Showing posts with label Crossing the Midline. Show all posts

Thursday, February 12, 2026

BRAIN TOYS

Today you’ll find are some simple props your students can use for brain breaks. I’d make one each week and use it every day for a different movement.

Streamers - Staple strips of tissue paper (18” x 1”) to a straw and invite children to follow along as you make cross lateral movements to music.
*Make rainbows across your head with your right hand and then your left hand.
*Make big circles in front of your body with your right hand and then your left hand.
*Make “lazy” eights (8 on it’s side) with your right hand and then your left hand.
*Clasp hands and make rainbows, circles, and lazy eights.

Hint! Children can also use surveying tape of 3’ sections of toilet paper as streatmers.

Paper Ball Juggling - Begin by having children wad up a piece of scrap paper.
*Can they toss it and catch it?

*Can they play catch with a friend?
*Can they toss it, clap, and then catch it?
*How many times can they toss it without dropping it?
*Can they toss it from the right hand to the left and vice versa.
*Add a second paper ball and let the fun begin!
Hint! You can make inexpensive juggling scarves by cutting net fabric into 12” squares.

Paper Plates – Give each child two paper plates.
*Can they clap them to the beat, make rainbows, use them like cymbals, or make other movements?
*Place the plates on the floor and put a foot on each plate. Now you’re ready to skate by sliding your feet.

Drum Sticks - Who doesn’t want to be a drummer? Children can use cardboard rollers from paper towel rolls, popsicle sticks, or pencils like drumsticks to tap the beat of the music.

*Make pattern cards for children to follow along. Vertical lines mean tap the sticks on the table or floor. “X” means to cross sticks and tap. __ means to hold sticks up and pause.

Saturday, February 7, 2026

DANCE PARTY

“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.

Dance with Me!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nowpqdzZMYk

Chair Can Can

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIOSRvmYp94

My Bonnie Bounce

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ONWTT-JFu8

Friday, February 6, 2026

NEUROBICS

“Neurobics” is a term that refers to brain exercises or activities that can improve students’ learning. Although you can’t get inside your students’ heads and shake up their brains, these activities can help make your students’ brains more alert. You can use these brain breaks to start your day, between lessons, or whenever your students appear bored or restless.

Hint! Introduce one activity at a time and observe how your class responds. Write those they like on a poster or put them on index cards and store them in a “brain break” can. Encourage students to choose their favorites and lead the class.

CROSSING THE MIDLINE

Draw a line vertically down the middle of your body. That’s called the midline. Every time you cross over that line, you are helping connect the hemispheres in the brain. Let students put a piece of painter’s tape or masking tape on their midline to increase their awareness when you do these activities. Put on some lively music and practice these movements for about 30 seconds each. (My Raggedy Ann doll that I made over 60 years ago agreed to be my model for the masking tape midline!)

Simple Tap - Touch right hand to left knee and left hand to right knee.

Bend and Stretch - Lift left knee and touch with right elbow. Lift right knee and touch with left elbow.

Backwards Touch - Lift left foot behind you and stretch back with right hand and touch. Reverse for the right foot and left hand.

Windmills – Stretch out feet. Touch right hand to left foot. Stand. Touch left hand to right foot.

CHAIR EXERCISES FOR THE BRAIN

Students can do these movements in their chairs or while sitting on the rug.

Catch a Star –Reach with right hand up in the air to your left and pretend to catch a star. Then reach with your left hand up in the air to your right and catch a star.

Pat on the Back – Alternate patting the back of your left shoulder with your right hand and your right shoulder with your left hand.

Nose and Ears – Touch right ear with left hand and place right hand on your nose. Touch left ear with right hand and place left hand on your nose.

Brain Hug
Thumbs up. Thumbs down. Cross your arms. Clasp your fingers.
Bring your hands under and into your chest. Give yourself a hug.

Jump Up, Turn Around, Cross the Midline

Click to view video

NURSERY RHYMES FOR BRAIN POWER!

When children memorize words to rhymes and songs it's almost like sending their brains to the gym!

Click to view video

Nursery rhymes have many uses to support learning.

Sunday, January 21, 2024

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.

Tuesday, January 16, 2024

CROSS THAT MIDLINE

Put your two fists together and that’s what your brain looks like. Now, draw a line vertically down the middle of your body. That’s called the midline. Every time you cross over that line, you are activating both sides of the brain and building bridges between the hemispheres in the brain.

Note! These activities are good to do before a lesson because they “erase” the brain and get it ready to begin something new.

