. Read the room. As students start their breaks, be prepared to provide support and adjust the brain break as necessary. For example:
3. Wrap up the break. Give verbal reminders of how much time remains for a break: “We’ll be going back to work in two minutes.” A calm, 10-second countdown at the end of the break can help.
4. Talk about the experience. If this is the first time your students took a brain break, encourage them to talk about how it helped. Explain that you’ll be using different kinds of breaks so they can learn which ones work best for them.
Check out this printable list of brain breaks organized by type and time of day. It was created by Understood Teacher Fellow TJ Thornton.
Brain breaks bank PDF - 300.9 KB
