Regardless of the reasoning, there are times when recess gets moved indoors, leaving teachers and students feeling a little stir-crazy! Let’s check out all of the good things recess does for students (and teachers):

When it comes to indoor recess, sometimes you have time to prepare and sometimes you don’t. Here are some easy things to remember that can simplify your indoor recess planning.

Have activities ready.As you get to know your class, you can modify your activities to suit your students’ likes and dislikes. Some easy activities to have on hand are coloring pages, crossword puzzles, physical activities, books, or board games! Having different options for your kids also encourages them to try things that they might not have an opportunity to do after school.

Keep everything organized.When you have all your activities and necessities in one place, you cut your planning time in half. Some easy places to keep all your activities are yourTake a Break Basketor acorner in your classroom.

Transitions are key. One of the most frustrating parts of an indoor recess is the transition time back to your academic schedule. Help kids transition by giving them a timeline for their activities. Remind them that they have a certain amount of time at the beginning of indoor recess. Follow that initial reminder with a half-way mark, and let them know ahead of time that soon, they will need to clean-up and put away the indoor recess activities. Once you’re down to the last 2-5 minutes of recess time, call out a final timer—call it a 2-minute warning!

Close your indoor recess with a quiet stretching activity to bring everyone’s minds back to focus on school. Do afitFlowyoga activity together or play thefitFlowvideofor your students. Everyone will be refreshed and ready to take part in whatever the rest of the day brings.

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