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Sometimes, your students (and you!) just need a little reset. Brain breaks are a powerful tool to refocus attention, release wiggles, and boost energy, all without derailing your schedule!

Here are 7 fun and simple brain break ideas that are classroom-tested and easy to implement. Bonus: one uses a well-loved kids’ YouTube resource.

Before we dive in, I want to mention Brain Breaks Printable Cards for the Classroom. This resource gives you ready-to-go brain break prompts, editable slide versions, and printable cards making it super simple to pull in a break on the fly.

1. Freeze Dance

Play a song (e.g. up-tempo pop or kid-friendly tune) and have students dance freely. When the music pauses, they freeze! It’s a classic that never fails to get laughs and movement.

2. Stretch & Reach

Call out body parts (“reach for the ceiling, reach down low, twist side to side”) or lead a quick guided stretch. This is gentle and calming — perfect after a seated block of work.

3. Animal Walks

Ask students to move like different animals: hop like a frog, slither like a snake, tiptoe like a cat, stomp like an elephant. It’s playful and gets little muscles moving.

4. Simon Says

A quick game of Simon Says (e.g. “Simon Says jump twice,” “Simon Says touch your toes”) can get energy out while requiring listening and self-control.

5. Mindful Breathing / Balloon Breaths

Guide students to imagine themselves inflating a balloon: inhale slowly (hands go up), exhale slowly (hands come down). Great for calming before a tricky task.

6. GoNoodle Movement Breaks (YouTube / Online)

GoNoodle is a well-known channel full of movement and mindfulness videos designed for classrooms. Use one of their dance or breathing videos as a brain break and students will love it!

7. Prompted Movement Cards

Using your Brain Breaks Printable Cards, have students pick a card (or you can project one) with prompts like: “5 jumping jacks,” “spin in a circle,” “sit and stretch for 30 seconds,” “high knees in place.” The editable Google Slides version means you can tailor or rotate the prompts each week.

Tips for Making Brain Breaks Work Well

• Set a timer (30–60 seconds) so the break doesn’t drag on.
• Mix high-energy and low-energy breaks depending on when you use them (before a test = calmer break; after lunch = energetic break).
• Rotate your go-to cards/videos so students don’t get bored.
• Model with them — students engage more when you join in.

If you try even just one of these brain breaks today, you’ll likely see more focus and greater enthusiasm afterward. And if you want a full set of prompts you can reuse and customize, Brain Breaks Printable Cards for the Classroom has got your back! 

Looking for more classroom management ideas, check out my post here!

Teaching economics in 2nd grade might sound overwhelming at first, but it doesn’t have to be! Our young students are already making economic choices every day, deciding what to buy at the school store, trading snacks at lunch, or saving up allowance money. With the right activities, you can make these big concepts both fun and easy to understand. Here are five stress-free ways to get started.

1. Start with Wants vs. Needs

This is the perfect entry point into economics. Create a simple T-chart with students and sort pictures or items into “wants” and “needs.” You can even let students draw their own examples. It’s an easy, visual way to begin meaningful discussions.

2. Teach Scarcity Through Stories

Scarcity can feel abstract, but storytelling makes it concrete. Read a story or create a classroom scenario where there aren’t enough supplies for everyone. Ask students how they would solve the problem. This sparks critical thinking and helps them connect the idea to real life.

3. Explore Producers and Consumers

Set up a mini “classroom market.” Some students can act as producers (making simple crafts or drawings), while others are consumers who “buy” them with play money. This hands-on activity brings producers and consumers to life in a way worksheets alone can’t.

4. Connect to Everyday Math

Graphs, charts, and simple surveys are an easy way to weave economics into math time. Have students poll their classmates about their favorite snack, graph the results, and talk about what that means for supply and demand. Integrating subjects keeps lessons stress-free and engaging.

5. Use a Done-for-You Resource

The best way to save time and reduce overwhelm is by using a resource that’s already organized for you. My Economics Activities for 2nd Grade includes nine weeks of detailed lessons, posters, interactive notebook pages, “Write the Room” activities, and assessments. Everything is laid out in a way that’s easy to follow, so you can feel confident teaching concepts like scarcity, resources, producers/consumers, and saving/spending without hours of prep!

Economics might seem intimidating, but when you break it down into simple, relatable activities, your students will quickly catch on. Try one of these ideas this week, and you’ll see how much fun it can be to introduce real-world skills in your classroom. And if you’re ready for a complete roadmap, grab the Economics Activities for 2nd Grade resource and make teaching economics stress-free all year long!

Looking for more social studies ideas? Check out my post here! 

Thanksgiving isn’t just about turkey and pie (though that is a great part!), it’s a wonderful opportunity to help our young students learn about gratitude, kindness, and community. As a teacher, you can create meaningful learning experiences that go beyond rote crafts and give students a chance to reflect on what they’re thankful for. Here are 7 projects that are simple to set up, engaging for students in K-2, and promote gratitude all season long.

1. Thankfulness Craftivity (Paper & Digital Option)

Use my Thanksgiving Google Slides Activity | Paper and Digital Craftivity resource.
Students can choose either paper or digital mode: write or type things they’re thankful for (people, places, activities, animals, etc.), add drawings or images, then assemble into a poster or decor piece. This is great for differentiation and lets students with varying comfort in writing express themselves.

2. Thanksgiving Show for Parents

Organize a class performance using my Thanksgiving Play – Holiday Show for Parents. Students can act out short scenes, recite poems, or perform songs about gratitude, harvest, family, and community. This gives them something to rehearse and share, reinforcing gratitude not only to themselves but in front of others.

3. Gratitude Journal Prompts

Set aside a few minutes each morning for students to journal or draw one thing they’re thankful for. Prompts could include: “Who helped you yesterday?” or “What made you smile last week?” Over time, students will build awareness of the little things.

4. Thank You Letters or Cards

Have students write thank you notes to someone in their school (custodian, bus driver, librarian), at home, or someone else they appreciate. Use fun stationery or let them decorate. You might combine this with your show for parents or display these letters in a gratitude wall.

5. Gratitude Tree or Wall Display

Create a classroom gratitude tree: have paper leaves, feathers, or turkeys where each student writes something they are thankful for and adds it to the tree. It becomes a visual reminder of all the positive things around them.

6. Partner Interviews

Pair students up and have them interview each other: “What are you thankful for and why?” Then share responses with the class. This builds empathy, listening skills, and allows students to learn about classmates’ lives while recognizing shared blessings.

7. Acts of Kindness Project

Encourage small acts of kindness as part of gratitude. Students can plan something kind to do each day leading up to Thanksgiving: help a friend, share, clean up without being asked, etc. Reflect at the end of each day: how did that act make them feel?

Why These Work

• They combine reflection (thinking about gratitude) with action (creating something, performing, helping others).
• They allow for different modes of expression like writing, speaking, art, drama.
• They foster community both inside the classroom and with families.

Putting It Into Practice

• Plan your timeline: Mix shorter activities (journals, interviews) with longer ones (play, craftivity) so the work is spread out.
• Display student work: gratitude walls, performances, or showcasing craft projects boosts pride and reinforces gratitude.
• Debrief: Take time after each project for students to talk about how gratitude feels and how noticing gratitude can change perspectives.

If you try one or more of these ideas, you’ll likely find students become more thoughtful, kind, and joyful, not only during Thanksgiving, but year-round.For more thanksgiving ideas, check out my post here!