Early Morning Exercise

Recently, I started doing morning exercises with my fifth and sixth grade students. I do this for a few reasons.

1. Exercise boosts brain power. (Check out John Medina's book Brain Rules - I couldn't put it down!)
2. Exercise produces endorphins (Those lovely "happy" feelings!)
3. Exercise gets students following directions right away.

I run the session by having students draw tongue depressor sticks with an exercise, stretch, or yoga pose written on the stick. Each student draws one stick and we perform that exercise. These are the exercises, stretches, and yoga (kid friendly names) poses we are currently using (subject to be added to!):

• 20 arm circles
• 15 seconds of hurdler stretch
• 30 seconds of bridge pose
• 30 seconds of mountain pose
• 5 deep breaths
• 10 push-ups/knee push-ups
• 30 seconds of tree pose
• 10 seconds of downward facing dog
• 10 knee bends
• 30 seconds of chair pose
• 30 seconds of candle pose
• 30 seconds of toe reaches
• 10 windmills
• 30 seconds of rag doll pose
• 30 seconds of butterfly stretch
• 10 straight jumps
• 30 seconds of child's pose
• 30 seconds of plank pose
• 30 seconds of a forward bend stretch
• 30 seconds of table pose
• 10 sit-ups/crunches
• 10 jumping jacks
• 30 seconds of peacock pose

Try this in your classroom at any time of the day to see if it helps your students to focus and be more ready to learn!