Brain Breaks/Ice Breakers

  • Picnic
    • Everyone sits in a circle. Two people know the rhyme. A popular one is saying “I’m going on a picnic and I’m bringing a tiger and a mouse (tiger = first letter of person’s first name; mouse = first letter of person’s last name). You have to try to catch on the pattern. If you think you know, you can try. If you get it, join the rotation. 
  • One-Minute Mysteries
    • The clues & answers are included towards the end of the document.
  • Gotcha
    • The above link goes to a video that explains the game.
    • Students try to grab their classmate’s finger with their hand when the teacher says, “Gotcha!” while trying to not let their classmate grab their finger.
  • Say to What I Point, Point to What I Say
    • Teacher: Point to a body part, but say another.  
      • Point to your nose, but say “eyes.”
    • Students: Say the body part that your teacher points to, and point to the body part that he/she says
      • Point to your eyes, but say “nose.”
  • The Number Game
    Teacher Prep: Have a way for students to randomly select a number between 1 & 12 (two dice, a ball with numbers on it, pieces of paper, popsicle stick, etc.)
    • Introduce yourself to the class, then answer the question that corresponds to the number you select.
     1. What’s your favorite rainy day activity? 7. What’s your favorite animal?
     2. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? 8. What’s your favorite TV show or video game?
     3. What’s one of your favorite traditions? 9. What’s your favorite series & why?
     4. If you won $1 million, how would you spend it? 10. If you could meet someone famous, who would it be & why?
     5. What’s your favorite Olympic event? 11. What’s one of your talents?
     6. What’s your ideal vacation? 12. What’s an activity you’re involved with at East?

    Stand-Up, Touch Down

      • Your teacher will say a statement. 
      • If you agree with the statement, stand up and remain standing. 
      • If you disagree with the statement, remain seated. 
      • The teacher may ask you to share why you agree or disagree. 
      • The teacher will say another statement. Remain standing or stand if you agree. Sit or remain seated if you disagree. 
      • Autumn is the best time of year.
      • The Harry Potter books were better than the movies. 
      • Pizza is the best food ever invented. 
      • Being happy is better than being rich. 
      • School is cool. 
      • Vanilla ice cream is boring. 
      • President Obama is a good president.
      • Politicians spend too much money on campaigns. 
      • Live music is better than recorded music. 
      • Watching movies at home is better than watching them at the theater. 
      • Popcorn is better with butter. 
      • McDonalds is better than Subway. 
      • Taking the bus is better than driving. 
      • School uniforms are great! 
      • Social media makes us socialize less. 
      • Twitter is better than Instagram.

    Connections

      • The students create a circle. You will want to have each student have some sort of “marker” (piece of paper, desk, etc.) of their place. The teacher may start in the middle. You will have one less space in the circle than number of people you have as one person will always be in the middle.

    • 1. We will stand in a circle with one person in the center. The person in the center shares something about himself or herself. 

      Example: I’ve visited Chicago.

      ​2. If the sentence they say is true for you (ex: You’ve also been to Chicago), you must move to a different spot in the circle. You may not move to the spot right next to you.

      3. The person that does not find a spot is now in the middle and will share something about himself or herself. The game continues.

    What if ___? Then ___.

    • On a sheet of paper, write a question beginning with, “What if____ ?” Then answer the question with a statement beginning with “Then ____.”
       
      Examples: 
      1. What if money grew on trees? Then everyone would be rich.
      2. What if humans could fly? Then it would be easier to travel.
      3. What if smart phones were never invented? Then Instagram wouldn’t exist.
      One everyone is done, Student 1 reads only his/her “What if ____ ?” question.
      Then, Student 2 answers the question with their “Then ____.” statement.
      Student 2 then asks his/her “What if ____?” question.
      Student 3 answers with his/her “Then ____.” statement.
      The game continues in this manner.
      Example:
      Student 1: What if money grew on trees?
      Student 2: Then it would be easier to travel. 
       
      Student 2: What if humans could fly ?
      Student 3: Then Instagram wouldn’t exist.
       
      Student 3: What if smart phones were never invented?
     

    Name Game

    • Choose something you like that begins with the first letter of your name.
      • Examples: Alex likes apples. Brody likes baseball. Jose likes jogging. Sara likes singing. 
    • The teacher will begin by sharing what they like.
      • I’m Ms. Schreck and I like sitting in my hammock.
    • The next student begins by repeating the teacher’s name & what he or she likes, then sharing his/her name and what he/she likes.
      • Ms. Palmersheim likes practicing yoga. I’m Jose and I like jogging.
    • The game continues until all students have been introduced. The last student will have to know everyone’s name & what they like.
      • Ms. Schreck likes sitting in her hammock. Jose likes jogging. Sara likes singing. Alex likes apples. I’m Giselle and I like going to the mall.
    • After all the students have gone, the teacher will go again, saying everyone’s name & what they like, to end the game!
    Four Corners

  • Designate each corner of the room A, B, C, D

  • Your teacher asks a question & gives four possible answers

  • Choose your answer.

  • Move to the corner that corresponds to your answer.
  • Introduce yourself to someone or a few people in your group– you have something in common!
  • Explain why you chose the answer & have a conversation. (1-2 minutes)
    • Challenge yourself to talk to someone new for each question.
    Two Truths & A Lie

    • Each student needs a piece of paper/sticky note & a pencil/pen. 
    • Students, write 2 truths & 1 lie on your paper about yourself.
      • I have never traveled out of the country. 
      • My favorite book is The Giver. 
      • I am afraid of pickles.
    • Students will individually read their 2 truths & a lie to the class, and the class tries to guess which one is the lie. 

    The Name Game II

    • Group gets in a circle and one person stands in the middle. Everyone on the outside puts one hand in the circle. The person in the middle tries to hit someone’s hand. Before you get your hand slapped, you yell someone else’s name. Goal is for the person in the middle to hit someone’s hand and send that new person to the middle.