There is a moment in the classroom when the students are curious. You’ve probably noticed this moment because it changes the energy of the entire room. There’s a certain buzz of anticipation; maybe it’s the moment when they are waiting to see what happens next in a science experiment or listening for the next exciting part in the shared reading. It’s the moment of pure engagement.
On the other hand, there are other moments when it seems like the students feel disengaged. The classroom feels sleepy and dull, the students are clearly disinterested. I’m sure you’ve felt that moment, too. The vibe in the room feels like I’m putting on a performance and getting a one star review.
It’s at these moments that I recognize we need to take a break; we need something to re-energize our systems and get us back on track. Over my years in teaching, I’ve learned the importance of breaks. As a student, I can remember many moments of just listening to information or sitting and working for (what felt like) hours and eventually being unable to absorb any more information. My students feel the same way sometimes! I’m not always the best ‘edutainer’ and sometimes I’m focussed on getting stuff done, but deep down I know that if the students are hitting a plateau then they are no longer in a place of learning.
This is a great opportunity to take a break! Reading the body language and emotions of students also means that we can respond to them. If you’re feeling the energy start to dip or frustration start to grow, consider taking a break to bring the students back to a learning stance. I know that when I’ve spent a lot of time in heavy thinking, a break is always welcome. While there are many different kinds of breaks to offer, there are a few of my stand by favourites that can easily be incorporated into the classroom.
Movement Breaks
Have a class that likes to get up a move? A movement break is a great body break that helps students to move their bodies and have a little fun. This could look like a dance break. Have your students choose a few of their favourite songs and have a moment of music and fun! You might choose a movement break that gets them to use their imaginations, such as move around the room like you’re at 1.5 speed or 0.5 speed. I’ve even had students share their own favourite movement break with me, whether it’s Simon Says or Silent Ball, honouring student voice is a great way to let them be creative and feel heard.
Talking Activities
I love a good moment to chat with my friends. You might try some talking breaks that incorporate movement, such as Would You Rather where students move to one side or another when making a decision and share their ideas with their peers. Another fun talking break we use is Mingling to Music; students move about the room to music and when the music stops they must discuss a question or statement with a friend standing close to them. You might even ask students to create questions or topics that they would like to discuss with their peers. You will likely find out some cool things about the students’ interests!
Brain Teasers
Not all breaks need to involve movement, sometimes a quick brain teaser or game will do the trick. A fun strategy game we play are counting games, such as Count To Ten, where students can strategize how to eliminate their friends from the game. One year my students loved a game we called Top Ten where we would try to guess the Top Ten of something, such as Top Ten Disney Movies, or Top Ten Animals You Would Find on a Farm. I’d Google the answers beforehand and, in teams, the students would try to guess the answers on the top ten list. I learned a lot about what my students liked that year because they all wanted to submit their top ten subjects which ranged from baseball teams to R&B artists.
In the rush to get through the lesson plan, these breaks might feel like time away from learning, but they’re actually part of the learning. I consider them an investment that helps students return to engagement, that energy we all feel when the room suddenly comes alive again. In all honesty, they help me return to that place too. We all benefit from a break when tasks feel heavy or our thoughts feel sluggish. Our brains need variety, our bodies need movement, and all of us need moments of connection and play.
When the room feels heavy or the energy dips, this is an opportunity to understand more about my students. An invitation and a reminder that we are building a learning community together and these fun activities can help us to learn about one another and share some smiles. When we honour these moments, we make space for the magic to return. And that’s when the real learning begins.
Check out these links to some of the games in the post:
Silent Ball: https://www.playworks.org/game-library/silent-ball/
Simon Says: https://www.playworks.org/game-library/simon-says/
Count To Ten: https://greatcampgames.ca/casual-games/ten/
Mingling to Music: https://www.eleducation.org/curriculum/protocols/musical-mingle/
Would You Rather: https://www.weareteachers.com/would-you-rather-scenarios-elementary/
