Ever looked around your classroom mid-lesson and thought: “Wow, no one here is actually learning right now”?

That was me — slogging through content, trying to “stay on track,” while my students glazed over and the vibe went stale.

Then one day, I threw caution to the wind and played Heads Down, Thumbs Up with my Year 11s.

It wasn’t just silly — it was transformational.

Let’s talk about the power of brain breaks. The kind that actually work — even with tough teens — and why I now see them as a cornerstone of classroom management.

Why I Used to Avoid Brain Breaks

As a secondary English teacher under constant pressure to hit outcomes, I felt I couldn’t “afford” to play games.

But that mindset gave me:

• A disengaged, joyless classroom

• Students who resisted learning

• No sense of connection or community

I was managing behaviour reactively — instead of proactively.

When It All Changed…

That one spontaneous game of Heads Down, Thumbs Up opened the door.

Suddenly:
✅ Students laughed
✅ Focus improved
✅ Their actual work improved

From then on, I integrated strategic brain breaks into my practice. The results?

• Better engagement

• Stronger classroom culture

• Way less resistance

• A classroom that felt good to be in

Brain Breaks: Not “Extra” — Essential

Brain breaks are NOT “wasted time.”

Used well, they help you:

• Manage behaviour proactively

• Build connection and community

• Improve focus and learning

• Regulate classroom energy (up or down)

My Go-To Brain Breaks (Tough Teen Crowd Approved!!)

🔥 1. Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament

Use when energy is low and you need to reset the vibe FAST.
💡 Pro tip: Have students sit as they “lose” — it’s a fun way to refocus the class quickly.

🧠 2. Count to 20 Challenge

Use when the room is too noisy or no one’s listening.
Students must count to 20, one number at a time — but if two speak at once, start over.
✨ It builds collaboration and active listening, naturally.

🧘‍♀️ 3. Downregulation Activities

Use when the class feels tense, anxious, or over-stimulated.
Try:

• Breathing exercises

• Chair yoga

• Gratitude prompts

• 3-minute meditations

Small shift. Big payoff.

💬 4. Would You Rather

Perfect for transitions or between activities.
Use just one question to add movement, laughs, and community building — without derailing your lesson.

Free Download: 13 Prep-Free Brain Break Games

Need something ready-to-go?

🎁 Grab my free list of 13 whole-class brain break games — no prep, no fuss, just plug-and-play activities that work in real secondary classrooms.

GRAB THE GAMES FOR FREE HERE :)

Want the Whole Toolbox? Grab the Brain Breaks Bundle 🧠✨

Ready to build a classroom your students want to walk into — and that makes your job 10x easier?

Say hello to the Brain Breaks Mega Bundle — your go-to for effortless classroom connection, regulation, and proactive management all year long.

What’s Inside:

Over 600+ engaging prompts, games, slides, and cards, including:

• Riddle Me This – PowerPoint

• Chit Chat – Conversation slides

• Beat the Clock – Printables & PPT

• Odd One Out – PPT activity

• Wordhunter – Word puzzle activity

• This or That – Quick decision game

• Would You Rather – Game & slides

• Never Have I Ever – Game & slides

• Blobs and Lines – Game & slides

• Speed Greetings – Game & slides

• BONUS: 13 no-prep classroom game cards for on-the-fly resets

Why You’ll Love It:

• Over a year’s worth of material (and then some!)

• Builds connection, SEL skills, and buy-in in just 5 minutes a day

• Reduces disruptions and increases student engagement

• Perfect for bell-ringers, transitions, parties, and “dead time”

Use it to:

• Kick off the school year with zero awkwardness

• Keep your class engaged all term long

• Build a culture of collaboration and calm

It’s not just “fun” — it’s strategy.

GRAB THE BRAIN BREAK BUNDLE

You don’t need to add stress to fix your classroom climate.

Sometimes, you just need a five-minute reset and the right resource in your back pocket.

Try one this week. I promise — you’ll feel the shift.