Rainforest animal brain break cube fun is ready to roll! Work brain breaks into your regular daily activities with the Brain Break Cube | Rainforest Animal Theme and let kids slither like an anaconda, swing like a monkey or go slow like a sloth.

Brain breaks are short, simple movements that give busy little bodies a chance to wiggle and reset. Roll the cube, act out the rainforest animal on top and head back to learning ready to focus. The prep is easy, with two options for the cube itself.

With this rainforest animal brain break cube, you get

• 6 rainforest animal movement prompts kids love to act out
• A large color insert set that fits inside a Differentiated Instruction Cube
• A black and white version of the insert set
• A printable cube template if you do not have a differentiated instruction cube

Roll it, move it and get back to learning!

What's Included

• Large color insert set for a Differentiated Instruction Cube
• Black and white version of the insert set
• Printable cube template
• 6 rainforest animal brain break activities:
  • Slither like an anaconda
  • Fly like a macaw
  • Prowl like a jaguar
  • Swing like a monkey
  • Leap like a red-eyed tree frog
  • Go slow like a sloth

Why Teachers Love It

• Helps kids refocus: A quick burst of movement lets children get the wiggles out and return to their work ready to pay attention.
• Kids love rainforest animals: Prowling like a jaguar and leaping like a tree frog make movement time something children look forward to.
• Fast and slow in one cube: Moves range from a speedy macaw flight to a slow sloth, so children practice changing their pace.
• Easy prep: Cut out the inserts and slide them into a differentiated instruction cube, or print and fold the cube template.
• Color or black and white: Choose the color inserts or print the black and white version to save ink.
• Sub plans made simple: A brain break cube is an easy activity to leave with a substitute.

Skills Students Practice

Primary Academic Skills

• Gross motor development: Slithering, prowling, swinging and leaping build balance, coordination and body control.
• Listening and following directions: Children hear the action, think about it and act it out with their bodies.
• Action vocabulary: Words like slither, prowl, swing and leap give children new verbs to hear, say and act out.
• Body awareness: Moving as a group teaches children to move safely in a shared space.
• Self-regulation: A short, structured movement break, including the slow sloth move, helps children reset their energy and get ready to learn again.

Secondary Life & Learning Skills

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

How to Use It

Step 1: Choose your cube option. Cut out the large color or black and white inserts for a differentiated instruction cube, or print the cube template.

Step 2: Slide each insert into the cube or put the printable cube together so the six rainforest animal movements are ready to roll.

Step 3: Roll and move! Children act out the rainforest animal movement that lands face up, then roll again or head back to work.

Easy Differentiation

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

For Children Who Need More Support

• Use the large color inserts for clear visual support
• Model each rainforest animal movement before children try it
• Name the picture aloud and act it out together
• Offer a calmer version of an action, such as leaping in place

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 rainforest or animal habitat 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, such as flying like a macaw and then moving like a sloth
• Have children tell one thing they know about each rainforest animal as they move

For Speech, OT, ELL or Special Education Support

• Practice action verbs such as slither, fly, prowl, swing and leap
• Use a simple sentence frame such as "I can ___ like a ___."
• Use the cube as structured gross motor input for children who need movement to regulate and focus
• Show the picture while saying the action word for visual support
• Give extra processing time before children begin moving

Perfect For

• Brain breaks and wiggle breaks
• Indoor recess
• Circle time and morning meeting
• Classroom transitions
• Substitute plans
• Rainforest theme units
• Speech and occupational therapy
• Homeschool movement breaks

Standards

This rainforest animal 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, such as slither, prowl and leap.
• 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, such as leaping like a tree frog.
• Texas Pre-K Guidelines PK4.IX.A.2: Coordinate a sequence of movements to act out each rainforest animal action.
• 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 slithering, prowling, swinging and leaping.
• Virginia ELDS APL4.1: Manage actions and behaviors while moving with the group.
• Virginia ELDS CD4.1: Explore and express ideas through movement.

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.

Add a simple and easy brain break to your daily routine with the Brain Break Cube | Rainforest Animal Theme. Roll the cube, swing, prowl and leap together and watch your kids head back to learning ready to focus. Add it to your cart today and let the rainforest fun begin!

Bundle and save: the Rainforest Animal 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

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