Go Noodle

Go Noodle is a brain break website for elementary students (and maybe intermediate, depending on the maturity level). The website is comprised of short videos -- some from YouTube, and some from the makers of Go Noodle -- that you can play during class when your students need a little break.

You could find some of these videos on YouTube, but since they're shown on the Go Noodle website, the videos are free from distracting and potentially inappropriate ads.

Some of the videos let students practice academic skills while moving their bodies. For instance, the  "Freeze It" video lets kids dance while the music is playing, and then shout something out when the music stops. There are lots of options for what you want the kids to do when the music is "frozen:"

Some of the videos are meant to get the wiggles out. 

Other videos are meant to be calming. 

You can sort by the type of video you're looking for, or you can browse the entire library of videos and choose based on what the kids want to play or how much time you have to spare:

This page is a quick reference guide to all the videos available, and this page has an explanation of all the games Go Noodle offers. There is a pretty good variety, so you should be able to find just what your students need.

To use Go Noodle, you have to sign up for a free account. When you sign up, you can create a class

or use the Demo class to help you get acquainted with the website.

Go Noodle allows your class to choose a character to "workout" with them, so your class can watch their character's muscles grow. 

Once you grow a character to its maximum, the class can choose another character to work with. 

Go Noodle also keeps track of how long your students have been active. {This is how the character knows when it can grow.} After active video sessions, students will see the Go Noodle background logo and their total time spent working out. 

You also get a reminder about how many minutes you've spent working out {and how many minutes you have left before you get to the next level} on your home page -- along with a fun, random fact that you can change any time by clicking the character:

Bonus: it looks like our district has access to Go Noodle Plus for free. :)

I have yet to personally use Go Noodle, but you can bet I'll be using it this coming school year! I have a few friends who have used Go Noodle in their class, and I have heard nothing but positive things about it. A friend said her 4 year-old loves it as well as her 4th graders!