Brain Power

Wellness
Powerpoint
Brain Power Leader:
Christina Hermann
 Brain Power is divided into 10
categories:
Team Building

What is Brain Physical Health

Focus

Power Wellness?
Mindfulness
Memory
Emotional Wellness
Brain Power uses engaging routines that Confidence
include simple mind-body exercises such Creativity
as breathing, meditation and stress Character
management techniques. By implementing
Citizenship
Brain Power into our classrooms, we are
able to bring a powerful dose of wellness
into our lives and the lives of our students.
 *Brain Power Resources
for Staff*

Brain Power Channel/ Videos

Brain Power on Instagram

 1) Do your BEST!
2) Be Confident
3) Be Positive
Brain Power Rules 4) Be Honest and
Responsible
5) Trust your Brain
 COOL HEAD= calm, rational

Energy Principle:
thinking, decision making,
promotes positive emotions
(serotonin, dopamine)

Water Up, Fire WARM ABDOMEN= Promotes

Down
good digestion and gut health,
improves immunity

*The key to this cycle in our

The “Water Up, Fire Down”
bodies is to heat the body’s
energy principle shows that we
energy center! The 2nd chakra is
can achieve optimal health when
our energy center, which is
our heads are calm and cool
located 2 inches below the
(having “water” energy) while
navel.*
our stomachs are centered and
warm (having “fire” energy).
 School Wide September: Responsibility
October: Honesty

Monthly Themes
November: Gratitude
December: Kindness
January:Fairness
February: Respect
March: Empathy
April:Citzenship
May: Integrity
June: Leadership
 “Women’s History

School Wide
Month”

*Each class will choose

Monthly Theme a woman or group of

Activity: March women that contributed

positively to the world.

*Empathy* Each class will create a

collage, mural,
storyboard, museum
exhibit to share the
 School Wide “Earth Day Activities”

Monthly Theme
*Each class or grade will
create an activity for “Earth
Day Carnival”
Activity: April *Earth Day is on April 22nd

*Citizenship* EX:
-Earth Day Trivia Booth
-Create a healthy menu
-Draw or paint the earth
 School Wide
Monthly Theme
Activity: May Whole School Activity:
“Energy Ball Meditation” and

*Integrity*
“Brain Wave Vibration” in
MINDFULNESS.

*Set a time during your school

day to focus on a personal dream
and how you can move forward
with that dream with integrity.
*May is Mental
Health Pathways to wellness:
Awareness 1)A healthy diet
Month!* 2)Regular exercise
3)Relaxation
4)Plenty of rest: Sleep
*Brain Power Activities*
TEAM BUILDING
ACTIVITIES:
TEAM BUILDING:
Back to Back
1) Stand back to back with your partner.

2)Clap your hands in front of your chest

Clapping
and then lower down to your sides to clap
hands with your partner behind you.

When should I use it? 3) Repeat 30 times and try speeding up

each set of 10.

4) Keep your feet on the ground.

 1) Have students pair off,
standing face to face.
2) Now have each participant
step their left foot back so
they are in a lunge position
with the right foot forward.
3) Have the partners bring their

TEAM BUILDING:
hands up to meet their
partner’s flat palms at chest
height.

Partner Push 4) Then, have the partners push

When should I use it? 5)
To introduce the importance of flexibility
and clear communication when working in
groups.
each other’s palms.
Encourage them to engage
their abdomen and breathe in
through the nose and out
through the mouth.
 1. Have the students pair off.
2. Stand back to back, take half a
step away from each other.
3. Without moving their feet, have the
pairs twist at the waist to their
RIGHT with palms up at chest

TEAM BUILDING: height. Give partner a High Ten.

4. Next, have partners twist to their

Twist & Clap left and give partners a HIGH TEN.

