Primary school movement foundations
Movement breaks can do more than simply get children out of their seats
I love seeing schools place more emphasis on physical activity, sport and movement, but short movement breaks can also give children repeated opportunities to practise some of the foundations underneath more complex movement.
A movement break does not have to be exhausting or highly energetic to be useful. Sometimes a few carefully chosen movements can give children an opportunity to work on body awareness, coordination, balance, rhythm, visual attention and using both sides of the body.
Think movement practice, not just energy release
Some children benefit from moving faster and using more energy. Others may need slow, controlled movement that gives them time to organise their body.
A classroom movement break can include both.
What can a short movement break include?
Whole body shapes
Moving between small and large body positions gives children opportunities to organise their body in space.
Marching patterns
Marching can involve rhythm, alternating sides, balance and coordination without needing much classroom space.
Cross body movements
Opposite hand to knee or opposite hand to shoulder movements can give children practice using both sides together.
Head and eye movements
Slow visual and head movement activities can support children to practise using their eyes and head together.
Rhythm and sequencing
Clapping, tapping and patterned movements ask children to listen, remember and organise a sequence.
Partner activities
Simple partner movement activities can add touch, body awareness, turn taking and social connection.
Why I keep movement breaks short
Teachers are already trying to fit an enormous amount into the school day. I do not want movement to become another complicated lesson that requires equipment, preparation and twenty minutes of teaching time.
Short movement opportunities repeated across the week can be more realistic. They also allow teachers to notice which movements children find easy, which ones require more concentration and where a child may need extra practice.
Some children will find these movements surprisingly difficult
You may notice one child cannot easily coordinate opposite sides of their body, another loses balance when their head moves, while another finds it difficult to copy a body position.
That does not mean the child is failing the brain break. It gives us information about the movement foundations they may still be developing.
Free classroom resource
Brain break movement for primary school teachers
This slide resource contains short classroom movement ideas that can be used one at a time. You can put the slides on your classroom screen and move through an activity with your students.
Open the movement break slides