Introduction:
There comes a time in every second grader’s day when their energy levels are overflowing and they need a break from the standard classroom activities. To help channel this energy in a positive direction, we’ve compiled a list of 25 second grade brain breaks that incorporate movement, fun, and learning all rolled into one.
1. Freeze Dance – Play music and have the students dance. When the music stops, they freeze in their current position.
2. Simon Says – Give commands to the students as Simon and have them follow each instruction.
3. Balloon Bounce – Inflate a balloon and have students take turns keeping it in the air without using their hands.
4. Yoga Poses – Teach your second graders simple yoga poses for a calming break.
5. Animal Walks – Have students move around the room mimicking different animals such as frogs, crabs or elephants.
6. Musical Chairs – Set up chairs in a circle and have students walk around them while music plays. Remove one chair each round until there’s only one left.
7. Jumping Jack Challenge – See who can do the most jumping jacks in one minute.
8. Paper Airplane Toss – Have students design their own paper airplanes and see whose can fly the farthest.
9. Four Corners – Pick four different activities or exercises for each corner of the classroom, and let students choose which area they want to spend time in.
10. Hula Hoop Fun – Give each student a hula hoop and see who can keep it going the longest.
11. Follow The Leader – Line up students single-file and have them follow the leader performing various movements or actions.
12. Hand Clapping Games – Teach your students hand clapping games like “Miss Mary Mack” or “Patty Cake”.
13. Mirror Movement – Pair up students and have them take turns mirroring each other’s movements.
14. Cha Cha Slide – Put on the Cha Cha Slide song and have everyone follow the dance prompts.
15. Red Light, Green Light – Students move forward when you say “green light” and stop when you say “red light”.
16. Alphabet Exercise – Assign each letter of the alphabet a specific exercise, have students spell their names or other words while performing those exercises.
17. Bean Bag Boogie – Give each student a bean bag to balance on their head while moving around the room.
18. Lava Floor – Have youths navigate around the room without touching the floor, using chairs, tables, or other props as “islands”.
19. Scavenger Hunt – Create a scavenger hunt with various physical challenges around the classroom.
20. Jump Rope Challenge – Let students take turns jump roping either individually or in groups.
21. Tunnel Tag – Pair students up and have them form a tunnel with their arms for others to crawl through as they play tag.
22. Walk and Talk – Have partners take a walk outside while discussing a topic or concept recently learned in class.
23. Dance Party – Put on some music and let loose! Encourage students to be creative with their moves and have fun.
24. Arm Circles – Have your second graders perform arm circles forward and backward for a quick stretch break.
25. Silent Ball – Students pass around a soft ball in complete silence, including any movements they make. The goal is to keep from laughing or making noise.
These 25-second grade brain breaks are perfect for encouraging movement, creativity, and camaraderie within your classroom while providing a well-deserved break from traditional learning methods. Remember to switch up activities to keep things fresh and exciting throughout the school year!
