Brain Gym work out E Sharples Brain Gym Starters Brain Gym work out E Sharples

Improve concentration By using physical movement increases blood flow to the brain. This leads to greater concentration. These short exercises will help students to recall the key words and reflect on what is being taught. Brain Gym exercises the mind so that you can learn better.

Improving concentration 1. With your writing hand hold an imaginary pencil in front of your face and write the keywords from your lesson in the air. Say the letters of the word as you write. When you have finished try and write them backwards. For fun, write the keywords in the air but with your nose! Watch your neighbour and try and guess what the word is. Now try it with your ear!

Train the Brain... 2.With your forefinger and thumb of each hand pinched together, extend your hands out in front of your face and trace large circles in the same direction. Keep your lips and teeth together. Now trace the circles in the other direction. Now try with one hand going clockwise and the other anti-clockwise. Swap again.

Your brain is a muscle Simple: Read aloud the colour that you see. Top tip only read the colour…..

RED YELLOW PINK BLUE BROWN GREEN BLACK PURPLE WHITE ORANGE GOLD BLACK YELLOW BLACK YELLOW PURPLE PINK RED BLACK BLACK BLUE GREEN GOLD BLUE BLUE ORANGE WHITE RED WHITE YELLOW

Hold your ears and slowly roll your ear lobes between finger and thumb Hold your ears and slowly roll your ear lobes between finger and thumb. Do it nice and slowly and all the way around your ear. How does it feel? Rubbing your ears sends happy feelings into your body by triggering the release of brain endorphins.  The simple act of touch alone is very healing.  It boosts the immune cells in your body, reduces feelings of stress or anxiety and helps you relax.  CAROLE FOGARTY

Cross crawl This exercise helps coordinate right and left brain by exercising the information flow between the two hemispheres. It is useful for spelling, writing, listening, reading and comprehension. Simply touch opposite elbow to opposite knee. In a seated position. Place both hands on knees. Cross hands over to opposite knee with legs slightly apart. Bring knees together placing hands back to original position.

Names in the air ‘Names in the air’ is a great activity that can help with spelling, reviewing key words or team building. Write with one hand then the other then both hands together. Get the pupil to write with their eyes closed. Alternatively, partner writes word in air and they have to guess. A key word can be written on the back. The partner writing the word down or recalling the letters.

Lazy 8’s Draw a number eight in the air. The eight should be written on its side as you write. Write with one hand then the other in long sweeping movements. Claps hands together then write the number eight again.

Rub-a-dubs Gently rub your hand in a circle on your stomach. Stop, then pat your head with the other hand gently, Now do both at the same time and at a similar pace. You should be rubbing your stomach whilst patting your head. Try to maintain the difference in each movement. Swap around. Pat your stomach whilst rubbing your head. This activity connects left and right brain and is pure fun! It focuses attention and can take your mind ‘off’ whatever was preoccupying it beforehand.

Mirror image With your facing partner, hands on the table your fingers should be touching. One person lifts their finger starting from the little finger and then towards the thumb. Sat on a chair with partner facing. Hands are placed on knees. Simply lift right hand then left hand. Different movements can be adapted but should be done at different speeds.

Hook ups This exercise helps to remove anxiety and improves the mood. Stand or sit with your right leg crossed over your left ankle. Take your right wrist and cross it over your left wrist then link up your fingers. The right wrist should be on top. Bend your elbows outwards gently turning the fingers in towards your body. Rest on the chest bone for a minute. You should keep the ankles crossed and breath slowly.

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