Brain Breaks After Thanksgiving: How Movement Can Combat the Post-Feast Slump in Classrooms

Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude, family, and yes - an abundance of food. While the holiday can leave students (and teachers) feeling full and sluggish, the week after offers a perfect opportunity to get kids moving and re-engaged in the classroom.

With simple, structured brain breaks, you can boost energy, improve focus, and keep learning fun - all without leaving the room. Here's how to bring post-Thanksgiving movement to life.

Why Brain Breaks Matter

After Thanksgiving, students often experience:

• Reduced attention span
• Decreased energy for academic tasks
• Heightened restlessness

Short bouts of physical activity help:

• Reignite blood flow to the brain
• Improve mood and reduce stress
• Increase engagement in learning

Even 3 - 5 minutes of intentional movement can make a huge difference in classroom focus.

7 Post-Thanksgiving Brain Break Ideas

These activities are designed to be fun, low-prep, and adaptable to your classroom environment.

1. Turkey Trot Warm-Up

Students mimic turkeys trotting across the classroom, alternating high knees and mini-jumps.

    Track laps using EZ Scan or reward students with Toe Tokens for participation. Small incentives can make even silly movements exciting.

2. Pumpkin Pick-Up Relay

Place small beanbags or soft "pumpkins" around the room. Students race to collect one at a time, then return to their sports. This quick burst of activity builds coordination and focus.

3. Gratitude Stretch Circle

Students stand in a circle and pass a soft object (like a stuffed turkey). When holding it, they share one thing they are thankful for while stretching arms, reaching overhead, or bending side to side.

4. Pilgrim and Native Dance

Put on upbeat music and lead students in a short, repetitive dance routine. Incorporate marching, arm movements, or hopping. The movement is fun, thematic, and gets energy levels back up.

5. "Stuffed Turkey" Freeze Game

Call out different positions - "frozen turkey," "cranberry sauce stretch," or "pumpkin pose" - and have students hold them. Freeze games are excellent for focus, balance, and bursts of movement.

6. Hallway Mini-Mile

If your school allows, take students for a quick hallway walk. Each lap can be tied to a gratitude activity: name one thing they're thankful for per lap. Use Mileage Club charts or EZ Scan to log miles - a fun way to link movement to reflection.

7. Post-Meal Mindful Movements

Encourage slower, controlled movements like yoga stretches or deep breathing exercises. Use Thanksgiving-themed poses:

• "Leaf Reach" (side stretches)
• "Pilgrim Bow" (forward fold)
• "Turkey Neck Twist" (gentle neck rotations)

These exercises help students digest both food and thoughts while preparing for the next learning task.

Tips for Success

1. Keep it short and frequent: Multiple 3-5 minute breaks throughout the day work better than one long session.

2. Mix up energy levels: Alternate between high-intensity bursts and slower, mindful movements.

3. Use visual cues: Posters, cards, or a digital timer can signal when it's time to move.

4. Celebrate participation: Even a simple Toe Token or verbal praise reinforces engagement and excitement.

Makes It Seasonal, Make It Fun

Brain breaks after Thanksgiving don't need to be complicated. By tying movement to seasonal themes - turkeys, pumpkins, leaves, or gratitude - you create a sense of play and relevance that students connect with

            And if you want to take it a step further, consider a mini post-holiday

            "Turkey Trot" in your classroom or school gym. Students can track

             laps with EZ Scan and earn tokens for every milestone - turning post

             feast sluggishness into friendly competition and achievement.

Final Thoughts

The days after Thanksgiving are prime time for brain breaks. Short intentional bursts of movement restore energy, improve focus, and keep students feeling motivated - even after the biggest meal of the year.

By combining seasonal fun, gratitude practices, and a bit of friendly tracking, you can help your students move with purpose and return to learning refreshed and ready.

Why PE Programming is Magnified with Mileage Club + EZ Scan

Physical education is more than movement - it's confidence-building, goal-setting, and helping students form healthy habits that last. Mileage Club has always done that beautifully by making activity fun and achievable for every child. But when you add EZ Scan, the experience shifts from "fun and active" to a powerful, year-round wellness program that supports real learning outcomes in your school.

Here's how EZ Scan takes your Mileage Club to the next level:

1. Simple, Stress-Free Progress Tracking

No clipboards. No tally sheets. No guesswork.

EZ Scan automatically records each student's laps or mileage, giving you clear, accurate progress data instantly. That means less time tracking and more time teaching (and encouraging movement!).

2. Showcase Your Program's Impact

Administrators appreciate programs backed by data - and EZ Scan makes your results easy to share. With built-in reports, you can highlight participation rates, improvement, effort, and growth throughout the year. It's a great way to show the value PE brings to student wellness.

3. Meaningful Technology Integration

Schools are continually prioritizing tech skills. EZ Scan brings student-centered technology directly into your PE environment - in a way that is simple, purposeful, and promotes active learning.

4. Stronger Parent Communication

Families love being part of their child's progress. EZ Scan makes it easy to share achievements in a positive, supportive way - reinforcing healthy habits and celebrating effort, not just performance.

5. Flexible for Any Lesson Plan

Mileage Club works in all seasons and all PE spaces:

• Warm-up routine
• Class center rotation
• Full lesson plan
• Indoor or outdoor

Whether you have a track ... or a hallway ... or just your gym floor, you can make it work.

6. Every Student Gets to Shine

Mileage Club focuses on personal bests, not competition.

Students don't have to be the fastest or the most athletic to succeed. They simply show up, try, and grow - and everyone has the opportunity to earn recognition and feel proud of themselves.

7. Students Look Forward to PE

When students can see their progress - especially when they earn fun rewards like Toe Tokens - PE becomes a class they're excited for. It motivates in a positive and lasting way.

You Don't Need a Big Setup to Make a Big Difference

You don't need volunteers, a track, or perfect weather.

All you need is:

• Your regular PE space
• EZ Scan
• A few minutes of active time

And you'll see real impact on student movement, motivation, and confidence - all year long.

Turkey Trot Pro Tips for Schools: How to Leverage Your November Fun-Run for Year-Round Momentum

As November arrives, schools across the country are gearing up for one of the most beloved traditions of the season - the Turkey Trot. From preschool fun runs to all-school fitness festivals, the Turkey Trot is a perfect way to celebrate gratitude, community, and healthy movement before the holidays.

But what if that single day could do more than just kick off Thanksgiving break? What if it could become the starting line for a full year of physical activity, goal-setting, and excitement?

Here's how to make your Turkey Trot the spark that keeps kids moving long after the last pumpkin pie is gone.

1. Start with Purpose, Not Just Planning

Before mapping the route or printing race bibs, ask: What do we want students to take away from this experience?

•  Is it about gratitude?
• Community spirit?
• Building confidence through goal-setting?

A clear "why" shapes every detail - from the decorations to the post-race celebration. When teachers and volunteers know the purpose, kids pick up on the excitement and meaning behind it.

Pro Tip: Use class discussions about gratitude, perseverance, or teamwork in the weeks before race day. Students who understand the why behind the trot are more likely to stay engaged and motivated after it's over.

2. Make Training Fun and Visible

Turn the weeks leading up to the big day into a movement challenge! Instead of random recess jobs, give students something to work toward.

Mini-Mileage Goals: Have classes track their training laps on posters or charts.

Toe Token Milestones: Every few miles or training sessions, students earn a Toe Token to show off their progress.

Gratitude Warm-Ups: Start each practice lap by having kids name something they're thankful for.

These simple pre-event rituals keep momentum high - and help students feel prepared when race day arrives.

3. Race-Day Ideas to Remember

The day itself should be a celebration - not just of fitness, but of school spirit and fun!

Make it festive:

Encourage themed costumes - turkey hats, pilgrim socks, or feathered headbands.

Play upbeat music and create cheer zones around the course.

Use your Fitness Finders Turkey Trot Bundle to easily set up themed materials, medals, and fun tokens to reward every participant.

Keep it inclusive: 

Offer different participation levels (walkers, joggers, sprinters) so everyone feels successful. The focus isn't competition - it's community movement.

4. Capture and Celebrate the Moment

A little recognition goes a long way in keeping energy alive after the trot.

Take group photos with teachers and families at the finish line.

