Brain Breaks: Short, Easy, and Necessary

Staying focused can be difficult, especially when you’re a young student. Long stretches of concentrated lessons sometimes lead to distraction. To prevent your students’ brains from taking an impromptu break in the middle of your lesson plan, research shows that adding several well-planned breaks in the day can give the brain the respite it’s looking for. Youki Terada, Edutopia’s research and standards editor, reports that the benefits of short breaks throughout the school day can help students reduce stress, increase productivity, boost brain function, and develop social skills.

Below is a roundup of short activities and videos that will give your students a break and help them recharge!

For an extended activity that gets students out of their seats, check out the Senses and Perception Race.

Integration into the Curriculum:

• Health
• Biology, AP Biology
• Anatomy and Physiology

About the Author

Emma Lindberg

Emma is the former Outreach Associate at the Society for Neuroscience. She helped find and create Educator Resources for BrainFacts.org, as well as promote the site at conferences and events across the country.