Hint! Let children put a piece of painter’s tape on their midline to increase their awareness when you do these activities.

Thumbs up (Children stick out right thumb.)
Across the chest (Stretch right thumb to left shoulder.)
Pat on the back (Pat left shoulder with right hand.)
Cause you’re the best. (Hug self with both arms.)
Repeat with left thumb.

Cross and Tap
Materials: None
Directions: Touch right hand to left knee and then touch left hand to right knee. Continue touching opposite hands to knees.

Adaptations: Lift left knee and touch with right elbow. Lift right knee and touch with left elbow.

Skills: Count, say the ABC’s, repeat nursery rhymes, and so forth as you cross and tap.

Backwards Touch
Materials: None
Directions: Lift left foot behind you and stretch back with right hand and touch. Reverse for the right foot and left hand.

Adaptations: Keep time to music as you do the backwards stretch.

Skills: Read word wall words, say the months, etc. as you touch backwards.

Crazy Eights
Materials: None
Directions: Make the figure eight in front of you with your right hand and then your left hand. Make “lazy” eights by making eight laying down with your right hand. Make lazy eights with your left hand.

Adaptations: Clasp your right and left hand and make large lazy eights.

Hint! Use streamers or scarves for this activity.

Catch a Star
Materials: None
Directions: Reach with right hand up in the air to your left and pretend to catch a star. Then reach with your left hand up in the air to your right and catch a star.

Adaptations: Ask children to recall something they learned as they catch a star.

Windmills
Materials: None
Directions: Stretch out feet. Touch right hand to left foot. Stand. Touch left hand to right foot.

Skills: Count, say the ABC’s, etc. as you exercise

Pat on the Back
Materials: None
Directions: Alternate patting the back of your left shoulder with your right hand and then pat your right shoulder with your left hand.

Adaptations: Children repeat this phrase as they do the motions.

Climbing
Materials: None
Directions: Act like you are climbing a ladder as you reach up with your right hand and lift your left knee. Reach with your left hand and lift your right knee.

Nose and Ears
Materials: None
Directions: Touch right ear with left hand and place right hand on your nose. Touch left ear with right hand and place left hand on your nose.

Adaptations: Touching ears with opposite hands do squats.

Breath in as you squat down and breath out as you come up.

Toe Writing
Materials: none
Directions: Cross right leg over left knee and write the letters of the alphabet with the toes on your right foot. Then cross your left foot over your right knee and write the alphabet letters backwards with your left toes.

Here is a video where children can sing, move, and cross the midline.

Jump Up, Turn Around, Cross the Midline

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slVzDBKyxIo&list=PL7bsHC8DZJxh3UuXWDyOXZ1c_dGBUdxOA&index=21

Wednesday, July 6, 2022

PD #20 BRAIN TOYS

Click to View Video for Brain Toys - PD #20

Today I’ve got some simple “brain toys” that could be used in a variety of ways in your classroom to release energy and promote active learning.

Noodle
You can get these swim noodles on sale now or at a dollar store. Cut them into 8” - 9” sections and store them in a plastic tub. Pass these out to your students give them a few minutes to “mess around” and pretend they are Luke Skywalker. Explain that whenever you say “Statue of Liberty” they have to freeze and hold their noodle up like a torch.

*Follow the Leader – Play some music and have the students follow along with you as you cross the midline and make other movements with the noodle.

*Air Writing – Use noodles to practice pre-writing strokes, letters, shapes, numerals, and so forth in the air with big movements.

*Massage – Brush noodles down arms or legs. Place the noodle on the floor and roll on it to give yourself a massage.

Therapy Bands
Purchase a large roll of exercise resistance bands and cut it into 18” sections. Cut these in half horizontally and give one to each child.

*Children can stretch the bands as they extend sounds in a word.

*Exercise with the bands as you count, say the ABC’s, read word wall words, spell, and so forth. Stretch above your head, behind you, vertically, etc.

Hint! You can purchase rolls of the exercise bands online at Target and many other stores.

Juggling Scarves
You can purchase scarves or buy netting and cut it into 9” squares. Begin by giving each child one square to catch and toss. Let them play catch with a friend. Can they toss it, clap one time, and then catch it? Let them think of other tricks to do with their scarves.

