Brain breaks
Sixty original movement and calming breaks that are safe in a crowded classroom. Draw one at random, read it aloud, start the timer. Every card has a standing and a seated version.
Ready for a break?
60 cards in this deck. Press Draw, or the N key. Everyone does the move together.
Cards are drawn from a shuffled deck, so none repeats until all have been used.
Keys: N or → draw the next break · Space start or pause · R reset · M chime · F full screen
Calming brain breaks (12)
Balloon breath
Breathe in slowly through your nose as you picture a balloon filling up. Breathe out slowly through your mouth as the balloon lets its air go.
Standing: Stand with your feet apart. Let your arms float out a little as the balloon fills, and float them back down as it empties.
Seated: Sit tall with both hands resting on your belly. Feel it rise as the balloon fills and fall as the air goes out.
Five-finger trace
Hold up one hand with your fingers spread. With a finger of your other hand, slide up the side of your thumb as you breathe in and down the other side as you breathe out. Do all five fingers.
Standing: Hold your hand out in front of you at chest height, and keep your feet planted.
Seated: Rest your hand on the desk or on your lap while you trace.
Smell the soup, cool the soup
Pretend you are holding a warm bowl of soup. Breathe in through your nose to smell it. Blow out slowly through your lips to cool it down. Repeat five times.
Standing: Hold the pretend bowl in both hands in front of your chest.
Seated: Hold the pretend bowl in both hands just above your desk or your lap.
Slow-motion pour
Pretend to pour a glass of water from a heavy jug, as slowly as you possibly can. Lift it, tip it, pour, set it down. Take your time with each part.
Standing: Use both hands and keep your elbows close to your sides, so you stay inside your own space.
Seated: Pour at your desk with one hand or two. Use whichever arm moves most easily for you.
Wave breath
Breathe in as a wave rolls toward the beach and breathe out as it slides back. Let one hand move like the wave in time with your breath.
Standing: Sway your whole body a little with the wave, with your feet staying where they are.
Seated: Move only your hand, or keep still and picture the wave while you breathe.
Heavy hands, light hands
Make your hands as heavy as stones and let them sink down. Then make them as light as feathers and let them float up. Go back and forth three times.
Standing: Let your arms hang heavy at your sides, then float them up to shoulder height.
Seated: Let your hands sink onto your lap, then float them up above your desk.
Look, listen, feel
Slowly look around the room and quietly find three things you can see. Then find two things you can hear. Then find one thing you can feel, like your feet on the floor. Keep your answers in your head.
Standing: Stay where you are and turn only your head as you look around.
Seated: Stay in your seat and let your eyes travel slowly around the room.
Hand on belly
Rest a hand on your belly. Breathe in for a count of four so your belly pushes your hand out. Breathe out for a count of four so your hand sinks back in.
Standing: Stand with soft knees and one hand on your belly.
Seated: Sit back in your chair with one hand on your belly. If your belly is hard to feel, rest your hand on your chest.
Sleepy cat
Be a cat getting ready for a nap. Move slowly, curl up small and take three long, sleepy breaths.
Standing: Fold forward a little with soft knees and let your head, arms and shoulders relax.
Seated: Round your back, lower your head toward your lap or rest it on your folded arms on the desk, then sit up slowly.
Square breathing
Trace a square with one finger. Breathe in along the first side, pause along the second, breathe out along the third, and pause along the fourth. Count to four on every side. If pausing your breath is uncomfortable, just keep breathing slowly.
Standing: Trace a big square in the air in front of you.
Seated: Trace the square on your desk or on your knee.
Snow globe
Shake your hands, arms and shoulders like a snow globe that has just been shaken. Then stop and be as still as you can while the snow settles slowly, one breath at a time.
Standing: Shake gently, keeping your feet in place, then stand very still.
Seated: Shake your hands and shoulders, then rest your hands in your lap and sit very still.
Melting ice pop
Start as stiff and frozen as an ice pop. Then slowly melt: your shoulders drop, your arms soften, your jaw relaxes and you settle into a calm, comfortable position.