5. See how many times the groups
When should I use it? can successfully Twist & Clap
To introduce the importance of WITHOUT missing each other’s
flexibility and clear hands.
communication when working in
groups.
 1) Have the group create a circle.
2) Present the balloon and
explain the goal for the group
is to keep hitting the balloon to
each other WITHOUT touching
the ground.
3) Students can only hit the
balloon using the part of the

Balloon Challenge body called out by the

instructor.
Team Building 4) If the balloon hits the ground,
When should I use it? stop, process what is working
To foster team spirit and and what is not and try again.
collaboration skills.

TEAM BUILDING:
Evolution Game
When should I use it?
When students need to prepare for a
task that requires creative thinking,
problem solving, introducing a new
topic or concept to access student’s
prior knowledge.
1) Have the group form a circle.
2) Explain that everyone starts out as an Egg and
have the group shift to the ground and place
their hands above their head so that they look
like an Egg.
3) When the instructor says “go” each person
will find another Egg/ partner. Then, “battle”
via “Rock, Paper, Scissors.” The loser stays an
Egg and the winner becomes a CHICKEN,
placing their arms as wings, walking in a
squatting posture making chicken noises.
4) The chicken then looks for another chicken
while the Egg looks for another Egg and they
will “battle” again.
5) When one wins as a chicken they come a
Phonenix, standing tall, taking large graceful
steps with arms swaying like wings. If one
loses as a Chicken they drop down to an Egg.
6) All students in role as a Phoenix then partner
with one another, where they “battle” to
become Power Brains. Power Brains tap their
abdomen as they say “healthy body.”
7) If one loses as a Power Brain they go back to
being a Phoenix.
 COMMON CORE:
Counting & Cardinality, Numbers &

TEAM
Operations in Base Ten, Number
Systems

BUILDING: 1.
2.
Write the numbers 1-9 on large individual papers.
Next, tape the numbers to the floor in 3 rows of 3.

CRACK-THE-CODE
3. Divide the students into 2 teams.
4. Each team creates a CODE using #’s 4-7 of the
numbers.
5. Then, the teams take turns trying to step on the
When should I use it? correct numbers in the correct order to “crack the
code” the opposing team has created.
6. If a student steps on the correct #, they continue.
7. When they step on the wrong #, they go back to
To foster team spirit their team and a player from the other team gets a
turn.
and collaboration skills. 8. 8. Encourage players to pay attention to what the
players did in order to “crack the code.”
 1) Write the numbers 1-9 on large
paper 8x10 paper.
2) Tape the numbers in 3 rows of 3.
3) Divide the students into 2
teams.
4) Each team creates a code using
4-7 of the numbers.

TEAM BUILDING:
5) Then the teams take turns,
having 1 member trying to step
on the correct numbers in the
correct order to crack the code

CRACK-THE-CODE 6)
When should I use it?
To foster team spirit and
collaboration skills.
that the OPPOSING team has
created.
When a member steps on a
wrong number, they go back to
their team and a player from the
other team gets a turn.
10 Brain Power
Categories...
 *TEAM BUILDING*
“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.”~Helen Keller

“If you want to lift yourself up, lift someone else up.”~Booker T.
Washington

BRAIN FACT: John Dewey observed, an effective school “is realized to the degree in
which individuals form a group.”

➔ *Improves morale and leadership skills

➔ *Improves the ability to problem solve
➔ *Improves communication
 *PHYSICAL HEALTH*
“To keep the body in good health is a duty...otherwise we shall not be able
to keep our mind strong and clear.” ~Buddha

BRAIN FACT: The brain is activated during physical activity. Research has
shown that sitting for more than 10 minutes reduces concentration and
increases fatigue. Movement, increases blood vessel activity allowing for the
delivery of oxygen and glucose to the brain.

★ Exercise stimulates the brain because all movements requires intricate

coordination between the body and the brain, which helps to create
new brain connections.
 *FOCUS*

SMILE! ~BREATH OUT! ~MY BRAIN LOVES CHALLENGES!

Neuroplasticity: The ability of the brain to form and reorganize

synaptic connections, especially in the response to learning or
experience.

