Dance brain break cube fun shakes out the wiggles and gets kids ready to focus! Roll the Brain Break Cube | Dancing and let children tap a foot, march around the room or reach up to the sky during a quick movement break.

Whether your kiddos are stuck indoors, need a movement reset or just finished a long circle time, this dance cube gives them a playful, purposeful way to move. It is perfect for preschool, kindergarten, therapy sessions or home, and it is especially helpful for transitions, attention resets and indoor recess when everyone has the wiggles.

With this dance brain break cube, you get

• 6 dance-inspired movement prompts kids love to act out
• Inserts for a differentiated instruction cube (sized to fit photo cubes or soft pocket cubes)
• A build-your-own cube template you print, fold and tape
• Both cube options in color and black and white

Roll it, dance it and get back to learning!

What's Included

• Dance cube cards with 6 movements:
  • Tap your foot
  • March around the room
  • Move one side
  • Reach up to the sky
  • Kick your legs
  • Reach down to the floor
• Inserts for differentiated instruction cubes (sized to fit photo cubes or soft pocket cubes), in color and black and white
• Build-your-own cube template (print, fold and tape for an instant movement game), in color and black and white

Why Teachers Love It

• Helps kids refocus: Brain breaks can help increase focus for anyone, especially children.
• A dance party in a cube: Tapping, marching and kicking keep little bodies moving, laughing and learning.
• Two cube options: Use the DIY cube for quick setup or print the inserts for a more durable classroom tool.
• Printer-friendly: Color and black and white versions give you options for any printer.
• Sub plans made simple: A ready-to-go tool for any sub plan folder.
• Great for therapy too: OT, PT and speech sessions can use it to target motor planning and movement vocabulary.

Skills Students Practice

Primary Academic Skills

• Gross motor coordination and balance: Kicking, marching and reaching build whole-body movement and balance.
• Listening and following directions: Children follow verbal and visual directions and carry them out with their bodies.
• Directional awareness: Reaching up, reaching down and moving one side build an understanding of up, down and sides.
• Movement vocabulary: Words like tap, march, kick and reach connect action verbs to dance.
• Self-regulation: Rhythmic movement gives sensory input and helps children get ready for the next task.

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 inserts and slide them into a photo cube or soft pocket cube, or print, fold and tape the DIY cube template.

Step 2: Roll the cube to reveal a movement prompt.

Step 3: Have students act out the movement using big, confident motions. Repeat as needed for 1-minute movement breaks, circle time transitions or a full dance party reset!

Materials You'll Need

• A photo cube, soft pocket 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 dance cube is easy to adjust for each of them.

For Children Who Need More Support

• Model each dance move before children try it
• Name the picture aloud and act it out together
• Start with movements children already know, like tapping a foot
• Offer a calmer version of an action, such as marching in place

For On-Level Practice

• Let children take turns rolling the cube for the group
• Do each move as the class counts together
• Use the cube during transitions throughout the day
• Add music and dance to the beat

For an Extra Challenge

• Let a child lead the group by naming the move and showing it
• Roll twice and put both moves together into a short dance
• Ask children to move fast and then slow
• Have children make up a new dance move for the class to copy

For Speech, OT, ELL or Special Education Support

• Practice action and position words such as tap, march, kick, up and down
• Use a simple sentence frame such as "I can ___."
• Use the cube in OT or PT sessions targeting motor planning and body awareness
• Show the picture while saying the action word for visual support
• Add it to movement stations or sensory rooms

Perfect For

• Circle time transitions
• Whole-group movement breaks
• Indoor recess
• OT, PT and speech sessions
• Small groups
• Substitute plans
• Music and movement time
• Homeschool and distance learning

Standards

This dance 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 tap, march and kick.
• CCSS L.K.6: Use words and phrases learned through conversation and play, such as dance words and position 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 tapping, kicking or reaching.
• Texas Pre-K Guidelines PK4.IX.A.2: Coordinate a sequence of movements, such as marching around the room.
• 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 and directions.

Virginia Early Learning and Development Standards

• Virginia ELDS HPD2.1: Develop large muscle control through marching, kicking and reaching.
• Virginia ELDS APL4.1: Manage actions and behaviors while moving with the group.
• Virginia ELDS CD4.1: Explore and express ideas through movement and dance.

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 moving! This dance cube is the perfect way to get little bodies moving, laughing and learning. It is low-prep, high-energy and super fun anytime your learners need a wiggle break. Add the Brain Break Cube | Dancing to your cart now and get ready for a classroom dance floor full of engaged learners!

Bundle and save: the Dance 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