Standing: Melt into a gentle droop with soft knees, and stay on your feet.
Seated: Melt into your chair and let your arms and shoulders hang loose.
Stretching brain breaks (12)
Tall tree
Reach both arms up like branches and stretch as tall as you can. Wiggle your fingers like leaves, then bring your arms down slowly.
Standing: Rise onto your toes if that is comfortable, or keep your feet flat.
Seated: Reach up from your chair and sit tall as you stretch.
Rag doll
Let your head, arms and shoulders go floppy like a rag doll. Hang loose and sway a little, then slowly roll back up. Skip this one if you feel dizzy.
Standing: Fold forward from the hips with soft knees and your hands hanging down, then roll up slowly with your head last.
Seated: Lean forward from the hips and let your arms dangle by your knees, then sit back up slowly.
Window wipers
Stretch your arms out in front of you and sweep them left and right, like windshield wipers on a rainy day.
Standing: Keep your feet still and swing both arms together from side to side.
Seated: Sweep your arms side to side without twisting out of your chair, or use just one arm.
Yes, no, maybe
Nod your head slowly for yes. Turn it slowly from side to side for no. Tip your head to one side and then the other for maybe. Go slowly and stop if anything feels sore.
Standing: Stand tall with your shoulders relaxed and your feet planted.
Seated: Sit tall with your shoulders relaxed. If your neck does not move this way, use your eyes or your shoulders instead.
Shoulder circles
Lift your shoulders up toward your ears, roll them back and let them drop. Then roll them the other way.
Standing: Keep your arms loose at your sides while your shoulders do the work.
Seated: Keep your arms resting in your lap while your shoulders roll.
Piano hands
Stretch your fingers wide, then make a fist. Wiggle all ten fingers as if you are playing a fast song on a piano, then shake your hands out.
Standing: Hold your hands out in front of you while you play.
Seated: Play the piano silently on your lap or on your desk.
Tree in the wind
Be a tree with your arms up. Let the wind bend you slowly to the left, and then slowly to the right.
Standing: Lean from your waist and keep both feet in place.
Seated: Lean slowly to one side and then the other, with one arm reaching over your head.
Big squeeze
Wrap your arms around yourself and give a gentle squeeze. Then open your arms wide and breathe in. Squeeze and open three times.
Standing: Keep your feet planted and let your elbows stay close to your body.
Seated: Wrap your arms around yourself in your chair, or squeeze your own hands together if reaching is hard.
Taffy pull
Pretend you are holding a piece of sticky taffy. Pull it out as wide as your arms go, squish it back together and twist it. Stay inside your own bubble of space.
Standing: Pull the taffy in front of your chest, not out to the sides where a neighbor might be.
Seated: Pull the taffy in front of you, over your desk or your lap.
Toe circles
Lift one foot a little and draw a circle in the air with your toes. Switch feet. Wiggle your toes inside your shoes.
Standing: Hold the back of a chair or the edge of your desk for balance.
Seated: Lift one foot off the floor and make the circles, then the other. If your legs do not move that way, circle your wrists instead.
Giant yawn
Open your mouth wide in a big, silent yawn and stretch your arms out as you breathe in. Let it all out as you bring your arms down. Do it three times.
Standing: Stretch your arms out to the sides, keeping them within arm's reach of your own space.
Seated: Stretch your arms up and out from your chair.
Sunflower
Curl up small like a seed. Then slowly grow tall, open your arms and turn your face up like a sunflower reaching for the sun.
Standing: Start crouched a little with your knees soft, then grow tall. Skip the crouch if it hurts your knees.
Seated: Start rounded forward in your chair, then grow tall and open your arms.
Energizing brain breaks for small spaces (12)
Parade march
March in place with your knees up and your arms swinging, as if you are in a parade. Keep your feet on your own square of floor.
Standing: March in place on your own spot. Keep your knees as high as feels good.
Seated: Lift your knees one at a time from your seat, or pump your arms as if you are marching.
Thigh drumroll
Pat your thighs faster and faster like a drumroll, then slow all the way down and finish with one big clap.
