Introduction

As educators, we understand the importance of helping students develop their social-emotional skills, which include self-awareness, self-management, and responsible decision-making. One essential aspect of this growth is teaching students how to release energy and refocus in a healthy way. In this blog post, we will introduce a fun and engaging activity called “Wiggle and Jump Break” that can be used in your calming corner to help students reset and re-engage with their learning environment.

No-Prep Activity: Wiggle and Jump Break

This activity is designed to be simple and requires no preparation or materials from the educator. Follow these steps to guide your students through the Wiggle and Jump Break:

1. Ask students to stand up and find a space where they won’t bump into anyone. They should stretch their arms out to the front, side, and back, ensuring they’re not touching anyone.
2. Invite students to pretend they’re on a beach. Encourage them to run in place, as if they’re running through the sand into the ocean. Run, run, run!
3. As they reach the ocean, ask students to run with their knees up, as if they’re splashing through the water. Keep running!
4. Tell them there’s a wave coming, and they need to jump over it to avoid getting splashed. Jump up!
5. Now, have students swim with their arms, moving them as if they’re swimming through the water. Swim, swim, swim!
6. Introduce an octopus into the scene. Ask students to show their octopus arms by wiggling them. Wiggle, wiggle!
7. Encourage students to swim faster to get away from the octopus. Swim to the shore!
8. Once they’ve reached the shore, have them run all the way up the beach. Run, run, run!
9. Finally, ask students to shake off the sand. Shake, shake, shake!
10. Guide them to become still and take a deep breath in and out. This will help them calm down and refocus.

The Wiggle and Jump Break offers a fun way for students to release energy and regain focus, preparing them to return to their day with a refreshed mindset.

Discussion Questions

After completing the Wiggle and Jump Break activity, engage your students in further discussion with these questions:

• How did the Wiggle and Jump Break make you feel? Did it help you release energy and refocus?
• Why is it important to take breaks and engage in activities that help us reset our energy levels?
• Can you think of other activities that could help you release energy and refocus during the day?
• How can practicing self-awareness and self-management help us make better decisions in our daily lives?
• Why is it essential to have a safe space, like a calming corner, where we can practice these skills?

Related Skills

Developing social-emotional skills is vital for students’ overall growth. In addition to the Wiggle and Jump Break, consider exploring other related skills, such as:

• Mindfulness and breathing exercises
• Active listening and communication skills
• Conflict resolution and problem-solving
• Empathy and understanding others’ perspectives
• Goal setting and perseverance

Next Steps

Now that you’ve learned about the Wiggle and Jump Break activity and its benefits, consider incorporating it into your calming corner to support students’ social-emotional learning. To access more activities and resources, sign up for free samples at Everyday Speech. Explore our extensive library of materials designed to support educators in fostering students’ social-emotional growth.