Brain Breaks & Energizers Grades K–2
Listen and Move
A "Simon Says"-style listening game — kids only follow the instruction when it starts with the right phrase.
3–5 min 5+ students
Download printable kit (PDF)
What you need
- None
Setup
Kids stand next to their desks or in an open space with room to move their arms without bumping anyone.
How to run it
- Explain the rule: only follow the instruction if it starts with "Teacher says…" — if you follow an instruction without those words, you sit down for that round (and stand back up for the next one).
- Call out a mix of movements: "Teacher says touch your toes," "Jump three times," "Teacher says spin around once."
- Speed up the pace as the round goes on — the fun is in catching the ones that skip the phrase.
- Wrap with two or three instructions everyone follows correctly so the class ends the round on a win, not a mistake.
Variations
- Swap the trigger phrase for something tied to your current unit ("Scientist says…", "Reader says…").
- Play it seated for a class that needs a quieter reset (hands only — clap, touch head, touch shoulders).