Standing: Pat your thighs with both hands while you stand with soft knees.
Seated: Pat your lap or the armrests of your chair. Tap the desk lightly if that is easier to reach.
Small freeze dance
Dance in your own spot while the teacher counts slowly. When the teacher says freeze, stop like a statue until you hear go. Keep your dancing small and your feet in place.
Standing: Dance in your own spot with your feet planted or only shuffling a little.
Seated: Dance from your chair with your arms, shoulders and head, and freeze when you hear the word.
Rock climb
Reach one hand up and then the other, as if you are climbing a tall rock wall. Pull yourself up higher and higher, then climb slowly back down.
Standing: Lift each knee a little as you climb, keeping your feet near your own spot.
Seated: Climb with your arms while your feet stay on the floor.
Row the boat
Pretend to row a boat with big, slow pulls: reach forward, pull back. Row faster for a while, then slow down again.
Standing: Bend your knees a little and row with both arms, keeping your elbows in front of your body.
Seated: Sit tall, reach forward and pull back, leaning back slightly as you pull.
Swim across the lake
Swim across a lake with your arms: front crawl, then breaststroke, then backstroke. Keep your arms close so you do not touch anyone.
Standing: Keep your feet planted and make smaller, slower strokes if there is not much room.
Seated: Swim with your arms from your chair, or with just one arm.
Mirror the leader
One leader makes slow, simple movements and everyone copies them, like a mirror. Switch leaders every twenty seconds. Leaders choose moves that can be done sitting or standing.
Standing: Copy the leader's moves inside your own space.
Seated: Copy the leader's moves from your seat. Use the arms, head or shoulders if the legs are not part of it.
Clap, snap, pat
The leader makes a short pattern such as clap, clap, pat. Everyone repeats it. Each time, the pattern gets one beat longer.
Standing: Clap and pat your thighs. Snap if you can.
Seated: Pat the desk or your lap instead of your thighs, and tap a finger if snapping is hard.
Heel-toe taps
Tap your heels, then your toes, on the floor to a steady beat. Speed up for a while, then slow down.
Standing: Hold the back of a chair or the edge of your desk for balance.
Seated: Tap from your chair, or tap your fingers on the desk to the same beat.
Ski down the mountain
Swing your arms from side to side as if you are skiing down a mountain. Lean left, lean right, and slow to a stop at the bottom.
Standing: Bend your knees a little and sway from your hips while your feet stay put.
Seated: Swing your arms and lean side to side in your chair.
Jellyfish arms
Float your arms up and ripple them like jellyfish. Wiggle faster as the current pulls, then go slow again.
Standing: Keep your arms in front of you and above your head, away from your neighbors.
Seated: Ripple your arms from your seat, or your fingers if that is easier.
Count and march
March in place while the class counts together in indoor voices: by twos to twenty, then by fives to fifty.
Standing: March on your own spot and count along.
Seated: Lift your knees or pump your arms from your seat as you count.
Seated brain breaks at the desk (12)
Seated twist
Sit tall. Put your right hand on your left knee and gently turn your upper body to look behind you. Hold for two slow breaths, then switch sides.
Standing: Stand behind your chair and turn from the waist, keeping your feet planted.
Seated: Twist gently from the waist while you sit. Turn only as far as is comfortable.
Desk push
Press your palms flat against the edge of your desk and push for five seconds. Rest, and repeat three times.
Standing: Press your palms against a wall or against the back of your chair.
Seated: Press on the desk. If it is too far away or too low, press your palms together in front of your chest instead.
Shoulder blade squeeze
Pull your shoulder blades toward each other, as if you are holding a pencil between them. Hold for three counts, then relax. Do it five times.
Standing: Stand tall with your arms relaxed at your sides.
Seated: Sit tall, with your arms relaxed in your lap.
Ear to shoulder
Lower your right ear toward your right shoulder while both shoulders stay low. Hold for three slow breaths, then switch sides.
Standing: Stand tall with your arms loose and do the same slow tip.
Seated: Sit tall and tip slowly. Stop if you feel any pinch.
Desk cat and cow
Round your back and tuck your chin like a cat, then lift your chest and look up like a cow. Move slowly. Do it five times.
Standing: Put your hands on the back of your chair and do the same slow round and lift.
Seated: Sit near the front of your seat with your hands on your knees or on the armrests, and round and lift.
Draw with your foot
Lift one foot a little and draw a circle in the air with it, then a square, then a triangle. Switch feet.
Standing: Hold your chair or desk for balance and draw the shapes with one foot.
Seated: Draw the shapes with your foot, or draw them in the air with one hand if your legs do not move that way.
Thumb touch
Touch your thumb to each of your fingers in turn, from pointer to pinky and back again. Go slowly first, then as fast as you can without making a mistake. Switch hands.
Standing: Hold your hands out in front of you.
Seated: Rest your hands on the desk or in your lap.
Raise the roof
Push your palms up toward the ceiling as if you are lifting the roof, then lower it slowly. Do it eight times.
Standing: Push up with both hands, keeping your elbows close to your sides.
Seated: Push up from your chair. Use one arm if that works best.
Seated march
Lift one knee, lower it softly, then lift the other, as if you are marching while sitting down. Add arm swings if you like.
Standing: March softly on your own spot, or just lift your knees one at a time.
Seated: March from your chair. If your legs do not lift, pump your arms as if you are marching.
Puppet string
Picture a string tied to the top of your head, pulling you up tall. Sit as tall as you can for five slow breaths, then let the string go slack and relax.
Standing: Stand tall, with your feet flat and your shoulders loose.
Seated: Sit tall with your back away from the chair, then sink back and relax.
Write the alphabet in the air
Pick a hand or an elbow and write the letters of the alphabet big in the air, as far as you can get. Make capitals or lower case, whichever you like.
Standing: Write in front of you, away from your neighbors.
Seated: Write in front of you from your chair. Use a finger, a hand, an elbow or your head.
Wrist stretch
Press your palms together in front of your chest with your fingers pointing up. Slowly lower your hands toward your waist, keeping your palms together, until you feel a stretch in your wrists. Hold for ten seconds.
Standing: Keep your elbows out and your shoulders down.
Seated: Do the same at your desk. Lower your hands only as far as is comfortable.
Open the at your desk page with its own deck and print sheet
Quiet focus brain breaks (12)
Count ten breaths
Breathe normally and count each breath in your head, from one to ten. If your mind wanders, start again at one. That is part of it.
Standing: Stand with your weight even on both feet and your hands loose.
Seated: Sit comfortably with your feet on the floor or on your footrest. Close your eyes, or look down at your desk.
Find a spot
Pick one spot in the room, like the corner of the clock, and look at it softly. Notice its color, its edges and how it sits. Keep looking for thirty seconds.
Standing: Stand still and rest your eyes on your spot without leaning toward it.
Seated: Stay in your seat and pick a spot you can see from where you sit.
Sound detective
Rest your eyes on your desk and listen. Count how many different sounds you can hear, near and far. Keep the number in your head.
Standing: Stand still and listen with your eyes resting on the floor in front of you.
Seated: Rest your eyes on the desk, or close them if you like, and listen.
Carry the glass
Imagine you are carrying a glass filled right to the top with water. Walk slowly in your mind across the room without spilling a single drop.
Standing: Stand still while you picture the walk, with your hands held as if they are carrying the glass.
Seated: Stay seated while you picture it. Nobody needs to move for this one.
Walk through a calm place
Picture a place where you feel calm, such as a park, a beach or a library. Walk through it in your mind. What do you see, hear and smell?
Standing: Stand still and let your eyes rest on the floor in front of you while you picture the walk.
Seated: Stay seated, with your eyes closed or resting on your desk, while you picture the walk.
Lazy eight
Trace a sideways eight slowly with one finger and follow the path with your eyes. Go around five times, then switch hands.
Standing: Trace the eight in the air in front of you.
Seated: Trace the eight on your desk or on your knee.
Color hunt
Choose a color. Quietly look around the room and find five things that are that color. Keep your list in your head.