BRAIN FACT: Research has shown that improvements in brain function

occur when there is increased coordination between the 2
hempispheres of the brain. Balanced activity between the 2
hemispheres improves coordination, focus and memory.
 *MINDFULNESS*

“Be happy in the moment, that’s enough. Each moment is

all we need, not more.”

BRAIN FACT: Research shows that mindfulness training

lowers stress, improves academic performance, enhances
emotional regulation, boosts immunity and increases
compassion.
 *CREATIVITY*

“You can’t use up creativity..The more you use it, the more you
have.” ~Maya Angelou

BRAIN FACT: Imagination is one of the highest functions of the

human brain. While most people believe that a creative brain is
the domain of a select “artistic” few, imagination and creativity
are inherent qualities of every human brain that can be
developed and strengthened through training.
 *MEMORY*

“Without memory, there is no culture. Without memory, there would be no

civilization, no society, no future.”

BRAIN FACT: For many years brain scientists were certain could not make new nerve
cells to replace lost ones. But evidence now shows that the brain can produce new
nerve cells (a process termed “neurogenesis”) in some areas of the brain related to
memory. In addition, research shows that prolonged stress negatively impacts the
hippocampus, the region of the brain that regulates memory.
MINDFULNESS

What is MINDFULNESS?
BRAIN FACT:
Research shows that mindfulness
training lowers stress,improves
academic performance, enahnces
emotional regulation, boosts
immunity and increases
compassion.
What are the benefits of Mindfulness?
➔ EMOTIONAL WELLNESS: Numerous
studies have verified the positive impact
of mindfulness training on overcoming
depression and improving emotional
regulation.
➔ COGNITIVE ABILITY: It helps promote
alpha brain waves which help students
stay “in the zone” during assessments,
thus enhancing their cognitive
performance and academic achievement.
➔ PHYSICAL HEALTH: To help regulate
stress levels and health.
BPW teaches a variety of exercises: breathing,
visualization, guided imagery to help develop their
physical, emotional and cognitive potential.
 Use “Energy Ball” before an exam
and to release anxiety!
*Put on Meditative music*
1)Sit in Brain Power posture, with your backs

MINDFULNESS:
straight and shoulders relaxed as you breathe deeply
through the nose and out through the mouth.
2) Begin tapping your fingertips together up to 100
times focusing on the vibration in the fingertips.
Research shows that mindfulness 3) Close your eyes. Then, slowly stop, separate your
hands & focus on the energy sensation between your
training: palms.
4) There may be sensations of warmth, softness,
-Lowers stress tingling or magnetic sensations.
-Improves academic 5) Imagine there is a ball of energy between your
hands. Slowly rotate this energy ball forward,
performance making little circles. Switch & rotate the hands the
-Enhances emotional opposite direction.
6) With each deep breath in, ask them to slowly
regulation stretch the energy ball, making it larger, & as they
breathe out- bring the hands closer, making the
-Boosts immunity energy ball smaller. (Repeat 3-4 times)
-Increases compassion 7) Divide your energy ball into 2 parts and hold each
part in the palm of your hand.
 11) With the next deep breath in,
bring the energy ball up to your
heart and say, “I am healthy and

Energy Ball positive!”

Continued: 12) Next, with another deep breath

in, lift the energy ball up to your
8) Slowly allow the energy in 1 hand to brain and say “I am focused,
become heavier, like it’s hard to hold & creative and smart!”
let the other become lighter like it’s
floating away. 12) Rub palms together, making the
9) Now, bring both halves back
hands warm, then place over the
together, hands facing each other and
feel the energy even stronger.
eyes, sweeping over the face saying
10) With a deep breath in, bring the “I love my face. I love my
energy ball down into your “ENERGY Brain Power Face.” :-)
CENTER” and say “I am healthy and
 1)Use a blank sheet of paper and ask the
students to trace the infinity sign using
their dominant hand.

MINDFULNESS:
2)Tell them to focus their eyes on the
midpoint. They can trace it 50-100
times.

