Free Printable Pet Theme Gross Motor Brain Break Dice
This pet-themed brain break activity is just what the kids need to wake up their bodies for learning.
You know that moment when you’ve been sitting for too long? Your eyes start to droop and no matter how many times you pinch yourself, you just cant keep them open. You start tapping your foot, biting your pen, shifting around in your seat, but that meeting just.won’t.end.
Now imagine you are a toddler and preschooler and that meeting is actually school and after 15 minutes of small group, you just can’t pay attention anymore. Or maybe it’s super easy to think of your wiggly students who have resorted to throwing manipulatives at each other. It’s time for a brain break!
This free printable pet-themed brain break activity helps the kids get ready to learn even more plus you don’t have to bring out the hula hoops, balance beam, and bean bags.
Recommended Grade Level:
Pet Brain Break Dice Supplies:
- Paper
- Foam Dice
- Scissors
- Tape
Learning About Brain Breaks For Preschoolers:
gross motor activities for preschool
GIVING STUDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REFRESH THEIR BRAIN CAN HELP STRENGTHEN LISTENING AND COGNITIVE SKILLS. WITH PRESCHOOL OR KINDERGARTEN BRAIN BREAKS STUDENTS CAN ANSWER QUESTIONS LIKE:
- How far can I jump?
- What yoga poses can I complete?
- Can I stand in place for the freeze dance?
- What can I find in this scavenger hunt?
- What is the best way to make it through the obstacle course?
Brain breaks are just what they sound like. A break for the brain. When we are forced to focus on one task (like sitting still) for a long period of time, our brains get tired. For a 3-5 year old that can happen in far less than 15 minutes because their bodies are not designed to sit still.
Brain breaks are short periods of time, even just 3 minutes, that we purposefully get our bodies moving to wake them up. Of course, there is a whole bunch of technical information that goes along with it, but basically we give our bodies a quick jolt of all the good, energy producing hormones so that we are able to focus on the task at hand.
There are a lot of great videos on YouTube with silly songs to dance to that make perfect brain breaks, but if you need a quick and spontaneous activity, these pet themed preschool activities are great to have on hand.
In addition to learning about fun brain breaks for kindergarten and preschool here are some more ideas for what you can teach about using the preschool gross motor activities:
- How many sides does this cube have?
- What other kinds of pets can I think of?
- What would I feed a dogs and cats?
What Can Preschoolers Learn With Gross Motor Skills?
develop gross motor skills
ASKING STUDENTS TO USE THIER HANDS, ARMS, LEGS, AND FEET BUILDS UP STRENGTH AND DEXTERITY.
The gross motor activities included in the brain break includes:
- Wiggle like a snake
- Hop like a bunny
- Meow like a cat
- Flap like a bird
- Swim like a fish
Why Is It Important For Kids To Have Brain Breaks?
Besides the fact that kids love running and jumping around, there are so many other reasons you should give your kiddos brain breaks throughout the day.
Regain Focus
When your children are bored… you have lost them. Regain their focus and attention with a brain break and get them back to being productive and refreshed.
Increase Social Skills
Giving children an opportunity to be creative and silly helps increase social skills amongst peers. Who doesn’t feel better about themselves and their classmates when we all have the giggle?!
Reduce Stress
You can tell when a child is really struggling or starting to get frustrated. Take their mind off of the topic at hand with a brain break. Get your kids up and moving. This can help relieve stress and anxiety.
Increase Self Regulation
When a child can tell you they are getting anxious or upset it’s a win in the communication department. Brain breaks can help our kiddos with self-regulation and identifying their feelings without getting physical.
How to Use the Activity
To prep the brain break cube, simply print and cut apart the action cards.
Slide the action cards into your differentiated instruction cube to create a quick die.
To use the brain break cube, roll the cube and perform the action that is rolled. Some of the activities are movements and some are sounds (like “Bark like a dog”). They are all sure to grab your kids’ attention!
Let me take a moment to say that if you do not have differentiated instruction cubes, you are missing out. They are the perfect way to create customized activities for students. We have a whole collection of learning activities that use differentiated instruction cubes and use them almost every day in a different way.
Extend the Activity:
Sensory Bin
Talk about the care of a pet turtle and other animals when you make the pet turtle sensory bottle.
Counting Skills
Work on counting skills with these fun pet themed goldfish counting cards.
Play a Game
Continue learning about our favorite furry friends with a fun pet preschool theme matching board game.
join the newsletter & Get your free activity
Get Your Free Printable Activity Here!
Already a subscriber? No worries. Just enter your email here to have the activity sent directly to your inbox.
More Free Printable Gross Motor Dice:
More Brain Break Ideas You’ll Love:
More Pet Activities:
Search All Activities
Looking for more? Find exactly what you need here:
Pet theme this month, great activity to get them moving!
This looks like a great activity for our Pet Study.
I used the move like a snake, bark like a dog during my pet theme week
This is amazing activity for kids to gain their attention especially when kids feel tired. Thank you for your work!
Thank you!
Great activity for preschooolers!
We will be using in our preschool church classes
can’t wait to try it
Love this idea
Great idea for ADHD people – but anyone can use this idea! even adults 🙂
Great way to gain kids attention when they start feeling tired after a seatwork.
Perfect indoor exercise idea since it’s snowing in spring :-/