10 Alerting Activities for the Classroom or Home

As we all know, this year is going to look very different for students at school or at home. Whether children are learning in person or remotely, there will be more sedentary time due to social distancing or increased computer learning. Students may get sluggish and will need alerting activities for the classroom or home. Here is a list of suggested activities that can be done being mindful of social distancing too!

What Are Alerting Activities for the Classroom or Home?

Alerting activities for the classroom or home are exercises or suggestions that will help to provide energy to the students to get their bodies and brains regulated and ready to learn. They are used to stimulate the senses and to increase body awareness. Not only do students need these types of activities so do adults. Teachers and parents can participate as well to stay alert and ready to participate.

When to Use the Energizing Activities

It is always important to keep in mind that each individual is different and has varied sensory preferences. Some students may like certain activities and some may not benefit from them. As you try new activities, be mindful of what exercises or activities result in improved function which in this case means being ready to learn. Students can learn about how their body regulates and provide feedback with the Are You Ready to Learn clip chart.

You can have students perform the alerting activities for the classroom or home as:

  • movement breaks
  • homework breaks
  • screen time breaks
  • increased motivational activities to participate
  • wake up activities if the students appear sluggy, tired, or disinterested

10 Alerting Activities for the Classroom or Home

This is simply a list of suggested activities. There are many formal brain break and movement activities that students can benefit from as well. These suggestions are meant to be quick with no equipment, videos or activity cards. Remember – do what works for your students!

Jumping Jacks

Super easy to do standing up or even sitting in a chair. Makes sure you do the activity for a few minutes on and off to wake up the body.

Cross Crawls

This exercises is one of a school based therapist’s favorite! The Cross Crawl exercise is part of the Adventure Skills and is called Monkey Wisdom.

Monkey Wisdom from the Adventure Skill Cards Set

Stand with your feet apart and your arms open parallel to the ground. Shift your weight to your right foot, lift your left knee and touch it with your right hand.  Step back to both feet and immediately shift weight to on your left foot as you lift your right knee and touch it with your left hand.  Repeat this several times in a comfortable, upbeat, rhythmic way.   Breathe fully and enjoy. Read more about the benefits of the cross crawl exercise here.

Run in Place

How simple is this! Just stand up next to your desk chair and run in place. Try running in place for 60 seconds and then rest for 10 seconds. Repeat 3 times. Doesn’t get any easier than this to wake up the body and brain!

Stop and Go Alerting Activities for the Classroom

Add in some cognitive skills and impulse control to your physical activity. The leader stands in the front of the room with his/her back to the class. The leader shouts GO and students perform a physical action that the leader chooses ie run in place, marching in place, wiggling, etc. When the leader shouts STOP they quickly turn around and everyone has to freeze. They try and catch anyone moving ever so slightly. Then the leader turns around again and shouts GO. Continue playing taking turns with different leaders and actions.

Make it more difficult but changing up the rules. Now when the leader says STOP everyone performs the actions and when the leader says GO everyone has to freeze. This is a lot harder than it sounds!

March in Place

If running is getting everyone too energized and excited. try marching in place. Start with a regular paced march. Increase to a fast pace. Try high marching by bringing the knees up higher.

Drink Water Through a Straw

Even something as simple as a water break can be alerting to the body and brain. This is obviously one of the easiest alerting activities for the classroom or home. Drinking through a straw can help to organize the body and be ready to work!

Head, Shoulder, Knees and Toes

No matter what the age, students can benefit from performing the actions of the Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes activity. Perform the action slowly and then fast. Then complete them at the “just right” pace to get ready to return to work. Touch your head, shoulders, knees and toes and back to the top.

Add in variations. Jump up high after each sequence before you start over. Try it with your hands crossed the entire time: cross your right hand over your left hand and touch the sides of your head, keep arms crossed and touch your shoulders, switch left over right and touch your knees and then your feet.

Arm Circles Everywhere

Students can get tired from sitting hunched over their desk or in front of a screen for long periods of time. Try this simple exercise in sitting or standing to stretch the neck, back, and arms all while wakiang up the body.

Sit up or stand up straight. Reach both arms straight up overhead and do 10 arm circles. Move your arms out the side and do 10 arm circles. Move your arms in front and do 10 arm circles. Reach both arms overhead and to the right to do the arm circles. Repeat to the other side.

Crunchy Snack Break

Crunchy snacks or chewing gum can be alerting activities for the classroom or home. Depending upon the student (or adults) preferences foods like carrot sticks, pretzels, or apples can help to wake up up. Chewing gum may also help if allowed.

Take a Walk

If you have the time, take a walk preferably outdoors to really wake up the body and brain. If short on time, take a walk around the desk – go three times in one direction and turn around and go three times in the opposite direction. Stand up as straight as you possibly can as you walk.

Try different walking patterns – walk with your hands over your head, walk while doing arm circles, walk on your toes, walk on your heels, etc.

Need more Alerting Activities for the Classroom and Home?

Exercises for the Classroom and Home is a set of 5 posters to encourage simple fitness activities for students. No equipment required!

This set is perfect for:

  • morning exercises for students
  • classroom exercise activities for small spaces
  • exercise in the classroom for brain breaks
  • indoor recess to provide physical exercises for elementary students

The Exercises in the Classroom and Home set includes the following poster pages:

  • Wake Up Exercises – get students awake and ready to learn! Use to get the wiggles out or to energize students.
  • Be Strong Exercises – students can work on core strengthening, shoulders, arms, hips, and legs.
  • Focus Exercises – encourage increased focus, balance, and attention with these 6 exercises.
  • Stretching Exercises – 6 simple exercises to increase flexibility to prevent poor posture.
  • Calming Exercises – a great routine to implement to help students self-regulate.

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