Movement resources

Regular opportunities for movement within the classroom is the perfect chance for children to ‘hit the reset button’ which gives them the chance to function more successfully within the classroom. ‘Brain breaks’ have been shown to help increase concentration and focus and therefore, increase efficiency and learning and therefore can have a positive impact on every child in the classroom. Here are some facts about brain breaks –

• Physical activity increases oxygen to the brain which is critical for attention and learning.
• Classroom brain breaks allow children chance to regulate or interrupt anxiety or stress.
• Many children in schools are still learning how to regulate their own emotions. Regular brain breaks give the opportunity to learn a strategy to integrate independently.
• Biologists suggest that 90% of the oxygen in our body is ‘stale’ – so a movement break allows oxygen-rich air to circulate through our systems which promotes the ability to focus and retain.

Brain breaks don’t have to take up a lot of time. They can be done within the classroom in many different ways. ‘Wake up and shake up’ and ‘brain gym’ sessions are done in many classrooms to support brain breaks and stimulation. There are also examples on the links below.

50 Educational Brain Breaks that Your Students Will Love! (opens link in a new page)

The Sensory Occupational Therapy team have put together some resources to promote movement breaks in school. They are available here (opens link in a new page)

There are some photos below of ways that schools have used the environment to create opportunities for regular brain breaks.