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Let’s take a brain break!

Brain breaks are great for tamariki during concentrated-learning time because they give their brains a solid rest, so they can get back to their mahi feeling fresh as!

Let’s take a brain break!

Firstly, the science...

Brain breaks are short periods of physical activity or relaxation for tamariki (or anyone!) during learning to break up long periods of sitting and focused attention. Research has shown that brain breaks can have numerous benefits for tamariki in schools. They can help to increase blood flow and oxygen to the brain, which can improve cognitive function and concentration. Brain breaks can also reduce stress and anxiety, as well as improve mood and behaviour in the classroom. 


Why this activity?

You will know all about brain breaks, but sometimes it’s good to have a few newbies up your sleeve to keep things fresh. These are 3 of our best!


You'll need


  • Print or recreate the tinana poster (can be printed A3)  

  • Print or recreate these big emotion bubbles

  • Print or recreate the small bubbles and add a picture of the name of each of your ākonga, or ask that they do this as part of the activity. 

  • Paint buckets - print or recreate as many as you need. These could be especially handy if you've established Zones of Regulation.


What to do


Plan for a brain break roughly every 30 minutes to support tamariki to re-focus. We would suggest that these activities support tamariki to work together and support their positive relationships (rather than be competitive).


Three of our fave brain breaks:

 

  • Running as a group -  You could do this on the spot, or on the field. This could almost a be bit military style - mauī (left), katau (right), keeping tamariki relatively close together. This one will get their heart rate up and endorphins running through their tinana. 

  • Tamariki yogi’s - You might ask tamariki to paint rainbows with their noses, move between a ngeru (cat) and kau (cow) pose, try some downward facing kurī and kurī harikoa (happy dog aka three legged kuru)!

  • Set the energy levels - Kōrero about energy levels you need at the beginning and as they change during learning tine. Continuum's are a great way to do this. Who’s got high energy on one end, who’s got low energy on the other (1 to 5). Where do we need to be as a group to complete this learning? Who’s there to pass on their contagious energy that matches the situation? Energy is contagious, so hang with each other to reset or build energy.

  • Prime some positive emotions - Have a think about how you’d like tamariki to feel during this activity and set the brain break to prime this. You could use our emotions bubbles to support this kōrero. Here are some examples:

     

    • Calm - do some puku breathing

    • Amazed - head to the window or outside to look at the bigness of Ranginui 

    • Peaceful - remember a peaceful moment you’ve had together, re-conjure this

    • Energised - add some music and kanikani


Kaiako card


To make things easier, refer to or print the Kaiako Card.


Whānau engagement


As yet, we haven’t created anything to support whānau learning about brain breaks (but we should)!. Instead it might be really helpful just to encourage whānau to talk about emotions to support emotional literacy. To support tamariki to have this kōrero print off the emotion bubbles for tamariki as a take-home activity (cut out, display or use as kōrero cards). This only about planting the seed hey? Who knows what will grow.!


And to add to this...


Wildling Books How Do I Feel Cards. This is a set of 65 emotion cards providing loads of kōrero prompts! Anna from our team describes how useful these cards are in her review for the Mental Health Foundation here, and how you might use them. 

Another great activity we have on offer that works to increase emotional literacy is Emotional Kanikani


Curriculum links

Health and PE Curriculum 

  • Personal Health and physical development: A1 - Personal growth and development

  • Movement concepts and motor skills: B1 - Movement skills

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