The authors begin with a step-by-step plan for physical activity breaks and a quality check. They then discuss a large number of physical activity breaks for primary education. For each break, the location is indicated (in the classroom or in the schoolyard/in the park), as well as the duration (2 or 5 minutes) and the year group (1–2, 3–4, 5–6 and 7–8).
The step-by-step plan
The step-by-step plan consists of six steps:
- Choose an appropriate physical activity break
- Discuss with your pupils how to start and finish a physical activity break.
- Agree with your pupils on the movement space, so that everyone has room to move (safely).
- Start the physical activity break together with your pupils.
- Ensure that the physical activity break is and remains challenging and varied for every pupil.
- Finish the physical activity break and observe your pupils to determine when to bring it to an end.
The breaks
The following breaks are described:
- Move like a…
- Find your partner
- Grouping
- Make rain
- Stand up if…
- Daily Mile
- Mirroring
- Clapping rhythms
- Imitating
- One and counting
- Exercising together
- The invisible traffic light
The Choice Wheel of physical activity breaks can be downloaded here.