Thursday, July 22, 2021

CROSS THE MIDLINE AND GOING CRAZY

It’s important to activate both sides of the brain by crossing from left to right and right to left. Here’s a video that’s great to start your day or when the children get a little restless.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slVzDBKyxIo

Jump Up, Turn around, Cross the Midline
Jump up, turn around, cross the midline, (Jump, turn, stretch arms left.)
Jump up, turn around, cross it every day. (Jump, turn, stretch arms right.)
Jump up, turn around, cross the midline,
Jump up, turn around, let’s see how many ways.
Bend low and pick that bean. (Bend down to the left with right hand.)
Bend low and pick that pea. (Bend down to the right with left hand.)
Bend low and pick that berry.
Bend low and get that squash for me.
Jump up stretch and pick that apple. (High to the left with right hand.)
Jump up stretch and pick that pear. (High to the right with left hand.)
Jump up stretch and pick that cherry.
Jump up and get that orange over there...

Cross Lateral Connections
Have children put their two fists together to make their “brain.” Explain that both sides of the brain have to work together. Draw an imaginary line down the middle of your body. That’s the midline. Crossing over that imaginary line builds bridges in their brain. Put a piece of masking tape or painter’s tape down their bodies so they can visually see how they cross the midline when they sing the song.

Brain Hug
Demonstrate how children can “hug their brain” and cross the midline.
1. Thumbs up – Extend arms and stick up thumbs in front of you.
2. Cross arms
3. Clasp fingers
4. Bring fists down and up to hug chest

You’re the Best
Here’s a simpler version of a brain hug just right for the younger students. Ask the students to repeat each line as you demonstrate.
1. Thumbs up.
2. Across the chest.
3. Pat on the back.
4. Cause you’re the BEST!

I Am Slowly Going Crazy

When I would be about to explode, I would sit down in a chair and start singing this song. At first my class really thought I was going crazy, but eventually they saw the humor and we would all end up laughing. It became a great attention grabber and a fun way for all of us to relax and smile.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgDU5RpzUms

I Am Slowly Going Crazy
(Tune: "Reuben, Reuben, I’ve Been Thinking")
I am slowly going crazy, (Cross right ankle on left knee. Place right
elbow on right knee and place chin on palm.)
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, switch. (Cross left ankle on right knee and place
chin on left palm.)
Crazy going slowly am I, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, switch.
Continue singing faster and faster.

*Brainstorm other things you can do when you feel like you’re going crazy!

*Make a class book of “Things That Drive Us Crazy!”

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

KICK BOX THE ABC'S AND MACARENA COUNT TO 100

ABC Kick Box  
Children stand and make fists with their hands. Explain that you will punch across with your right hand and say a letter. Then punch across with their left hand and make the sound.  
A – Punch with right hand /a/
B - Punch with left hand /b/
C…through Z

Adaptations: Say a word that starts with each letter instead of the sound.

*Make manual signs for letters as you punch across.

https://bit.ly/drjeanKickBox

Macarena Count to 100
Children stand and do the “Macarena” as they count.
1 (Right arm out palm down.)
2 (Left arm out palm down.)
3 (Right palm up.)
4 (Left palm up.)
5 (Right hand on left shoulder.)
6 (Left hand on right shoulder.)
7 (Right hand behind head.)
8 (Left hand behind head.)
9 (Right hand on left hip.)
10 (Left hand on right hip.)
(Clap two times.)
That is one ten. (Hold up one finger.)
11…100

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGKXZVxAffM

Karate Chop Count
Feet out, knees bent, karate chop with your right hand and then your left as you count by ones.
*Do leg curls and chops as you count by 5’s to 100
*Kick front and back as you count by 10’s to 200.
*Wax on, wax off as you count by 100’s to 1000.

Saturday, June 12, 2021

PEANUT BUTTER AND WALLY ACHA

https://bit.ly/drjeanPB

Peanut Butter (Tune: "Allouette")
Peanut butter, we like peanut butter. (Clap hands and march to the beat.)
Peanut butter, that’s what we like best.
Do you like it on your head? (Point to head.)
Yes, we like it on our head.
On your head?
On our head.
Ohhhhhh. (Hands on cheeks and move head from side to side.)

Do you like it on your shirt… (Point to shirt.)

Do you like it on your pants… (Point to pants.)

Do you like it on your socks… (Point to socks.)

Do you like it on your shoes… (Point to shoes.)

On your underwear? (Cover your eyes.)

*Is someone in your room allergic to peanuts? Let them explain what an allergy is and why they can't eat peanut butter. Let them choose another food to insert in the song, such as "macaroni" or "watermelon."

*Tie in with standards by focusing on the questions and statements.

*Cut a sheet of paper in half and then fold in half to make a book. Run off the attached worksheet and let the children put the pictures in the book in sequential order.