ME Time - Micro breaks for teens
Resource Description
This ME Time programme is designed to help improve the mood, health and cognitive ability of your teenage students by using 30 second Mini Exercise breaks.
The exercises are suitable for all abilities, simple and impossible to do wrong.
If you have students who become fidgety or frustrated, disruptive or disengaged, sleepy or stressed these micro breaks will help.
IN A STUDY OF SURGEONS, IT WAS SHOWN THAT THOSE WHO HAD 20-SECOND ACTIVE MICROBREAKS EVERY 20 MINUTES PERFORMED TASKS SEVEN TIMES BETTER THAN THOSE WHO HADN’T.
THEY ALSO HAD HALF THE LEVELS OF PHYSICAL FATIGUE AND FELT LESS PAIN IN THEIR BACKS, NECKS, SHOULDERS AND WRISTS!
WHY MICRO BREAKS ARE SO HELPFUL
Moving, even just a little during sedentary times, increases blood flow and oxygen levels making students feel more awake and alert, better able to focus and learn.
Moving in varied ways can take kids out of poor postural positions and long held positions thereby reducing pain or at the very least play a role in preventing it down the track.
Apart from the short term benefits, learning about the importance of movement breaks and actually practising them at school can set students up with a simple, positive habit they can use at home and in the workplace.
BANG FOR THE BUCK
Inviting students to regularly 'get up and move a bit’ is a good start but may not get the most bang for the buck. Without more specifics, the instruction may not be as motivational or as physiologically beneficial as it could be and as such, not get maximum engagement or the results you’re chasing.
The trick is to spice up micro breaks with plenty of varied activities. Our exercises address range of motion, strength, balance, flexibility, and posture while also helping students to feel calmer and happier, get their heart rate up and move around in novel ways.
JUST 30 SECONDS
This short time frame of 30 seconds, while still beneficial physiologically and psychologically, is minimally disruptive to classes and less intimidating than longer breaks for both teachers and students.
WHAT YOU'LL GET
This programme comes with two posters, perfect for A3 printing, each with 24 exercises, as well as a Guide for Teachers filled with tips and tricks to help students get engaged and ideas on how to evaluate the programme’s success.
Plus four bonus optional posters for use in the teacher's staff room and around the school, reminding everyone of how useful a bit of ME Time can be.
This particular programme is great for teenagers.