DANCE WITH YOUR BRAIN

“Dance with the stars” in your room and activate the brain at the same time. All you need is some good music and a little enthusiasm. 

Hint! Model these moves and then invite children to join in. 

*Children can do these standing up or sitting in their chairs.


Disco Dance – Put right index finger in the air and point to the left. Bring right index finger down by your side. Place left index finger in the air and point to the right. Then bring down by your side.

Swim - Pretend to swim by stroking arms. Can you backstroke? Sidestroke?

Funky Monkey - Fists out in front and move them up and down to the beat.

Hitchhike - Right thumb up and move across your body. Left thumb and move across the body.

Twist - Elbows by waist and rotate upper body.

Chicken - Hands in armpits and flap like wings.

Pony – Pretend to hold reins as you bounce up and down.

Batman – Make “v” with index and middle fingers and swoop them across your eyes.

Salsa - Left arm bent with index finger up in the air. Right arm bent with finger in air.

Bollywood – Right palm up in the air like you’re screwing in a light bulb. Left palm down like you’re turning on a water spicket.


This has to be one of my all time favorite brain breaks!

Hand Jive
Materials: familiar music
Directions: Play a broadway tune, college fight song, country music, rock and roll, or anything that YOU like that has a strong, steady beat.
Slap thighs four times
Clap hands four times
Shuffle right palm over left palm four times
Shuffle left palm over right palm four times
Thump right fist on left fist four times
Thump left fist on right fist four times
Hitch hike with right hand
Hitch hike with left hand…
Continue the pattern.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nowpqdzZMYk

Hanky Panky
Tell the students when you throw the handkerchief (or tissue) up in the air they can start doing a silly dance and make funny noises. When the hanky hits the ground they must freeze. Do this several times to get rid of wiggles.