We all know how it feels to sit through a long meeting…eventually our minds start to wander and staying focused can become a challenge. The same goes for our students, whether you teach kindergarteners or high schoolers.
Though they’re often associated with younger students, brain breaks are a game-changer for maintaining engagement at any grade level.
In this blog, we will explore brain breaks for middle school through high school, their benefits, and practical tips to implement brain breaks for older students.
What are Brain Breaks?
Brain breaks are short, intentional activities that are designed to engage different networks of the brain and prevent cognitive fatigue. In the classroom, they offer a quick reset in the middle of a lesson. These activities could be anything from students getting up and moving for a dance break or doing a guided meditation together.
The Science of Brain Breaks
Brain breaks in the classroom aren’t just a way to have fun—they’re a research-backed strategy for learning.
In a 2012 study, Mary Helen Immordino-Yang and her colleagues at USC and MIT used an fMRI scanner to examine neural activity during the brain’s state of rest. Referred to as the “default mode,” this state is typically associated with taking a break or letting our minds wander. The study found that despite being in a period of rest, the brain is very active.
An additional study done by the National Institute of Health demonstrated the importance of wakeful rest in consolidating memories. According to the leader of the study, Dr. Buch, “This suggests that during wakeful rest the brain binds together the memories required to learn a new skill.”
According to Judy Willis, neurologist and educator, “For students to learn at their highest potential, their brains need to send signals efficiently from the sensory receptors (what they hear, see, touch, read, imagine, and experience) to memory storage regions of the brain. The most detrimental disruptions to traffic along these information pathways are stress and overload.”
Research has shown that taking short breaks can have a profound impact on students’ ability to learn, retain information, and stay engaged throughout the school day.
Benefits of Brain Breaks in the Classroom
There are several benefits to incorporating short, intentional breaks into your daily lessons and routines:
- Improved focus and concentration. Taking short breaks helps to alleviate mental fatigue which improves student focus.
- Enhanced skill retention. Research has shown that rest intervals strengthen the consolidation of memory.
- Reduced stress and anxiety. When we’re overwhelmed, our amygdala goes into overdrive and prevents new learning from entering memory. Brain breaks give our amygdala a chance to “reset.”
- Increased motivation and engagement. Engaging in enjoyable activities during breaks can elevate students’ mood and energy, making them more motivated to learn.
- Improved classroom community. Brain breaks for students provide an opportunity to step away from academic pressures and participate in activities that promote relaxation and well-being. This can help to create a more positive learning environment.
Tips for Successful Brain Breaks
Successfully implementing mental breaks in the secondary classroom requires thoughtful planning and a strategic approach to maximize their benefits for your students. Here are some practical tips to help you implement them effectively:
Use a variety
No two students are exactly alike. That’s why it’s important to have a variety of brain break ideas in your arsenal. Just like you adapt your lessons to your students’ needs, your breaks should appeal to a range of interests and ages.
Keep them short and sweet
Brain breaks are typically between 1 and 5 minutes. Remember, the goal is to provide a quick reset without disrupting the flow of the lesson. Consider using a visual timer to help everyone stay on track.
Encourage student input
Increase student agency by involving them in choosing or leading activities with the class. When students can make choices in the classroom, engagement goes up.
Make them part of your routine
Consistency helps students develop a routine and will equip them with strategies that they can take with them as they move beyond their K–12 education.
16 Brain Breaks for Middle School and High School
By implementing a variety of engaging mind breaks, you can create a more supportive learning environment for your students. Use your learning goals and knowledge of your students to guide your selection process.
We’ve compiled a list of our favorite brain breaks for middle school and high school students to get you started.
Creative Brain Breaks
- Think Outside the Box
On the board, give your students the beginning of a doodle—a circle, squiggly lines, or anything you choose. Distribute paper and have the students turn the doodle into their own drawing.
- Doodle Break
For this activity, give students markers and paper and a few minutes to doodle. Unlike “Think Outside the Box”, this activity is open-ended as students can draw whatever they want.
- Journaling
Turn on calming music and give students a few minutes to free-write in their journals.
Brain Break Games
- Jigsaw Jumble
Put students into small groups and give them a handful of puzzle pieces. Without talking, have students work together to assemble the pieces.
Choose a five-letter word and give students six tries to guess it. During each try, use different color markers for each letter in the students’ word to show them how close their guess was—green means that the letter is in your chosen word and in the right location, while yellow represents that the letter is correct but not in the right spot in your chosen word.
In this Google Arts and Culture game, you need to identify the AI-generated image in a group of four images. This activity can serve as a springboard for discussion around the implications of AI.
For this activity from Fitness Hustle TV, students will try to identify the Disney character after listening to a clip of their voice. To demonstrate their selection, they’ll need to perform the exercise shown on the screen below their chosen character.
Another game from Fitness Hustle TV, Logo Quiz challenges students to identify the logo presented on the screen. They’ll show their answers by doing the corresponding exercise.
Challenge your students to find the differences in the photos in this series of videos from Brain Games & Puzzles.
Try a variation of the classic board game for a quick brain break with your secondary students. Create a list of categories and give your students a letter of the alphabet. Have them write down a word that starts with that letter for each category.
Calming Brain Breaks
- Mindful Coloring
Research has revealed the mental health benefits of coloring. Download Crayola’s free adult coloring pages and give your students a quick coloring break.
- Guided Meditation
Mindfulness offers benefits to students both in the classroom and beyond. Explore Headspace’s meditation for the classroom section and help your students focus better, think creatively, and sharpen their problem-solving skills.
Movement Breaks in the Classroom
- Stretching
Have students stand up and stretch their arms, legs, and backs. These movement breaks relieve physical tension and increase alertness.
- Jumping Jacks
A quick set of jumping jacks can get the heart pumping and provide a burst of energy.
- Dance Party
Play a popular song and let students dance for a minute or two. This can be a fun and energizing break.
- Walk and Talk
Allow students to pair up and take a short walk around the classroom or school grounds. Giving your students sanctioned “chatting time” can make them less prone to talk during your lesson.
Incorporating brain breaks into the secondary school day is a simple yet powerful strategy to enhance students’ focus, memory retention, well-being, and overall academic performance.
