5 Engaging Brain Breaks for Upper Elementary Students
If you teach upper elementary, you know that keeping students engaged can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. Their attention spans can only last so long before they start zoning out, and when that happens, learning takes a hit. That’s where brain breaks come in! These quick, structured breaks give students a chance to reset, refocus, and bring their energy back to the lesson.
Here are my top five brain breaks for upper elementary—all classroom-tested and teacher-approved!
1. Interactive YouTube Videos
YouTube is an obvious choice for brain breaks, but instead of just playing any random video, I like to use ones that require student engagement. Think about:
Emoji puzzles – Two emojis appear on the screen, and students have to guess the word or phrase they represent.
Clay breaking color reveals – Students predict what color will appear as layers of clay are broken apart.
Hydraulic press videos – They guess what happens when objects get crushed!
These types of videos make the break more interactive rather than passive, keeping students thinking while still giving their brains a reset.
2. "Find a Partner Who..."
This is one of my go-to movement-based brain breaks because it also builds classroom community! When I notice students losing focus, I call out quick prompts like:
"Find a partner whose birthday you don’t know."
"Find a partner whose favorite color you don’t know."
"Find a partner who you think has the same favorite food as you."
Students quickly move around, pair up, and chat. Then I switch it up with a new prompt. In less than two minutes, they’ve stretched, talked, and reset their focus!
3. Quick Fitness Breaks
Sometimes, the best way to re-energize a sluggish class is with physical movement! A simple fitness challenge gets their blood pumping and wakes them up. Some easy options:
10 jumping jacks
10 push-ups
Run in place for 10 seconds (Bonus: I challenge them by saying, "I’m beating you!"—for some reason, they love that!)
These breaks last 30 seconds to a minute and make a huge difference in focus levels afterward.
4. Talking Breaks
Let’s be real—kids love to talk. Instead of constantly battling the chatter, I build it into our routine. If I notice a chatty day, I’ll say:
"Work hard for 10 minutes, and then I’ll give you a one-minute talk break."
"Finish this activity, and you can talk freely for 30 seconds."
Sometimes, I even let them move around and chat if they’re managing it well. Giving them structured talking time means they’re more likely to focus when it’s time to get back to work.
5. Classroom Games (The Ultimate Brain Break!)
Hands down, my all-time favorite brain break is using quick, no-prep classroom games! These require zero materials, take less than five minutes, and get students collaborating. A few favorites:
Would You Rather? (Give two silly options and let them choose!)
Last Letter, First Letter (One student says a word, the next has to say a word that starts with the last letter of the previous word.)
Silent Ball (Pass a soft ball around—but no talking!)
Games like these spark engagement, teamwork, and fun while giving their brains a much-needed reset.
Try These Brain Breaks in Your Classroom!
Brain breaks aren’t just fun—they’re essential for student focus and engagement. Whether you use interactive videos, movement-based activities, or quick games, adding brain breaks for upper elementary into your routine can transform the energy in your classroom.
Which one of these are you going to try? Let me know in the comments, and be sure to follow along for even more brain break ideas!
