Introduction

Educators working with kindergarten students often face the challenge of keeping their young learners focused and engaged. One effective way to help students release pent-up energy and refocus is through incorporating Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) principles into fun, movement-based activities. In this blog post, we’ll explore a no-prep activity called “Wiggle and Jump Break” that encourages students to move around and release energy, while also promoting SEL concepts.

No-Prep Activity: Wiggle and Jump Break

The Wiggle and Jump Break activity is a simple, no-prep exercise that requires no materials or preparation from the educator. It’s designed to help kindergarten students release energy and refocus by engaging in a fun, imaginative scenario where they pretend they’re on a beach. Here’s how to conduct the activity:

1. Have students stand up and find a space where they won’t bump into anyone. Encourage them to stretch their arms out to the front, side, and back, ensuring they’re not touching anyone.
2. Guide students to pretend they’re on a beach and ask them to run in place as if they’re running through the sand into the ocean.
3. As they run, encourage students to lift their knees higher to simulate running in water.
4. Ask students to jump up to avoid an imaginary wave, and then swim with their arms, pretending they’re in the ocean.
5. Introduce an imaginary octopus and have students wiggle their arms like octopus tentacles before swimming faster to escape.
6. Finally, guide students to run back to the shore and shake off the imaginary sand before taking a deep breath and returning to a calm, focused state.

This activity not only helps students release energy and refocus, but also promotes SEL concepts such as self-awareness, self-management, and responsible decision-making.

Discussion Questions

To stimulate further discussions and deepen the SEL experience, consider asking your students the following questions after the activity:

1. How did you feel before and after the Wiggle and Jump Break activity? Did it help you release energy and refocus?
2. What are some other situations where you might need to release energy and refocus in a similar way?
3. How can you use your imagination to help you stay focused and engaged during activities at school?
4. Why is it important to be aware of your own energy levels and the space around you when participating in activities with others?
5. Can you think of other fun activities that involve movement and imagination that could help you release energy and refocus?

Related Skills

The Wiggle and Jump Break activity not only addresses energy release and focus but also relates to other important SEL skills for kindergarten students. Some of these skills include:

• Active listening and communication
• Cooperation and teamwork
• Empathy and understanding others’ emotions
• Problem-solving and critical thinking

Next Steps

If you found the Wiggle and Jump Break activity helpful and would like to explore more SEL-focused activities and resources for your kindergarten students, consider signing up for free sample materials at Everyday Speech. You’ll gain access to a variety of engaging and effective resources designed to support the social-emotional development of your students.