Incredibly+Awesome+Links

=What Else is Out There on the Internet?=

Before moving on, we have yet another guide who is eager to let you know a little bit about what you're getting ready to read. Since he's getting ready for his first year in kindergarten next year, my son Iain is eager to know more about brain breaks. Iain definitely knows that he wants his teacher to allow him to have brain breaks during the day, so he is the best choice to introduce some links that have plenty of useful information.

media type="custom" key="19616616"

=So, About Those Links ...=

While browsing through this wiki, you have undoubtedly been sitting and reading for too long. You need a brain break! Enjoy checking out one of these links once you have taken a tiny break of your choice. Under each link, you will find a brief description of the site and how it can prove to be useful in some capacity of whatever you need it for. Whether you are searching for more information about brain breaks to take back to your school for a possible in service or you are simply looking for brain break ideas to incorporate into the classroom, peruse these links to see if they contain what you are looking for.


 * 1) Energizing Brain Breaks Blog - This amazing blog is run by a high school teacher, and it contains a wealth of information about brain breaks. There are a multitude of different brain breaks that are explained, and many of these also have a video to show how the break works. In addition to brain breaks and videos, the site also has links to other useful sites. One link will take you to where you can get a book or even a dvd on brain breaks. If you're lucky, then you might also win one of the many giveaways that the blog hosts such as for the brain breaks book or a power point edition of the activities.
 * 2) Be Active North Carolina's Energizers - If you go to the homepage, then you can find out more information about North Carolina's impressive Be Active program. This link, however, will just take you to the energizers section. Energizers and brain breaks are one in the same, and this link contains numerous ideas for incorporating these in the classroom. Another great feature of this part of the website is that the energizers are divided into elementary and middle school. This way, educators can grab ideas for the grade level that's appropriate for them. One more added bonus is that these energizers can be downloaded in pdf form, and they can then be printed off for future reference.
 * 3) PBS Teachers Article and Links  - Click on the link here, and you'll go to the article "The Importance of Movement and Physical Activity" which is co-authored by Dr. Eloise Elliott and Dr. Steve Sanders. This article summarizes so many of the reasons why we need to incorporate movement in the classroom and the benefits of doing so. Also included are links to activities that can be incorporated in nearly every subject. Several of these are from the incredible PE Central website.
 * 4) Adventure to Fitness - You have to join this website to use it, but it's worth it. Plus, it's completely free! Once you join it, there are numerous episodes of the Adventure to Fitness video to enjoy. Using a computer and a projector, it would be easy to show an entire classroom these videos. Everyone could participate at once, and you could watch small portions of each episode at a time. This would be a very interactive brain break.
 * 5) Michigan Department of Education Brain Breaks - This website includes more examples of brain breaks, but the thing that distinguishes it from others is that it also separates these brain breaks by several criteria. For one, each brain break listed also has the page number that you will find it on if you download the pdf files of the book. Another great feature of the activities list is that it includes the materials needed, grade level, and subject area that each brain break would work for.
 * 6) PE Central's Video Section - There are so many videos in this website's video section! The "Classroom Teacher Videos" section specifically contains videos that demonstrate brain breaks. Of course, the other videos in this section are useful as well. There are lesson, dances, and other activities that could be used for brain breaks. Going to the homepage of this link also give an educator tons of articles and other ideas to use for incorporating physical activity and brain breaks in the classroom.
 * 7) Learning is a Moving Experience - This pdf file gives lots of information about the impact that a sedentary lifestyle can have on learning. It provides research conducted by West Virginia University that showed a correlation between inactivity and performance on standardized tests. If your school district is hesitant about incorporating brain breaks into the classroom, then perhaps perusing this document could help to change some minds.
 * 8) 10 Simple Activities for the Classroom - There are only ten activities on this pdf file, but they are wonderful. They're also a great resource to print out and share with other educators. If you are looking for a simple place to start with incorporating physical activity and brain breaks in your classroom, then this is the link to click on. Some of the ideas even include things to do while going about the daily classroom routine such as tip toeing to the bathroom.
 * 9) Brain Breaks for the Classroom Book - This is a great book for a great price! If you're looking for a book to pull out for quick reference on brain break ideas, then check this one out. It's released by Scholastic, it's less than $10.00, and it has forty exercises that were designed to give students a quick break from the rigors of academics.
 * 10) Active Academics - There are not an overwhelming number of activities on this site, but what is there is good. Divided by grade level, the site provides examples of energizers from pre-K to 5th grade. Another interesting feature is that the site distinguishes between energizers that can be done in the classroom and ones that require a larger area. While they are not necessarily energizers, there are also lesson ideas for many subjects. Some of these do involve physical activity and could be adapted to use as quick, brain breaks.