Kids are highly motivated by food items (even healthy ones!)
To provide students with a cool down time
To allow students time away from a stressful or potentially stressful situation
It can help avoid a power struggle between you and the student
Can help students to “reset” and return to a task fresh
Takes student’s mind off what may be hindering them
Helps break up monotonous tasks, assignments, activities, etc
Can improve motivation and effort
Helps students to refocus on the task at hand
Helps rejuvenate student energy and enthusiasm
Helps get students blood moving and metabolism active
When should I do it:
When a student gets off task and is beginning to be disruptive but not problematic
When a student is distracted
When a student is slowing down on the task at hand and losing interest/motivation
When a student’s energy level seems low and they appear sluggish
When you are aware of an ADD/ADHD diagnosis
When student seems fidgety, moves a lot, cannot sit still
When student is becoming frustrated or agitated with the task at hand
When a student seems to be getting bored, sleepy, or their eyes are glazing over
When a student’s emotions and/or behaviors need to be deescalated
When a task is long and drawn out
When the class needs to be reenergized and freshened up
When the class needs a moment to be social
How do I do it:
Identify the student(s) in need of the break or have the whole class participate
Ask the students to stop why they are doing, get out or retrieve a snack, and sit and eat for a moment
Students may or may not socialize during snack breaks
Students may continue working while snacking, a “working snack break”
Students may provide their own snacks or the teacher may provide them
Snacks should preferably be something healthy, like carrots, fruit, crackers, etc
You may set a timer during the snack break
Snack breaks may be drawn out by using small food items like cereal where after each problem, item, or section the class goes over, they stop and eat 5 Cheerios or Corn Flakes then continue to the next item or section
Alternative Methods:
Breaks may be less formal and simply involve getting a snack
Breaks may be as simple as a student moving to another spot in the classroom
Breaks may include sending a student on an errand, taking a note or paper to another teacher or the office, or some other task that gets the student up and out for a short break
