Classroom Activities To Help Students Focus And Get Ready To Work

Classroom Activities to Help Elementary Students Focus and Get Ready to Work

Choose 2-3 activities to use each day. Activities have been designed to use with an entire classroom for 1-3 minutes before a working period. Try to schedule periods of concentration followed by a movement or kinesthetic (input to the joints) activity.

1. Movement Minute: a. stand on one foot for 5-10 seconds, first with eyes open and then closed b. touch toes c. stretch to the sky d. jump in place e. march in place f. hop in place g. if space allows: jumping jacks, side bends

2. Desk Push-Down: Stand at desk with feet flat on the floor. Place palms flat on top of desk with arms straight at elbows. Press down on desk to a count of approximately 20 with steady pressure. Could count in a pattern such as by 3s.

3. Chair Push-Ups: While seated in chair, place hands on sides of seat and push bottom up off of the seat surface. Hold each push-up for a count of 3-5, and repeat 5 times. Aim for well-graded control (no bumping or sudden dropping down) in going up and down. Tell students that it proves they are stronger if they move with control.

4. Push Palms: While seated at desk, place palms together at midline of body with elbows pointing straight out to the sides. Press palms together for a count of 10-20, using steady pressure.

5. Finger Olympics: a. Finger Push-ups: Place fingertips of right hand against those of left hand, including thumbs, so fingers form a “steeple” shape. Bring palms together so that hands are lying flat against each other, and then push back so that only the fingertips are touching; the joints which connect each finger to the hand will bend as this is done. Try to keep the fingers straight while pushing back and forth, and repeat up 5-10 times. Keep fingertips together continuously while pushing. b. Pencil Races: Using a correct tripod pencil grasp (index and middle fingers and thumb), “walk” fingers up and down a pencil from tip to eraser and back 3-5 times. c. Snapping Fingers: Snap the middle fingers and thumbs using both hands simultaneously. Snap fingers in a pattern or to music. May have to teach young students which is the middle finger and how to slide the finger and thumb against each other rather than flicking them apart.

6. Classroom Atmosphere: a. dim lights for calming b. play soft background music during independent seat work or independent reading

Ideas taken from Brain Gym; from Judy Linda-Horn, OTR, North Fork, CA; and from the occupational therapists in Academy School District 20 in Colorado Springs, CO