Host a short ceremony to thank volunteers and highlight student effort.

Give every participant a keepsake - a Toe Token, certificate, or Turkey Trot sticker - to remind them of their accomplishment.

Pro Tip: Ask teachers to display student "race stories" on bulletin boards or in newsletters. Sharing those moments helps parents see the effort and pride that went into the event.

5. Turn the Finish Line into a Starting Line

The end of the Turkey Trot doesn't have to be the end of your school's running season. In fact, it's the perfect launchpad for year-round fitness.

• Introduce the Mileage Club: Use the excitement of the trot to kick off your ongoing walking/running program.
• Track progress digitally with EZ Scan: Once students are used to laps, keep that rhythm going! EZ Scan makes it easy to record laps quickly and accurately - perfect for indoor winter sessions.
• Goal-setting for January: Have each class set a post-holiday mileage goal ("Let's reach 50 miles by Valentine's Day!")

By rolling directly into a Mileage Club or classroom movement challenge, you help students see that physical activity isn't just a one-time event - it's an integral part of their everyday growth.

6. Engage Families and the Community

The best Turkey Trots bring families and neighborhoods together. After all, active kids often come from active communities!

Ways to extend participation:

• Invite parents and siblings to walk or cheer.
• Partner with a local business to donate healthy snacks or small prizes.
• Encourage families to complete a "Thanksgiving Weekend 5K" on their own using the same theme.

This family connection helps reinforce what students experience at school - that movement is fun, meaningful, and something to share.

7. Reflect, Recharge, Repeat

Once the event wraps up, take a moment with staff or volunteers to reflect:

• What went well?
• What inspired students most?
• What could we improve next time?

Documenting those insights ensures your Turkey Trot grows each year - becoming a true cornerstone of your school's wellness culture.

And don't forget to celebrate yourselves. Organizing an event that gets dozens or hundreds of kids moving is no small feat!

Final Thoughts

Your Turkey Trot doesn't have to be a one-day burst of excitement that fades with the falling leaves. With a little intention and follow-through, it can become the heartbeat of an active, connected, and grateful school community.

So lace up, grab your Turkey Trot Bundle, and get ready to gobble up those miles - because every lap, every laugh, and every "you can do it!" helps build healthier, happier kids all year long.

5 Tips to Encourage Girls to Get into Sports

Sports can be life-changing for kids, offering confidence, teamwork skills, and lifelong healthy habits. Yet research shows that girls are more likely than boys to drop out of sports as they get older. That's why parents, teachers, and coaches play such an important role in creating supportive opportunities that make athletics fun and rewarding.

Here are five practical tips to encourage girls to get into sports - and stay active for years to come.

1. Create a Positive and Inclusive Environment

Girls thrive in sports when they feel welcomed and valued. Make sure practice and games emphasize encouragement, effort, and growth rather than just competition. Celebrate small wins, like improved effort, teamwork, or skill-building.

Idea: Use tokens or charms as fun recognition awards for effort - like a "Star Token" for teamwork or a "Strong Spirit" charm for trying something new.

2. Highlight Role Models

Representation matters. Share stories of successful female athletes, whether they're local high school players, college athletes, or Olympic stars. Girls are more inspired to participate when they see people like them succeeding.

In the classroom or gym, create a "Wall of Inspiration" where you highlight female athletes and pair it with motivational tokens or awards for students who embody similar qualities.

3. Make Sports Fun and Social

For many girls, sports are just as much about friendship as fitness. Organize group activities that emphasize fun - like relay races, themed practices, or playful challenges. Build opportunities for laughter and connection alongside skill development.

Fun runs, obstacle courses, or "theme days" (pirates, superheroes, neon) are great ways to spark excitement.

4. Listen to Their Interests

Not every girl will gravitate toward the same sport. Give them a voice in choosing what activities they want to try, whether that's soccer, dance, track, swimming, or martial arts. By offering options, you show them their opinions matter and increase the likelihood they'll find something they enjoy.

Encourage girls to set their own goals and celebrate milestones with keepsake charms or bracelets as reminders of their progress.