Standing: Stay on your spot and turn only your head and eyes.
Seated: Stay in your seat and let your eyes do the hunting.
Eye tour
Keep your head still. Look up, then down, then left, then right, then make a slow circle with your eyes. Look at something far away, then something close. Stop if your eyes feel tired.
Standing: Stand still and look gently, without squinting.
Seated: Sit still and look gently, without squinting.
Count back
Count backward from twenty to zero in your head, slowly. Then try counting back by twos.
Standing: Stand tall and breathe slowly as you count.
Seated: Sit tall and breathe slowly as you count.
Silent word chain
Think of a word. Then think of a new word that starts with the last letter of the first one. Keep the chain going in your head for as long as you can.
Standing: Stand still and keep your eyes resting on one spot while you think.
Seated: Sit still and keep your eyes resting on your desk while you think.
One good thing
Think of one good thing from today, big or small. Hold it in your mind for three slow breaths.
Standing: Stand still and breathe slowly.
Seated: Sit still and breathe slowly.
Statue stillness
Be as still as a statue for thirty seconds. Notice your breathing, your feet and your hands. When time is up, wiggle your fingers and toes.
Standing: Stand still like a statue, with your hands relaxed at your sides.
Seated: Sit still like a statue, with your hands resting in your lap.
How to use it
- Pick a group of breaks, or leave it on All 60. Switch on “Silent breaks only” on test days or when another class is next door.
- Press Draw a break (or the N key). A card comes out of a shuffled deck with a standing version and a seated version side by side.
- Read the move aloud and press Start timer (or Space). The timer uses the card's suggested time unless you choose a length.
- When the chime sounds, press Next break, or go back to work. Press F for full screen on the projector.
- To use the cards without a screen, press Print. You get the cards in the current group, eight to a page with cut lines.
Ideas for class
- Keep calming and quiet focus cards for after lunch and before a test, and the get-moving cards for the afternoon slump.
- Teach five moves in the first week and let the class pick favorites, so nobody wonders what a “taffy pull” is when it comes up.
- Print one group, cut the cards apart and keep them in a jar for the days the projector is busy.
- Use “Count and march” for skip counting by twos and fives, and “Silent word chain” as a spelling warm-up.
- Use a break between two tasks that are very different, such as after a read-aloud and before math, so the change feels like a reset.
- Let a helper of the day read the card aloud while you watch the room.
Related
- Brain break wheel
- Visual timer
- Noise level meter
- Calming brain breaks
- Stretching brain breaks
- Energizing brain breaks for small spaces
- Seated brain breaks at the desk
- Quiet focus brain breaks
- Live classroom quiz game: students join with a code
- Classroom activities from any list: five games on the board and print sheets
Questions
Are these safe in a crowded classroom?
Yes. Every card keeps students in their own space: nobody runs, jumps, spins or touches anyone else, nothing needs equipment, and cards that use the arms say to keep them inside your own bubble. Tell the class once that anyone can stop if something hurts or they feel dizzy.
Can students who use wheelchairs or have limited movement join in?
Yes. Every card shows a seated version next to the standing one, and the seated version works from a chair or a wheelchair. Many cards also say what to do instead when part of a move doesn't suit a body. Any student can use the parts that work for them, or simply breathe along.
How long should a brain break be?
Many teachers keep a break to between one and three minutes. Each card suggests a time from 30 seconds to 90 seconds, and you can set the timer to 30 seconds, one, two or three minutes for every card.
Is this a spinner?
It is a random draw from a shuffled deck, which means no card comes up twice until every card in the group has been used. If you want a spinning wheel with fourteen quick moves, use the brain break wheel instead.
Who wrote the cards?
All sixty were written for Peabody Teach, in plain words a teacher can read aloud. There are no videos, no characters and no accounts.
Does the page keep track of my class?
No. It remembers your timer length and the silent-only switch in this browser, and nothing else. Nothing about your class is sent to us.
Nothing you do here is sent to us. Names, lists and settings stay in this browser. No sign-in, no ads.