Unlocking focus with brain breaks

Keeping a classroom focused and engaged can be a daily challenge but brain breaks make it easier! No-prep brain breaks are essential for helping students reset, refocus, and stay ready to learn. While free, interactive brain breaks for both virtual and in-person learning are hard to find, Classroomscreen is here to help.

Before exploring our ready-to-use brain break templates, let’s look at why brain breaks have become so popular in classrooms today.

The integration of brain breaks into the classroom environment is more than just a trend; recent studies have also shown that brain breaks are very important when it comes to learning focus, and overall well-being. They help reduce stress, improve concentration, and boost overall productivity in the classroom. By incorporating movement, creativity, and fun, brain breaks can reinvigorate students' enthusiasm for learning and create a positive classroom environment.

Research has shown that brain breaks in elementary and middle school can have numerous benefits for students, including:

• Improved focus and classroom behavior
• Boost student engagement and participation
• Reduced stress & anxiety

Whether you're teaching a math lesson, conducting a science experiment, or leading a discussion, incorporating brain breaks into your classroom routine can help keep students motivated and on track. If you are looking for more classroom engagement tools, make sure to check out our other tips and tricks to engage students.

Energizing activities like dance parties or yoga stretches are perfect for boosting circulation, releasing pent-up energy, and promoting physical well-being. If you are teaching a lesson that requires quiet periods of reading or independent work, including a physical brain break that gets the students out of their seats is ideal!

Motion maniaSimon saysAdverb actionHigh fives

Motion mania

Get your students moving with this quick and easy brain break activity! Motion Mania uses dice rolls to spark energizing movements like dance or stretches, helping kids refocus and boost energy.

tip:

Ideal for brain breaks, active learning, and classroom management.

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Simon says

Bring the classic "Simon Says" game to your classroom with this fun, no-prep template! Great for boosting listening skills, focus, and energy through movement and creativity.

Perfect for elementary students and ideal for brain breaks, end-of-day activities, and classroom management.

note:

This template includes four themed categories: stretching, animal movements, funny faces, and miming actions.

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Adverb action

Get students moving while reinforcing grammar skills with this quick and easy brain break. Adverb Action combines physical activity with language learning, helping students understand how adverbs describe actions in a fun, interactive way.

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High fives

Boost energy and create classroom laughs with this fast-paced brain break! High Fives gets students moving, interacting, and having fun as they race to complete their high five challenge before time runs out.

example:

This is a great activity to use in back-to-school season as students get to know the rest of their class.

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Grab your pencils, we are getting creative! Drawing is a great stress reliever and when teaching a class with lots of discussion and noise, a quiet period of simple sketching is a great way to bring students back to focusing on the topic at hand. 

Hidden picture puzzlesScribble safari

Hidden picture puzzles

Encourage observation and reasoning skills with this fun seasonal guessing game! Students try to identify which sticker is hidden behind seasonal disguises like leaves or snowflakes.

Try this activity

Scribble safari

Spark creativity with this simple, no-prep drawing activity. Students pick an animal they might see on safari and bring it to life through art. Perfect for a calm, creative brain break that helps students recharge and refocus between lessons.

Let's get drawing!

Take a moment to pause and reset with calming mindfulness activities. Mindful practices help reduce stress and refocus busy minds, especially after lively discussions or noisy lessons.

Mindful yogaWhat can you hear?Criss cross apple sauceMirror mirror

Mindful yoga

Help students refocus and relax with this simple, no-prep mindfulness activity. Featuring eight easy yoga poses, this template promotes calm, focus, and well-being throughout the school day.

example:

This template is ideal for transitions, or moments when students need to regain focus.

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What can you hear?

Encourage mindfulness and spark curiosity with this simple listening activity. Students sit quietly with their eyes closed, listening to calming jungle sounds. Afterward, they share the animals and noises they heard — a fun, no-prep way to relax and refocus between lessons.

tip:

You can change the video playing and add any Youtube video of your choosing.

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Criss cross apple sauce

A calming brain break designed to help young students relax and reset. Using gentle touch and a soothing rhyme, this activity introduces mindfulness in a playful, engaging way.

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Mirror mirror

A fun, no-prep activity designed to boost focus, coordination, and teamwork in young students. In pairs, students take turns leading and mirroring simple movements, fostering connection and mindfulness.

Play Mirror Mirror

Boost energy and engagement with quiz-based brain breaks like Would You Rather. These fun, interactive games spark curiosity, encourage quick thinking, and help refocus students’ attention after active or noisy lessons.

Give me 5Shout!Would you rather?One word that...

Give me 5

An energizing, no-prep activity that challenges students to think fast and list 5 items from a surprise category. Using a randomizer to select participants, this game is super fun to play with students of all ages.

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Shout!

A simple, no-prep game that encourages quick thinking and fast responses. Students compete to shout out the correct answer first based on random challenges, and can be played individually or in teams.

Play Shout!

Would you rather?

A fun, no-prep activity that sparks curiosity and critical thinking by presenting students with two intriguing choices. With two difficulty levels, it encourages discussion and creativity as students weigh pros and cons.

Play Would you rather?

One word that...

This mindful, no-prep activity helps upper elementary and middle school students boost emotional vocabulary by describing feelings and experiences using a single word.

Play this game

From energizing movement exercises to creative drawing challenges and rhythmic games, these brain breaks cater to diverse learning styles and interests, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to recharge and refocus throughout the day.