The Jumping Game Easy Brain Break Activity For Your Classroom

You need to have several “tricks” to pull out of your back pocket when kids need to have a break, to expend some energy, to divert attention from something else going on in the room (a potential meltdown for ex.), to prepare them for a high-concentration activity, or when you the teacher need to have a mental break yourself.

And so, the Jumping Game was born!

  • Stand in a circle
  • Play a song with a good beat (see Spotify playlist below)
  • T stands on the outside of the circle and taps a child on the shoulder.
  • That child goes into the middle and begins to jump
  • Prepare kids for the jumping game by talking about how they can be creative by using feet together, feet apart, 1 and 2-foot jumping/hopping, use of arms, bending knees, turning as you jump, etc.
  • Everyone in the circle imitates the leader in the middle
  • T occasionally comments about some of the fine points of the jumper. “Ooh, did you see how they alternated bending their elbows as they jumped?”
  • Tap the next child in the circle after about 10 seconds, continuing to make your way around the circle.
  • In a class of 25, this gave the class about 4 minutes of jumping.

The Music

I used anything with a good beat that I knew would engage the kids. If we were near a seasonal event, I’d play something related.

Here’s my Spotify list of some possibilities or use the player below!

SCROLL the titles to find lots of options!

If you’d like TIMELY tips delivered to your inbox,
every Monday morning, get the Oodles Newsletter!

Processing…
Success! Use the PW: Oodles21 to unlock FREEBIES on the Subscriber Spot tab in the top menu!

You might also like these other movement-based resources.

Looking for simple and fun ways for your music classes to be active and engaged outdoors. Check out these easy outdoor music and movement activities for kids.
Find dances, games, activities, lesson plans, and philosophy related to movement.
Parachute activities that teach musical and movement concepts, let students explore through creativity and improvisation, and provide physical fitness.

Author: lbbartolomeo

I'm a mom, wife, teacher, reader, gardener, trekkie, sci-fi fanatic, musician, dog lover, and a Christian. I hope my contributions bring some joy and happiness to your life!

Leave a Reply

%d bloggers like this: