brain breaks valentine

Brain Breaks

for Valentine’s DayIncludes 30 brain break cards, 5 brain break spinners,

Roll Some Valentine Brain Breaks and the Calm Down poem.

Your Therapy Source Inc

Feb. 14

Your Therapy Source, Inc.43 South Main StreetSchaghticoke, NY 12154www.yourtherapysource.com

Copyright © 2015 by Your Therapy Source, Inc. All rights reserved.

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for other school based therapy and educational resources.

Publisher’s Note: The publisher and author has made every attempt to make sure that the information in this book is correct and up to date. All physical activities require approval from a child’s pediatrician. The author or the publisher will not be liable for any impairment, damage, accident or loss that may occur from any of the suggested activities in this book. Terms of Use: The electronic books from Your Therapy Source Inc can only be purchased from this site. They are copyrighted by Your Therapy Source Inc. This book can only be used by the original purchaser. The files may not be reproduced or transferred to others in print or electronically. All rights reserved.

If you are not the original purchaser, download the item at www.YourTherapySource.com before making any copies.

Clip art graphics by EduClips at http://edu-clips.com/.

Brain Breaks for Valentine’s Day

Purpose of Brain Breaks: Research has shown a positive association between 5-20 minute movement breaks in the classroom and cognitive skills, academic achievement, test scores, attitude and behavior. These quick movement breaks require no equipment and minimal space. The students can perform the activities right in the classroom or in a larger area if available. Reference: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The association between school based physical activity, including physical education, and academic performance. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2010.

Directions: 1. Print out the brain breaks. Cut out the cards. Laminate for durability. The directions for the dice brain breaks are on the page.

2. Try having the students take a movement break at least every 60 minutes. Pick a card and perform the brain break. Perform 3-5 brain breaks each for 1 minute at least.

3. Finish with the Breathe In, Breathe Out poem each time.

Tips on Movement Breaks:

1. Provide a structured environment even though children are moving. Have a consistent routine with the movement breaks. Make sure you teach children what STOP and GO means before starting.

2. Set up boundaries and rules in the room.

3. An adult or child can demonstrate the movement breaks as necessary.

4. Finish each movement break with the Breathe In, Breathe Out poem to return to a calm body so that children are ready to work.

© Your Therapy Source Inc www.YourTherapySource.com

Get moving!


Crazy for You

“I am crazy for you”.

Wiggle and shake your

whole body like crazy for

30 seconds.

“Let’s Stick Together”

Find a partner. Stick your

hands together and hold for 5

seconds. Now stick other body

parts together - elbows, knees

and then feet.

I am “TOADally Yours

Hop like a toad 10x.

I Get a “Kick” Out of You

Kick your right leg up high

and then your left leg up

high. Repeat 10 times.

Cupid’s ArrowRaise your right hand up

and left hand down like

cupid’s arrow. Switch to

left hand up and right

hand down. Repeat 10x.

“Have a Ball”“Have a ball” this Valentine’s day.

Jump up and down 10x like a

bouncing ball!

Heart Pumping #1

Get your heart pumping by

running in place for 30

seconds.

Heart Pumping #2Clasp your fingers together over

your heart. Move hands in

and out like a pumping heart.

Repeat 10x.

Love Claps

You are in LOVE. Clap your

hands and tap your feet at the

same time for 20 seconds.

February 14th

Jump in place as high

as you can for 14x.

Feb. 14


“You’re An All Star”

Perform 10 star jumps.

Hands and feet out and

then back together like a

jumping jack.

Budding Rose

Squat down low and touch

the ground. Gradually stand

up tall like a budding rose.

Repeat 3x.

“You Are a Slam Dunk”

Pretend to do 10 slam dunks

(jump as high as you can in

place reaching for the sky).

Draw Hearts

Put your hands together at

shoulder height. Draw a big

heart with your hands.

Repeat 2x.

“You Move Me” #2

Move only the upper part of

your body for 20 seconds.

Hugs

Give yourself a big,

tight hug for 20

seconds.

Heart Spelling

Make you body into the

letters in the words:

H-E-A-R-T and L-O-V-E.

“You Move Me” #1

Move only the lower part

of your body for 20

seconds.

I Would “Quack” Up

Without You

Waddle like a duck

around the room.

Valentine Feet

Using your right foot spell

V-A-L-E-N-T-I-N-E on the

floor. Use your left foot

and spell L-O-V-E.


Buggy Jumps

Jump forward, backward,

to the right and then to

the left. Repeat that

pattern 10x.

Monkeying Around

Move your arms like a

monkey. Pretend to jump

from tree to tree.

Balancing Act

Balance on your right foot

for 10 seconds. Then

balance on your left foot for

10 seconds.

March in Place

.March in place for 30

seconds.

Bunny Hops

Do 20 bunny hops

across the room.

