SCRATCH ‘EMS BRAIN BREAKS

Simple, screen-free moments to help kids reset and refocus

Sometimes the best thing you can do in the middle of a busy day is pause. Step away from the lesson. Get kids moving, laughing, breathing, or talking—just for a minute.

That’s the idea behind Scratch ’Ems Brain Breaks.

Brain breaks aren’t new. Teachers have been using quick games, stretches, and moments of mindfulness for years to help students reset and refocus. Scratch ’Ems Brain Breaks takes that familiar idea and turns it into an easy, ready-to-use deck you can keep close by—no planning required.

Each card offers one simple activity. You pick a card, scratch it off, and jump right in.

Created With Real Classrooms in Mind

Teaching runs deep in Stacy’s family—her mom, aunts, and even her grandmother were educators. Because of that, Brain Breaks wasn’t designed in isolation.

Teachers tested these cards with real students, during real school days. The goal was to make sure every activity felt practical, age-appropriate, and easy to use—even when time is tight.

No complicated instructions. No long explanations. Just simple ideas that work when kids need a reset.

How It Works

Like all Scratch ’Ems decks, Brain Breaks adds a small moment of excitement to something familiar.

You scratch each card once to reveal the activity. After that, the deck works like a traditional set of cards. Shuffle, draw, and reuse them as often as you want. The sturdy cards and keepsake box are made to hold up to daily classroom use.

It’s a grab-and-go tool teachers can rely on again and again.

The Kinds of Brain Breaks You’ll Find

Each card offers a quick activity designed to help kids reset—whether they need to move their bodies, calm their minds, or reconnect with each other.

Some are high-energy. Others are quiet and grounding. All of them are easy to jump into, even when you only have a minute or two.

FREEZE AND FLOW
Kids dance or move freely, then freeze like statues when the leader calls it out. A fast, fun way to release energy and refocus.

BREATHE THE RAINBOW
A calming breathing activity where kids imagine moving through the colors of a rainbow, breathing in and out with each color.

MIRROR MOVES
Partners take turns leading slow, gentle movements while the other copies like a mirror—great for focus and self-awareness.

SILLY STRETCH CHAIN
Each student adds a silly stretch—wiggly arms, tall reaches, tiny curls—building a movement chain together.

NAME 3
A quick-thinking game where students have five seconds to name three items in a category. Perfect for waking up tired brains.

5-4-3-2-1 RESET
A grounding exercise that helps kids notice what they see, hear, touch, smell, and taste—bringing attention back to the present moment.

Some days you’ll need big movement. Other days, just a quiet reset. The deck gives you options for both.

Not Just for Classrooms

While Brain Breaks was created with teachers in mind, it works just as well at home.

Parents pull out the cards after school, before homework, between activities, or anytime kids need a screen-free moment to move, calm down, or reconnect. They’re especially helpful during transitions—those in-between moments when energy is high or focus is low.

No setup. No screens. Just pick a card and take a break.

Why People Love It

⭐ 4.9-star rating on Amazon

“Brain Breaks is an easy way to build community and give students a quick, screen-free break. The scratch off part makes it feel like a game, and my students get so excited to see what’s underneath.”

Teachers love how simple it is. Students love the surprise. And everyone benefits from having an easy way to reset without losing momentum.

Why Brain Breaks Matter

Short breaks help kids refocus, release energy, and manage stress. They also support emotional regulation and classroom connection—without taking away from learning time.

Scratch ’Ems Brain Breaks makes it easy to fit those moments into the day, whether you’re teaching a full classroom or managing a busy afternoon at home.

Who It’s For

• Teachers and classrooms

• Parents and families

• Homeschool settings

• After-school programs

• Anyone looking for simple, screen-free reset moments

Where to Find It

Scratch ’Ems Brain Breaks is available on Amazon and ready to use wherever kids learn and grow.