Three-minute lesson breakers

• “ Hold your hands up and quickly form finger patterns representing numbers. Flash a finger pattern for a single-digit number, pause then show another pattern representing a single digit number.” The students silently add the numbers and call out the answer
• Display a jar containing a collection of items. Students may either guess the number of objects or record their guesses and submit them for a raffle-style draw at the end of the day. The collection, or number of items, should be changed on a regular basis
• Call out a number and have the students form groups of that number and sit as a group. Any students left standing nominate the next number
• Count aloud as classroom equipment is given out or collected
• A number is nominated during aerobics activities and each exercise must be completed that many times. That is, if the number is 10, each student must complete 10 star jumps, 10 knee bends, 10 toe touches, etc.