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Snack Time and Brain Breaks

Snack Time 10 Minutes

Elementary students need to take breaks and experience movement. After finishing Language Arts, it would be an excellent time to take a break. Start with snack time. Snack Time is an excellent time to discuss proper nutrition practices encouraging your student to choose a healthy snack such as fruits and vegetables and water to drink. Enjoy a snack with your student and explain why what you are eating is good for you.

First Brain Break 10 Minutes

After finishing a subject such as Language Arts or Math, spend about 10 minutes doing a movement activity. Some suggestions are below:

  • Alphabet (Letter and Sound Recognition), Sight Word, Spelling Word Hop: The Alphabet part of this activity can be omitted in Grades 1-3 if the student has mastered it. Print or right out on 8 ½ by 11 paper the letters of the alphabet capital and lowercase, sight words that have been taught, and spelling words for the week. Place the papers randomly on the floor. Have the student hop from paper to paper, saying the word, letter, and letter sound. If they make a mistake, they must start back to the beginning.  Note: this game would be updated: adding new words that are introduced each week and taking away words and letters as they are mastered.
  • Be A Spelling Word: Have the student stand up, and as they spell their words for the week, they must try to make each letter as they say it using their body.
  • Yoga: Search for child-friendly yoga poses and spend 10 minutes doing them.
  • Go Noodle: This is a website that has many songs that get kids up and dancing.

Second Brain Break 10 Minutes

After finishing Science or Social Studies, take about 10 minutes to do a movement activity. Some suggestions are below:

  • Map Hop: Get a laminated world map and put it on the floor. Call out a continent. The student will hop to the continent you call out. Do this until the student has visited each continent.
  • Act it Out: Gather together five vocabulary words from Science or Social Studies. Say the word. Ask the student to act out the meaning of the word.
  • 10-minute Creation challenge: Give your child a random grouping of materials (straws, pennies, pipe cleaners, glue, scissors, etc.) Ask them to create something using all of the materials given in 10 minutes.
  • Yoga: Search for child-friendly yoga poses and spend 10 minutes doing them.
  • Go Noodle: This is a website that has many songs that get kids up and dancing.