Bugs and insects brain break cube fun gets little bodies buzzing! Roll the Brain Break Cube | Bugs and Insects Theme and let children wiggle like a worm, sting like a bee or crawl like a spider during a quick movement break.

Whether your class needs to shake off the wiggles, move between lessons or calm down after a busy morning, this bug cube gives children the movement they need. A roll of the cube means a chance to pretend, giggle and reset before heading back to learning. It is a low-prep favorite for preschool, kindergarten, OT and home learning.

With this bugs and insects brain break cube, you get

• 6 bug-themed movement prompts kids love to act out
• Inserts for a differentiated instruction cube (fits soft photo cubes)
• A build-your-own cube template you print, cut, fold and tape
• Both cube options in color and black and white

Roll it, buzz it and get back to learning!

What's Included

• Bugs and insects cube cards with 6 movements:
  • Carry food like an ant
  • Crawl like a spider
  • Wiggle like a worm
  • Buzz like a fly
  • Sting like a bee
  • Flutter like a butterfly
• Inserts for differentiated instruction cubes (also known as photo cubes or soft cubes), in color and black and white
• Build-your-own cube template (print, cut, fold and tape), in color and black and white

Why Teachers Love It

• Helps kids reset: A quick roll and a burst of movement help children shake off the wiggles and refocus.
• Pretend play built in: Buzzing like a fly and carrying food like a hardworking ant keep little learners engaged and giggling.
• Two cube options: Slide the inserts into a soft photo cube or build the budget-friendly paper cube.
• Printer-friendly: Color and black and white versions give you options for any printer. In the black and white set, Wiggle like a worm becomes Hop like a grasshopper.
• Sub plans made simple: Just print and roll, so it is an easy addition to your emergency sub folder.
• Great for therapy too: Occupational therapists can use it for motor planning, regulation and body awareness.

Skills Students Practice

Primary Academic Skills

• Gross motor coordination: Wiggling, crawling and fluttering build whole-body movement and coordination.
• Listening and following directions: Children hear a direction, understand it and carry it out with their bodies.
• Action vocabulary: Words like wiggle, sting, flutter, buzz and crawl connect action verbs to bug and insect concepts.
• Self-regulation: A short, structured movement break gives sensory input and helps children get ready for the next transition.
• Imaginative play: Children pretend to be worms, bees, butterflies, flies, ants and spiders.

Secondary Life & Learning Skills

• Taking turns
• Waiting during group play
• Following directions
• Listening to classmates
• Maintaining attention
• Building confidence during group participation

How to Use It

Step 1: Print the cube inserts or the build-your-own template in color or black and white. Slide the inserts into a differentiated instruction cube, or cut, fold and tape your own cube.

Step 2: Choose a student to roll the cube after a transition, between centers, before circle time or as part of your sensory toolbox.

Step 3: Act out the bug movement shown. So simple, so fun! Let each child take a turn rolling and leading friends for extra teamwork and confidence.

Materials You'll Need

• A differentiated instruction cube (photo cube or soft cube) or the included cube template
• Tape (for the cube template)

Easy Differentiation

Children come to movement time with different energy levels, motor skills and language needs. This bugs and insects cube is easy to adjust for each of them.

For Children Who Need More Support

• Model each bug movement before children try it
• Name the picture aloud and act it out together
• Start with movements children already know, like buzzing like a fly
• Offer a calmer version of an action, such as crawling slowly like a spider

For On-Level Practice

• Let children take turns rolling the cube for the group
• Act out each movement as the class counts together
• Use the cube during transitions throughout the day
• Pair it with a bugs, insects or spring theme

For an Extra Challenge

• Let a child lead the group by naming the movement and showing it
• Roll twice and do both movements in order
• Ask children to move fast and then slow
• Have children name the bug and tell one thing they know about it

For Speech, OT, ELL or Special Education Support

• Practice action verbs such as wiggle, sting, flutter, buzz, carry and crawl
• Use a simple sentence frame such as "I can ___ like a ___."
• Use the cube in OT sessions targeting motor planning, regulation and proprioceptive input (the sense of where the body is)
• Show the picture while saying the action word for visual support
• Add it to calm-down kits, movement stations or sensory rooms

Perfect For

• Morning meetings and circle time
• Classroom transitions
• Indoor recess
• Sensory regulation breaks
• OT sessions
• Small groups
• Substitute plans
• Bugs and insects units
• Homeschool brain breaks

Standards

This bugs and insects brain break cube supports the 2022 Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines and Virginia's Early Learning and Development Standards (2021), and it builds toward kindergarten skills in Common Core, the TEKS (ELAR, adopted 2017) and the Virginia English SOL (2024):

Common Core State Standards

• CCSS L.K.5.d: Act out the meanings of action words that describe similar movements, such as wiggle, crawl and flutter.
• CCSS L.K.6: Use words and phrases learned through conversation and play, such as bug names and action words.
• CCSS SL.K.1.a: Follow agreed-upon rules for group activities, including listening to others and taking turns.

Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines

• Texas Pre-K Guidelines PK4.IX.A.1: Show coordination and balance in isolation while acting out each bug movement.
• Texas Pre-K Guidelines PK4.IX.A.2: Coordinate a sequence of movements, such as crawling like a spider and then wiggling like a worm.
• Texas Pre-K Guidelines PK4.I.A.1: Know where their own body is in space and respect personal boundaries while moving as a group.
• Texas Pre-K Guidelines PK4.I.B.1.c: Regulate their own behavior with occasional reminders during movement breaks.
• Texas Pre-K Guidelines PK4.II.A.1: Show understanding by responding to the action called out by an adult or classmate.

Texas TEKS

• TEKS ELAR K.1.B: Restate and follow oral directions that involve a short, related sequence of actions.
• TEKS ELAR K.3.C: Identify and use words that name actions.

Virginia Early Learning and Development Standards

• Virginia ELDS HPD2.1: Develop large muscle control through crawling, wiggling and fluttering movements.
• Virginia ELDS APL4.1: Manage actions and behaviors while moving with the group.
• Virginia ELDS CD4.1: Explore and express ideas through movement and pretend play.

Virginia SOL

• VA SOL English K.C.1.A.i: Listen actively and follow agreed-upon rules for group participation, such as waiting for a turn.

Check out what other educators are saying:

★★★★★ Suzanne S. wrote, “I make Brain Break cubes to leave with my sub plans- subs appreciate these and my students love that I leave something different than the norm for them to do.”

★★★★★ Melanie Z. wrote, “Love to use as brain breaks in the afternoon or when we have 10 minutes of extra time during the day.”

Let's get those wiggles out, bug style! Whether your kids are buzzing like flies or crawling like spiders, this playful cube makes movement easy to fit into your day. Add the Brain Break Cube | Bugs and Insects Theme to your cart now and let the bug action begin!

Bundle and save: the Bugs and Insects Brain Break Cube is also included in the Brain Breaks Bundle.

Download Details

Please note: This is a digital download that will be available to you directly after purchase. Nothing will be mailed to you.

You will receive a link to the download in three places

1. On the 'thank you' page after checkout
2. In your email
3. Login on the site here: https://lifeovercsstore.com/account