Infinity Drawing 3)Next, using their non-dominant

hand have them trace the infinity sign
on the other side of the paper.
When should I use it?
*Use before a test, refocus 4) As they do the activity, remind them
to think about how they feel when they
or a complex topic. were breathing. Which hand was easier
to complete the activity?
 1) Have the students stand up and spread out. Stand
with their feet shoulder width apart, neck and
shoulders relaxed, arms to their sides.

MINDFULNESS:
2) Close your eyes and focus on the breath. Inhale
and exhale.
3) Imagine there is a stream of bright light entering
the top of their head.This is referred to the 7th
*Light Tower* 4)
chakra/ “Baek-Hwe.” The base/root chakra.
The stream is flowing down the middle of the
body, out through the bottoms of their feet and
into the Earth. The stream of light is very
powerful and strong. It is their “Light Tower.”
5) Now, practice balancing postures, Flamingo,
Airplane, Tree while they focus on their “Light
Tower.” Try it with your eyes open or closed.
6) Ask the group to slowly open their eyes and shift
back to their seat. Remind them to keep the
grounded and balanced “Light Tower”
When Should I Use It? sensation.
7) Anytime you feel restless, unfocused or fidgety,
● Before a test reconnect with their “Light Tower.” Focus on
● Improves balance their breath and reground their energy.

& concentration
 1) Students begin by tapping the top of
their heads with their fingertips as they
inhale through their mouths.
2) Next, tap the sides of the head, followed
by the back of the head and finally the
face area. Tap for 30-60 seconds in each

MINDFULNESS:
area. Breathe out to release tension.
3) Tap freely all over their heads in each

Brain Tapping
area, focusing on the areas they need
most.
4) Repeat the phrases, “I love my brain, My
brain is amazing.”
When Should I Use It? 5) Remind students with each tap, their
*To help students “wake brain is getting brighter and brighter!
6) After students finish tapping, gently
up” their brains, to relieve sweep their hands over their heads,
tension and improve wiping away any stress or tension.
focus*

MINDFULNESS:
*Brain Wave Vibration*
When Should I Use It?
When students are stressed or need to
clear their mind to enhance focus.
1) Students will stand with their feet shoulder
width apart, knees slightly bent, neck and
shoulders relaxed.
2) Inhale and exhale. Encourage them to focus
on their breath and connecting with their
internal rhythm.
3) Gently bend the knees and bounce slightly
up and down. Continue to breathe.
4) As the students gently bounce have them
imagine they are shaking off all of the dust,
clutter and negative thoughts.
5) Shake heads side to side. This is “BRAIN
WAVE VIBRATION”
6) After a few minutes, have them come slowly
stop. Feel the energy flowing through their
body, again breathing in and out.
7) Gently have them sweep their bodies,
discarding any remaining negative energy
and calmly open their eyes and take a few
deep breaths as a class.
PHYSICAL HEALTH
PHYSICAL HEALTH: 1)Stand in a circle and show everyone “Core
Tapping”

Core 3-6-0 2)Count to 100 by taking turns to count out loud as

we go around the circle.

When Should I Use It? 3) When your number to count out loud has a 3,6,0
you will quietly jump instead of saying the number
out loud.

4)If someone makes a mistake and says a number

with a 3,6,0 out loud, then that person will say: “I
have Brain Power!” and everyone responds: “Yes,
you do!” and then that person begins again from 1.
CHARACTER
 CHARACTER:
1)Start by giving yourself a
compliment. It could be about

COMPLIMENT
something you’re proud of.

GAME
When should I use it?
This is great to do at the end of the day or
after a challenging lesson.
2)Choose 1 person and give them a
compliment, perhaps about their
effort or something nice you noticed
them do or what you liked about them.
3)Refrain from giving compliments
about their clothes or hair.
EMOTIONAL
WELLNESS
 EMOTIONAL 1) Display the smile picture.
2) Ask the students to imitate the

WELLNESS:
smile.
3) Close your eyes and imagine
they are breathing in positive and

*HSP* bright light.

