80. Brain Breaks That Work with James Robinson from Amplify

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!

Rainbows ahead,

Alisha and Ashleigh

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

APPLE PODCAST | SPOTIFY  | AMAZON

Let's hear from you! Text us!