How often do you pause during the school day to give your students (and yourself!) a chance to reset?
In this energising episode of Rainbow Skies for Teachers, we’re joined by the wonderful James Robinson from Amplify to talk all things brain breaks—what they are, why they matter, and how to use them effectively in your classroom.
James shares practical tips, simple activities, and must-know strategies to make brain breaks a seamless part of your day. From improving focus and behaviour to supporting emotional regulation and student wellbeing, this conversation is full of golden takeaways to help teachers at any stage of their career.
Plus, we explore ways to build classroom culture, engage students with fun (and purposeful!) activities, and tap into the joy of learning—because when we teach students to pause, reset, and reconnect, we’re also teaching them lifelong skills.
Throughout the episode we discuss:
- What are brain breaks and why are they so powerful?
- The science behind brain breaks: improving focus, regulation, and classroom culture
- Examples of go-to activities like “Sevens”, “Beat Goes Around the Room”, and Silent Ball
- Tips for introducing and teaching brain breaks at the start of the school year
- How to adapt brain breaks for individual needs or whole-class fun
- Why variety matters and how to create a “brain break toolkit”
- Ideas for rolling out brain breaks gradually with success
If you enjoyed this episode, we would love it if you could leave us a 5-star review!
Want to make brain breaks easy?
Grab our 60 ready-to-print brain break cards – click here.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Find a list of Brain Breaks on our blog
Enjoy a free trial at Amplify Music Education
Connect with James via Amplify through Instagram or on their website
About Today’s Guest
James is an innovative educator and passionate Creative Arts teacher with over 10 years of experience in education, including 5 years in senior leadership. Throughout his career, he has specialised in curriculum implementation, coaching, innovation, creative arts, and wellbeing—always striving to inspire and engage both students and teachers through creative and out-of-the-box approaches. Currently, James serves as the Manager of School Engagement at Amplify, where he coordinates and facilitates professional learning opportunities for educators and school leaders across Australia.
