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Brains in Balance

Brain research indicates that activities including balance, catching a ball, and processing information can improve brain functioning.

  • Have students find a partner and stand 5-8 feet apart.
  • Ask a question from the text.
  • While asking the question, partner 1 tosses object (scrap paper formed into ball) to partner 2 who answers question while standing on one foot.

Toss and Catch

Have teams of two toss and catch a small ball as many times as possible per 30-second action described below. Each team should record their number to see any patterns and to get a grand total. After the activity, ask which activities were more challenging and why.

  • Toss and catch while standing
  • Toss and catch while hopping on left foot
  • Toss and catch while walking in place
  • Toss and catch while hopping on right foot
  • Toss and catch while jumping with two feet in place
  • Toss and catch while jogging in place.

Verb or Adverb

Use this classroom physical activity to build language skills.

  • Someone reads a passage.
  • Every time the class hears a verb they should jog.
  • When they hear an adverb they should shake their hands.

The Wave

Arrange students so they are standing in a large circle for this activity.

  • One student starts the "wave" beginning in a semi-squat position, moving to fully extended and back to a semi-squat.
  • The wave continues with the next student, then the next, and the next until the movement has gone all around the circle.
  • The next person in line begins a new wave with a new movement that continues around the circle.

The Human Machine

Arrange students in groups of 5-6 to decide on a machine or piece of equipment with at least 4 moving parts and a 4-beat timing (e.g., truck, blender, washing machine). Each group plans and demonstrates a 4-beat timing sequence as follows:

  • move every beat (1,2,3,4)
  • move every other beat (1, hold, 3, hold)
  • move on first beat of 4 (1, hold, hold, hold)
  • move 2 times to every beat (1&, 2&, 3&, 4&)

Have the class guess the machine demonstrated by each group.


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