Quiet focus brain breaks
Twelve silent mental resets to bring attention back to the room before the next task. Use these before reading, writing or a test, when you want the room still and quiet. Students can rest their eyes on the desk, so closing them is always optional.
Ready for a break?
12 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
All 12 cards
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
- Press Draw a break (or N). Each card is a quiet thing to do in your head, with your eyes and body still.
- Read the card aloud, tell the class their eyes can rest on the desk, and press Start timer.
- When the chime sounds, move straight into reading, writing or the test. Press Print to keep the twelve cards.
Ideas for class
- Use one just before silent reading, so the room starts the reading already quiet.
- Try “Count back” and “Silent word chain” before a math or spelling task, so students start with a little thinking warmed up.
- Use “Find a spot” and “Statue stillness” for a short reset at the end of a noisy transition.
- Rotate through all twelve over two weeks, then let the class choose their favorite three.
- Keep “One good thing” for the end of the day, when students are packing up.
Related
Questions
Is anything said out loud?
No. Every card in this group is done silently. The teacher reads the card aloud once, and then the room is quiet for the timer.
Do students have to close their eyes?
No. Every card says that looking at a spot or the desk is fine, so a student who doesn't like to close their eyes can keep them open.
What do I do if students wander off in their thoughts?
That is part of it. “Count ten breaths” says so right on the card: starting again is the point, so there is nothing to get wrong.
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