October 2003

BRAIN BREAKS

HAND DANCE

Hand dancing can be done as children sit on the floor or in a chair. Put on some lively music, then have children follow along as you make the following hand motions to the beat of the music:

Monkey- Put fists out in front and pretend to climb a vine.

Pony- Pretend to hold your reins and bounce up and down.

Swim- Move arms as if swimming.

Hitch Hike- Stick up thumbs and move them back and forth in front of body.

Twist- Bend elbows and twist body at waist.

Funky Chicken - Make arms like wings and flap up and down.

Batman- Make V's with fingers and sweep in front of your eyes.

Jerk- Jerk arms in the air.

*Let children make up their own hand dances for classmates to imitate.
Hint! Do each motion for 15-30 seconds.

CRISS CROSS APPLESAUCE

Have children do this activity on each other's backs:

Cross cross, (Make an "x" on back.)

Applesauce, (Wiggle fingers down back.)

Spiders crawling up your back. (Crawl fingers up back.)

Warm breeze. (Gently blow on neck.)

Gentle squeeze. (Hug from behind.)

Now you've got the (Tickle fingers down back.) shiveries!

Hint! You can also give each other a "spider massage" by singing "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and making motions on each other's backs.

STATE CHANGES

Wake up the brain by changing your "state of mind"!

Sit Like a Boss - Children cross arms, lean back, and put feet up on their desk.

Cowboy and cowgirl - Children turn chair around and straddle it as if riding a horse.

Rock and Roll - Pretend to hold guitar and dance and sing.

Opera - Extend arms and sing words dramatically.

Underwater - Put pointer between lips and vibrate as you read or talk.

With a cold - Hold nose and talk or read.

Backwards - Turn chairs around and face the back of the room.

Change seats - Children exchange seats with a classmate.

Down Low - Lay on the floor and read, write, and work.

Silly Me! Teacher puts on a hat, silly nose, glasses, etc.

Lighting - Turn off the lights, use floor lamps, open blinds, etc.

Aroma therapy - Peppermint and citrus wake up the brain!

SING ALONG SONGS

When you sing, your brain emits endorphins that make you happy and give you energy. Sing your heart out with one of these songs:

She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain

BINGO The Wheels on the Bus

I've Been Working on the Railroad

Home on the Range

The Cool Bear Hunt

Mother Goony Bird

Silly Willy

The Bear Went over the Mountain

Peanut Butter I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly

The Farmer in the Dell

Found a Peanut

Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush

Skip to My Lou

Hint! Let children take turns choosing songs and leading the class in sing alongs.

GRANNY AT THE FAIR

Have children stand up and join in saying and adding motions to this chant.

My granny went to the county fair.
And she bought a chair while she was there.
And she rocked, and she rocked, (Rock back and forth.)
And she rocked, and she rocked.

My granny went to the county fair.
And she bought a fan while she was there.
And she fanned, and she fanned, (Fan self with left hand.)
And she fanned, and she fanned.
And she rocked... (Rock back and forth.)

My granny went to the county fair
And she bought some shears...
And she cut... (Pretend to cut with right hand.)
And she fanned... (Fan with left hand.)
And she rocked... (Rock back and forth.) ...

She bought some gum...
And she chewed... (Pretend to chew gum.)
And she cut...fanned...rocked...

My granny went to the county fair.
And she blew a bubble while she was there.
And she blew, and she blew (Pretend to blow and extend hands.)
And she blew, and POP! (Clap hands.)

BRAIN BREAKS

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Copyright 2003, Dr. Jean