Educators are well versed as to how important academic knowledge is, however research is showing that students benefit from the development of cognitive processes, like executive functioning skills. Here is a list of movement and brain break resources you can have on hand so you are prepared whenever you need to get your students moving.

Now that the holidays are behind us, the long stretch of dark days until spring can put a 
damper on anyone’s mood. You may notice changes in your students’ behavior such as 
struggling to focus or acting restless. According to the Mayo Clinic, if a student also 
experiences Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), they could even show signs of 
“social withdrawal, school or work problems…[or] other mental health disorders 
such as anxiety or eating disorders.”1 Luckily, according to a 2021 study, even “just 
four minutes of physical activity within the classroom period has significant effects 
on classroom behavior and physical activity in primary school children.”2 If your students 
(or you!) are 
having a hard time focusing and need a break, consider getting everyone up and moving.


If you’re new to movement breaks, “using exercise videos is recommended as an 
 interactive, technology-based solution that can be easily integrated into the school 
 setting,”3 according to an international study from 2020. You can find numerous 
 exercise and movement break videos on YouTube and even bookmark your class favorites 
 to use again later. Besides using videos, games and other activities can also be 
 effective. Here is a list of movement and brain break resources you can have on hand 
 so you are prepared whenever you need to get your students moving:


<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/incorporating-movement-in-the-classroom?" target="_blank"> Incorporating Movement in the Classroom</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://www.edutopia.org/article/17-brain-breaks-tailored-for-high-schoolers/" target="_blank"> 17 Brain Breaks Tailored for High Schoolers</a> </li>
 <li><a href="https://artsintegration.com/brain-breaks-for-kids/" target="_blank"> 45 Creative Brain Breaks for Kids</a> </li>
</ul>


 Staying active indoors isn’t just for the classroom. If you live somewhere that gets cold or wet enough, you might get stuck with indoor recess. 
 Fortunately, it’s still possible to get the wiggles out even when the weather keeps your students inside. Here are some resources for a great indoor recess:

<ul>
 <li> <a href="https://www.weareteachers.com/indoor-recess-ideas/" target="_blank">55 Sanity-Saving Indoor Recess Games and Activities for Teachers</a></li>
 <li> <a href="https://mybrightwheel.com/blog/indoor-recess" target="_blank">Indoor Recess and Brain Break Ideas for Preschoolers</a></li>
 <li> <a href="https://www.heartlandaea.org/app/uploads/2021/02/APE-Recess-Activities-Games.pdf" target="_blank">	Adapted Physical Education 
 and Recess Activities and Games </a></li>
</ul>

The winter blues can impact anyone. Be sure to take care of yourself so that you 
 can continue to care for others:
<ul>
 <li> Get enough sleep </li>
 <li> Stay hydrated </li>
 <li>Practice self care </li>
</ul>

Above all, remember that spring and brighter days are just around the corner. 
 Hang in there! 


<h3> References: </h3>
<ol>
 <li> Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. “Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) - Symptoms & causes”, 
 Last modified December 14, 2021.
 <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20364651" target="_blank"> https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20364651
 </a>
 </li>	
 <li> Abigail A. Broad, Derek P.D. Bornath, Daniel Grisebach, Seth F. McCarthy, Pamela J. Bryden, Jennifer Robertson-Wilson & Tom J. 
 Hazell (2023) Classroom Activity Breaks Improve On-Task Behavior and Physical Activity Levels Regardless of Time of Day, 
 Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 94:2, 331-343, DOI: 10.1080/02701367.2021.1980189
 </li>
 <li> Mok, Magdalena Mo Ching, Ming-Kai Chin, Agata Korcz, Biljana Popeska, Christopher R. Edginton, Fatma Sacli Uzunoz, 
 Hrvoje Podnar, Dané Coetzee, Luminita Georgescu, Arunas Emeljanovas, and et al. 2020. "Brain Breaks® Physical Activity Solutions 
 in the Classroom and on Attitudes toward Physical Activity: A Randomized Controlled Trial among Primary Students from Eight Countries" 
 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 5: 1666. 
 <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17051666" target="_blank"> https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17051666</a>
 </li>
</ol>

Fighting the Winter Blues