We’ve created a resource of daily brain breaks that you can do at home! Feel free to switch around the days to best suit your schedule, or put your own twist on the brain breaks. You can find more daily brain breaks here:

Monday

Yoga

Yoga and mindfulness can help students to focus on the here and now (not what happened in specials 25 minutes ago or what we are having for lunch in an hour). It can also help them to be aware of their own body. What are they feeling in the moment? Are they tired? Jittery? Alert? How are they feeling? Happy? Rejected? Like a failure?

Here are two yoga poses that are easy to learn and teach your student or child.

Knee Lifts

  • Stand, feet shoulder-width apart, toes forward
  • Inhale, lift one leg until knee is bent at 90°
  • Hold for 2-3 breaths
  • Exhale, slowly lower leg
  • Repeat on opposite side

Plank to Downward Facing Dog

  • Face floor – Arms extended directly beneath shoulders, on toes (Plank)
  • Hold for 3-4 breaths
  • Inhale
  • Bend at hips and upward into Downward Facing Dog
  • Hold for 3-4 breaths
  • Exhale
  • Lower to Plank

If you would like to learn and teach more yoga poses, download these helpful lessons from Achieve PE:

Tuesday

Go Outside

Nature reduces children’s stress while promoting their interest, engagement, social connection, and creativity. Ming Kuo, PhD, also shows that nature improves their attention span, self-discipline, and—unsurprisingly—physical fitness. With that being said, take a break out of your day to go on a walk and enjoy the outdoors.

Wednesday

Reading Time

Take a few minutes to get some leisurely reading in. Cozy up in your favorite spot in the house, backyard, or porch and get lost in another world. Make sure to set a timer!

Thursday

Draw or Color

Get your creative juices flowing with drawing and coloring. There are many free templates you can find online to print off – from adult to children’s templates.

Friday

Dance Party

Simply playing music and dancing around the house can help regain focus. Play some favorite tunes for a few minutes to get some jitters out, then when the music stops it’s time to get back to work!