Free GoNoodle alternatives
GoNoodle is one of the best-known places for kids' movement breaks. If you'd like a few more options for brain breaks and indoor recess, here are eight free ones that teachers put on their own brain-break boards, from calm yoga stories to high-energy dance-alongs, plus a game kids play standing up in front of the camera.
Follow-along videos (free on YouTube)
These work for the whole class at once: put the video on the board and everyone moves together.
1. Cosmic Kids Yoga
Yoga adventures told as stories, where the poses act out the tale. A good pick when the class needs to calm down rather than wind up.
2. Danny Go!
High-energy dance-alongs and movement games with a lot of running on the spot, freezing and jumping. Teachers often roll a die to pick one for indoor recess. Our games like Danny Go! list has more like it.
3. Koo Koo Kanga Roo
Silly dance-along songs with big, easy moves that even the youngest kids can copy straight away.
4. Jack Hartmann
Movement songs about counting and letters, so a break can double as a quick review song.
5. The Learning Station
Action songs and freeze dances, mostly for pre-K to first grade.
6. Just Dance videos
Follow-along dance routines to pop songs, for when older kids want something that feels less babyish.
7. PE with Joe
Short, simple workouts led by Joe Wicks, good for a five-minute burst before a long sit-down task.
A game kids play standing up
8. Hopadoo
Hopadoo is a set of free browser games kids play by moving in front of the camera on a laptop, tablet or phone. Instead of following a video, they play: jump the hurdles in a jungle race, step into the lane with the right answer in Sum Run, jump to pop the missing letter in Word Pop, or copy the monkey's poses in Monkey Mirror, which has no jumping at all.
It plays one or two kids at a time, so it suits a station, a pair who finished early, or indoor recess in small groups, rather than the whole class at once. There are no logins and no ads, and the camera video never leaves the device.
Why the camera? It鈥檚 how the runners copy each move, and the video never leaves this device.
How to pick one
- Whole class or a few kids? Follow-along videos suit the whole class; a camera game suits a station or a pair.
- Calm or energetic? Yoga stories settle a room; dance-alongs and jumping games wake it up. Match the break to what comes next.
- How much space? In a tight room, pick yoga, a seated video, or Monkey Mirror, which needs no jumping.
- Keep it short: one to three minutes, then a calm finish before the next lesson.
Questions
What is a good free alternative to GoNoodle for a small room?
A yoga story video, or a game with no jumping such as Monkey Mirror, where kids copy the monkey's poses and hold them.
Can these work at home too?
Yes. The videos and Hopadoo all run on a laptop, tablet or phone, so they work for one child at home as well as in class.
Is it free?
Yes. Hopadoo, Sum Run, Word Pop and Monkey Mirror are free for good. The optional Family Unlock adds Sneak, Ten Jar, Word Hop and Number River, with one payment and no subscription.
More ideas: Games like Danny Go! 路 Brain breaks kids play on their feet 路 Halloween brain breaks 路 All guides
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