You’re in class, sitting down in your chair. The student in front of you has pushed his chair back right in front of yours so you have no room to stretch your aching legs. The hard back of your chair presses against your spine uncomfortably. The pencil in your hand has been moving for at least forty-five minutes and your hand is beginning to cramp up. Your eyelids begin to droop as they feel heavier and heavier.
Then, as if by some sort of divine intervention, your teacher shouts, “Brain Break!” Immediately, you straighten up and your eyes shoot open. Finally, your favorite part of the class has come and you know that it will wake you up. So, you stand up and as you go through the various exercises, you begin to feel much better and get ready to learn again.
Almost all students have experienced the first part of this scenario. Unfortunately, many teachers do not allow time for the second. Although many are unaware of this, exercise is extremely important to learning. When you move around you get more oxygen flowing to your brain and your senses become sharper, you retain information better, and you are more participating.
Everyone should get at least sixty minutes of exercise a day no matter who you are. This is even more important for students who have to balance homework, extracurricular activities and household tasks at home. All of these things can cause stress which will cause a decrease in a student’s performance. However, exercise can take that stress away and will clear your mind even if it’s just a few minutes in class.
So, in closing I would like to advise you all to encourage your teachers to allow some time for a Brain Break. Even if they decide not to, you can make the most of your time in between classes by walking around in the hall longer than you normally would or just stretching every once in a while in class. Finally, I would like to thank all of the teachers who do take the time to do Brain Breaks.
Here is a bit of extra information on learning and exercise:
http://www.actionforhealthykids.org/what-we-do/programs/game-on/about-game-on/get-involved/640-brain-breaks-and-energizers
Finally, here is a poll on brain breaks:
Then, as if by some sort of divine intervention, your teacher shouts, “Brain Break!” Immediately, you straighten up and your eyes shoot open. Finally, your favorite part of the class has come and you know that it will wake you up. So, you stand up and as you go through the various exercises, you begin to feel much better and get ready to learn again.
Almost all students have experienced the first part of this scenario. Unfortunately, many teachers do not allow time for the second. Although many are unaware of this, exercise is extremely important to learning. When you move around you get more oxygen flowing to your brain and your senses become sharper, you retain information better, and you are more participating.
Everyone should get at least sixty minutes of exercise a day no matter who you are. This is even more important for students who have to balance homework, extracurricular activities and household tasks at home. All of these things can cause stress which will cause a decrease in a student’s performance. However, exercise can take that stress away and will clear your mind even if it’s just a few minutes in class.
So, in closing I would like to advise you all to encourage your teachers to allow some time for a Brain Break. Even if they decide not to, you can make the most of your time in between classes by walking around in the hall longer than you normally would or just stretching every once in a while in class. Finally, I would like to thank all of the teachers who do take the time to do Brain Breaks.
Here is a bit of extra information on learning and exercise:
http://www.actionforhealthykids.org/what-we-do/programs/game-on/about-game-on/get-involved/640-brain-breaks-and-energizers
Finally, here is a poll on brain breaks: