Summer brain break cube fun puts all that summer energy to work! When kids are squirmy, fidgety or losing focus, roll the Summer Brain Break Cube and let them swim in the pool, row a boat or build a sandcastle during a quick, playful movement break.

This summer cube is filled with silly, high-energy gross motor activities that let children pretend, move and laugh while building coordination skills. Gross motor skills use the large muscles of the body, like those used for rowing, swimming and hiking. These themed brain breaks bring summer right into your classroom or therapy sessions while giving kids the sensory play they crave.

With this summer brain break cube, you get

• 6 summer movement prompts that mix pretend play with gross motor activity
• Colorful cube inserts
• Black and white cube inserts that save ink and double as a coloring activity
• A DIY cube template so no special supplies are needed
• Easy-to-follow directions for teachers, parents and therapists

Roll it, move it and get back to learning!

What's Included

• Colorful cube inserts with 6 summer movements:
  • Swim in the pool
  • Catch a butterfly
  • Row a boat
  • Build a sandcastle
  • Hike up a hill
  • Rub on sunscreen
• Black and white cube inserts
• DIY cube template to print, cut, fold and tape
• Directions for teachers, parents and therapists

Why Teachers Love It

• Helps kids reset: A quick roll and a burst of movement help children calm their bodies and get ready to focus again.
• Smooth transitions: A short burst of themed movement keeps tricky parts of the day, like moving from centers to the carpet, positive.
• Perfect for indoor days: Summer prompts bring outdoor fun inside on days when the weather is rainy, too hot or not safe for outdoor play.
• No special supplies: Use a differentiated instruction cube or print, cut, fold and tape the DIY cube template.
• Saves ink and adds fine motor work: Children can color the black and white inserts before the movement begins.
• Sub plans made simple: Kids already know how to use it, so it keeps the classroom running smoothly when you are not there.

Skills Students Practice

Primary Academic Skills

• Gross motor development: Rowing, swimming and hiking strengthen balance, coordination and large muscle groups.
• Listening and following directions: Children hear the action, understand it and act it out.
• Vocabulary building: Words like sandcastle, butterfly and row a boat build summer vocabulary through play.
• Body awareness and spatial movement: Children learn to move safely in a group, practicing spatial boundaries and control.
• Self-regulation and sensory input: Quick movement breaks help children reset their bodies and emotions before they focus again.

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 your choice of colorful or black and white inserts. Slide them into a differentiated instruction cube or assemble the DIY cube template.

Step 2: Choose a child to roll the cube during circle time, transition time or indoor recess.

Step 3: Read the movement together ("Build a sandcastle!") and encourage the whole group to join in. Keep rolling until children have released their energy and are ready to focus again.

Materials You'll Need

• A differentiated instruction cube or the included DIY cube template
• Scissors and tape for the DIY cube
• Crayons for the black and white inserts (optional)

Easy Differentiation

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

For Children Who Need More Support

• Model each summer movement before children try it
• Name the picture aloud and act it out together
• Offer a calmer version of an action, such as rowing in slow motion
• Start with the movements children already know, like swimming

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 summer, beach or end-of-year 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 describe what they are pretending to do

For Speech, OT, ELL or Special Education Support

• Practice action verbs such as row, swim and catch
• Use a simple sentence frame such as "I can ___."
• Use the cube in OT sessions for large muscle work and sensory input
• Show the picture while saying the action word for visual support
• Let children color the black and white inserts for extra fine motor practice

Perfect For

• Circle time
• Classroom transitions
• Indoor recess
• Occupational therapy sessions
• Speech therapy and ESL/ELL support
• Substitute plans
• Homeschool movement breaks

Standards

This summer 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 swim, row and hike.
• CCSS L.K.6: Use words and phrases learned through conversation and play, such as summer words and action words.
• CCSS SL.K.1: Take part in collaborative conversations with classmates and adults during group activities.
• 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 summer movement.
• Texas Pre-K Guidelines PK4.IX.A.2: Coordinate a sequence of movements, such as building a sandcastle and then hiking up a hill.
• 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 rowing, swimming and hiking.
• 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.”

Every roll brings new laughter, new movement and new focus for your learners! Grab the Summer Brain Break Cube and make learning active and engaging with this no-prep printable activity. Add it to your cart today and let the summer fun begin!

Bundle and save: the Summer 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