Printable Pet Themed Gross Motor Brain Break Activity for Kids

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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? And you just can’t seem to keep your eyes open no matter how hard you try? You start tapping your foot, biting your pen, shifting around in your seat, but that meeting just.won’t.end.

Now imagine you are five years old 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.

What are brain breaks?

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 brain break activities are great to have on hand.

What do I need for this Brain Break Activity?

Differentiated Instruction Cube | Paper | Scissors

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.

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 customizable (differentiated) 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.

You can get the differentiated instruction cubes here:

Differentiated Instruction Cubes- Set of 4

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!

Check out the other fun activities included:

Wiggle like a snake
Hop like a bunny
Meow like a cat
Flap like a bird
Swim like a fish

When should I use Brain Breaks for Kids?

Anytime!

Seriously, brain breaks make a great morning activity to grab their attention and get kids focused for the day.

When to use brain breaks:

Circle time
After small groups and centers
Indoor recess
After lunch to refocus
Transitions between subjects

What will you use brain breaks for? Comment below and let me know you favorite way to use brain breaks! Then grab your free printable brain break activity by clicking the “get your free printable here” image below.