4) As you breathe out have them

Health, Smile, Peace smile while imagining any

negative emotion flowing out of
the brain as they exhale.
When should I use it? 5) Repeat these steps several
To help students manage their times.
emotions. Great anger 6) Whenever they need to change
management technique. their mood remind them to use
CREATIVITY

CREATIVITY:
When should I use it?
*When students need to prepare for group work, a
creative project or any task that requires problem
solving, empathy and social awareness.
1) Gather 2-3 different pieces of
instrumental music. EX- Smooth
jazz, classical and vibrant
percussion music.
2) Students will sit comfortably with
eyes closed, quietly listening to 1 of
the songs. Ask: What colors come
to mind? Shapes? Emotions?
3) Ask the students to choose the
colors they feel match the music &
have them begin to “DRAW” the
music as you play the piece.
4) Encourage them to let their hands
move freely in response to the
music.
5) Repeat with 1 or 2 musical
selections.
FOCUS
 COMMON CORE:
Ratios & Proportional

FOCUS:
Relationships, Counting &
Cardinality
1. To begin have students run
ROCK- PAPER - through the motions of R-P-S.
2. Have them try the same

SCISSORS motions with their less

dominant hand.
3. Students will engage in the
When should I use it? battle with themselves using
To teach students to define their dominant hand, which
themselves by their strengths always wins.
4. Once they have grown
and to reinforce confidence.
confident have them try the
The activity promotes using activity allowing their less
both sides of the brain! dominant hand to WIN!
 BRAIN FACTS
& BRAIN QUOTES
 *Quote of the
*BRAIN FACT* Week*
35) The brain can live for
4 to 6 minutes without 1) “Whatever the
oxygen, and then it
mind of man can
begins to die. No oxygen
for 5-10 minutes will conceive and
result in permanent believe, it can
brain damage. achieve.”
 *Quote of the Week*
3) “I attribute
*BRAIN FACT* my success to this:
I never gave or took any
3) “Your brain consists excuse.”
of about 100 billion - Florence Nightingale
neurons.”
 *BRAIN FACT*
4) “New brain *QUOTE OF THE WEEK*
connections are 4) “You miss 100% of
created everytime the shots you don’t
you form a new take.” ~Wayne
memory.” Gretzky
 *Quote of the Week*
5) “I’ve missed more than 9000
*BRAIN FACT* shots in my career. I’ve lost
almost 300 games. 26 times
i’ve been trusted to take the
5) “When awake, the game winning shot and missed.
human brain I’ve failed over and over and

produces enough over again in my life. And that

is why I succeed.” ~Michael
electricity to power a Jordan
small light bulb.”
 *Quote of the Week*

*BRAIN FACT* 6) “The most

difficult thing is the
6) “Lack of sleep decision to act, the
affects the brain by rest is merely
impairing judgement tenacity.”
and slowing -Amelia Earhart
reactions.”
 *BRAIN FACT* *Quote of the Week*
7) “Every strike brings me
closer to the next home
7) “The brain treats run.” ~Babe Ruth
rejection like physical
pain.”
 *Quote of the Week*
*BRAIN FACT* 8) “Definiteness of
8) “When you learn purpose is the
something new, the starting point of all
structure of your achievement.” ~W.
brain changes.” Clement Stone
 *Quote of the Week*
*BRAIN FACT*
9) “Life isn’t about
getting and having,
9) “At rest, your brain it’s about giving and
uses one-fifth of a being.” ~Kevin Kruse
calorie per minute.”
 *Quote of the Week*
*BRAIN FACT* 10) “Life is what
happens to you while
you’re busy making
10) “The weight of
other plans.” ~John
the human brain is
about 3 pounds.” Lennon
 *BRAIN FACT* *Quote of the Week*
11) “We become what we
11) “The cerebrum is the think about.”~Earl
largest part of the brain and
Nightingale
makes up 85% of the brains
weight.”
 ● Quote of the Week:
*BRAIN FACT* “The mind is
everything. What
● “The brain is made
you think you
up of about 75%
become.” ~Buddha
water.”