Mini Squats

Perform 20 mini squats -

stand up tall and bend your

knees a little bit. Stand

back up tall.

Big Squats

Perform 10 big squats.

Bend your knees to 90

degrees and stand back

up.

Wise Walking

Walk backwards around

the room while counting

to 100.

Lovebug Trio

Perform these 3 actions: jump

up 3x, spin around 1x and clap

your hands 2 times.

Repeat 3x.

Mini Squats

Big Squats

Flying

BunnyHops

Sky High

Move your arms up and

down and pretend you are

flying around the room.

Marching Balance

MonkeyFun

WiseWalks

Buggy Jumps

Lovebug Trio

Feb. 14

February 14th

Jump in place as high

as you can for 14x.

Feb. 14

How to Use the

Brain Break Spinners

Step 1: Print out the brain break spinners on the following page.

Step 2: Place a paper clip in the middle of the circle.

Step 3: Put a pencil tip in the middle of the paper clip.

Step 4: Spin the paper clip with your fingers.

Step 5: Perform the brain break that the paper clip lands on. Find and refer to the brain break cards for directions on how to complete the activities.

Step 6: Repeat spinning the paper clip on each of the 5 spinners for a total of 5 brain breaks.


I am “TOADally Yours

Hop like a toad 10x.

“Let’s Stick Together”

Find a partner. Stick your

hands together and hold for 5

seconds. Now stick other body

parts together - elbows, knees

and then feet.

Love Claps

You are in LOVE. Clap your

hands and tap your feet at the

same time for 20 seconds.

Crazy for You

“I am crazy for you”.

Wiggle and shake your

whole body like crazy for

30 seconds.

I Get a “Kick” Out of You

Kick your right leg up high

and then your left leg up

high. Repeat 10 times.

Brain Break

Spinners

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Feb. 14

Mini Squats

Big Squats

Flying

BunnyHops

Marching

Balance

MonkeyFun

WiseWalks

Buggy Jumps

Lovebug Trio

Column #1 Column #2 Column #3 Column #4 Column #5

1

2

3

4

5

6

Get your heart

pumping by running in

place x 30s.

“I Get a Kick Out of You” - Kick

each leg out 10x.

Squat down low and

slowly stand up tall like a

budding rose.

“You’re a Slam Dunk” Perform 10

pretend jump shots.

“I’d SNAP at the Chance to Be

with You”.Open/close arms like

alligator mouth 10x.

Jump in place 14x

for February

14th.

Using your feet - spell

v-a-l-e-n-t-i-n-e on the floor.

“Let’s Stick Together”. Stick

R hand on L foot. Stick L

hand on R foot. Repeat 5x.

“My Heart Beats for You”. Pretend to play

drums while marching in

place for 20s.

Make your body into the

letters inH-E-A-R-T

“I Would QUACK up

without you.”Waddle like

duck for 10s.

Raise R hand up and L hand

down like Cupid’s

diagonal arrow. Hold 10 s.

You are in love! Tap

your feet and clap hands at the same

time 10x.

Give yourself a big loving hug for 10 seconds.

“You Move Me”.

Move only the lower

part of your body for 20s.

Clasp fingers over heart,

move hands in and out

like pumping heart 10x.

“You Rule”.Arms over head, feet together

straight like ruler for 15 s.

Clasp hands together.

Draw a big heart in the air. Do 5x.

“Have a Ball on Valentine’s Day”. Jump

10x like bouncing ball.

“ I Am TOADally

yours” Hop like frog 10x.

“You’re an All Star” -

perform 10 star jumps (jumping jacks).

“I Am Crazy for You”.

Wiggle your body like

crazy for 10s.

Take 10 long, deep breaths in and out.

“It’s A Joy Being Your

Friend”.Jump for joy in place 10x.

“You Make My Heart

Race” - run in place x 30

seconds.

Draw back your bow like Cupid in lunge position. Hold

steady 10 s.

“You Make Me Feel Sky High”.

Pretend to fly for 20

seconds.

“Have a DINO-mite

Day”.Stomp feet

like dinosaur 10x.


Roll valentine Breaks Some BrainDirections: Roll one die for each of the columns. Perform the quick brain break that matches the number you rolled on the die. For example, if you roll a 5-3-6-1-2 you should perform the following actions: move upper body x 20 seconds, make body into letters in heart, draw back bow like Cupid holding position for 10 seconds, jump like bouncing ball 10 times and wiggle body for 10 seconds.

Raise L hand up and R hand

down like Cupid’s

diagonal arrow. Hold 10s.

“You Move Me”.

Move only the upper

part of your body for 20s.


Calm Down Poem

Breathe In, Breathe Out

5... 4... 3... 2... 1...,

Now we are all done.

Slowly, take a deep breath in,

And blow that breath out.

Again, take a deep breath in,


One more time, breathe in,


Time to take your seat,

And quiet your hands and feet.

brain breaks valentine

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