Winter brain break cube fun gets kids up, moving and ready to learn! Roll the Brain Break Cube | Winter Theme and let children pull a sled, throw a snowball, waddle like a penguin or skate on the ice during a quick winter movement break.

This simple winter cube makes it easy to work brain breaks into your regular daily activities. On cold and snowy days when everyone is stuck inside, a roll of the cube gives children a chance to wiggle, giggle and reset before they head back to learning. The prep is easy too, with two options for the cube itself.

With this winter brain break cube, you get

• 6 winter movement prompts kids love to act out
• A large color insert set for a differentiated instruction cube
• A black and white version of the inserts
• 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

• Winter cube cards with 6 movements:
  • Pull the sled
  • Throw a snowball
  • Waddle like a penguin
  • Ski down a hill
  • Roll a snowman
  • Skate on the ice
• Large color insert set that fits inside a differentiated instruction cube
• Black and white version of the insert set
• Printable cube template

Why Teachers Love It

• Helps kids reset: A quick roll and a burst of movement help children calm their bodies and get ready to learn again.
• Perfect for indoor days: Sledding, skiing and skating prompts bring winter fun inside when it is too cold for outdoor recess.
• Two cube options: Slide the inserts into a differentiated instruction cube or print the cube template.
• Printer-friendly: Color and black and white versions give you options for any printer.
• Sub plans made simple: Print it and add it to your emergency folder for an easy movement break.
• Use it year after year: Prep it once and pull it out every winter.

Skills Students Practice

Primary Academic Skills

• Gross motor coordination: Skiing, skating and throwing build full-body movement, balance and coordination.
• Listening and following directions: Children hear the action, understand it and carry it out with their bodies.
• Action and winter vocabulary: Words like pull, throw, waddle, ski, roll and skate connect action verbs to winter concepts.
• Transition readiness and sensory regulation: A short, structured movement break helps children reset and re-engage.
• Imaginative play: Children pretend to roll a snowman and waddle like a penguin as they act out each prompt.

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 color or black and white cards. Cut each piece out and slide it into a differentiated instruction cube, or put together the printable cube template.

Step 2: Choose a student to roll the cube during morning meeting, carpet time, a mid-day brain break or a transition.

Step 3: Read the movement prompt out loud and have everyone act it out together. Keep rolling until your students have the brain break they need.

Materials You'll Need

• A differentiated instruction cube or the included printable cube template
• Scissors

Easy Differentiation

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

For Children Who Need More Support

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

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 winter, snow or penguin 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 pull, throw, ski and skate
• Use a simple sentence frame such as "I am ___."
• Use the cube in OT and PT sessions targeting large motor skills and regulation
• 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 carpet time
• Classroom transitions
• Indoor recess on cold and snowy days
• OT and PT sessions
• Small groups
• Substitute plans
• Homeschool wiggle breaks

Standards

This winter 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 pull, waddle and skate.
• CCSS L.K.6: Use words and phrases learned through conversation and play, such as winter words 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 winter movement.
• Texas Pre-K Guidelines PK4.IX.A.2: Coordinate a sequence of movements, such as rolling a snowman and then skating on the ice.
• 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 skiing, skating and throwing.
• 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.

Bring the snow day inside! Your kids will LOVE pulling sleds, skiing down hills and waddling like penguins with these silly winter prompts. Add the Brain Break Cube | Winter Theme to your cart now and get ready for winter movement fun that fits right into your day!

Bundle and save: the Winter Brain Break Cube is also included in the Gross Motor Brain Break Bundle: 30 Themes.

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