5. Recognize and Celebrate Achievements

Recognition goes a long way toward building confidence. A simple award can remind a girl that her effort is valued. Whether it's a certificate, token, or medal, acknowledgment motivates her to keep moving forward.

Fitness Finders offers a wide range of achievement awards - from colorful tokens to medals - that can be used to mark milestones and encourage long-term participation.

Create a Supportive Environment to Support Girls

Encouraging girls to get into sports is about more than building athletic skills - it's about giving them confidence, a sense of belonging, and a healthy lifestyle that lasts well into adulthood. By creating supportive environments, highlighting role models, making sports fun, listening to interests, and celebrating achievements, you can inspire the next generation of strong, confident athletes.

Explore Fitness Finders tokens, charms, and awards to help motivate and recognize every achievement along the way!

5 Ways to Make Your School’s Fun Run Unforgettable with Achievement Awards

A school fun run is more than just a fundraiser or fitness challenge - it's an opportunity to build community, celebrate student effort, and inspire kids to develop lifelong healthy habits. While the run itself is exciting, what truly makes it memorable are the little touches that motivate students and honor their achievements.

At Fitness Finders, we know that recognition fuels motivation. When kids feel seen for their hard work, they're more likely to stay engaged, build confidence, and develop a positive attitude toward fitness. That's where fun awards and achievement tokens come in!

Here are five creative ways to make your school's fun run unforgettable:

1. Kick Things Off with Pre-Run Motivation

Set the tone early by giving every participant a starter token or charm when they sign up. For example, a sneaker charm or fun run ribbon builds excitement and helps kids feel part of something special before race day.

Tip: Use tokens to track participation in pre-run training or fitness challenges leading up to the big event.

2. Celebrate Milestones During the Run

Kids thrive when they see their progress in real time. Hand out milestone tokens for laps completed or minutes spent moving. Each token becomes a small, tangible reminder of their achievement.

• Star Charms for each lap
• Brightly colored foot tokens to clip onto shoelaces or lanyards
• A special glow-in-the-dark token for the final lap to make it extra memorable

3. Spotlight Team Spirit

Fun runs aren't only about individual performance - they're also about building community. Recognize classrooms or grade levels for achievements like:

• Best Team Spirit (class with the most cheering)
• Most Creative Outfits (pirate, superhero, or rainbow themes are always a hit!)
• Strongest Effort as a Team (everyone completes the run together)

Award a classroom banner, trophy, or set of charms they can proudly display.

4. Make Finishing Feel Like Victory

Crossing the finish line should feel like a true accomplishment, whether it's the first or last student. Give each runner a Fun Run Medal or custom charm as they finish. These awards become keepsakes that remind them of their hard work and perseverance.

5. Create Lasting Memories with Keepsakes

After the event, surprise students with a certificate of achievement paired with the tokens they earned. Encourage them to collect their charms on a bracelet, shoelace, or lanyard so they can look back proudly on their fitness journey.

Consider giving teachers a small set of extra tokens to hand out in the weeks after the event for continued motivation.

Making Your School's Fun Run Unforgettable

Your school's fun run is more than a day of activity - it's a chance to celebrate effort, teamwork, and resilience. By incorporating achievement awards like tokens, charms, medals, and certificates, you turn a simple event into a cherished memory for every child.

At Fitness Finders, we're here to help you make your fun run unforgettable. From lap-tracking tokens to special recognition awards, we offer the perfect tools to motivate, inspire, and celebrate your students.

Browse our Fun Run Awards & Tokens Collection and start planning your most memorable event yet!

Read & Reward: Combining Literacy and Movement

Celebrate the joy of reading - but what if we told you it could also be a chance to get kids moving? At Fitness Finders, we're always exploring creative ways to help children grow stronger - not just physically, but mentally too. This year, we're excited to share a fresh idea: merge reading and fitness using Fitness Finders tokens as a fun and meaningful incentive.

For teachers, educators, and parents, this blog will show you how to turn reading into an active, rewarding experience. Let's get started!

Why Combine Reading and Fitness?

Reading and physical activity are often treated as separate goals - but they both play essential roles in a child's development.

• Reading builds vocabulary, comprehension, imagination, and cognitive stamina.
• Physical activity improves focus, energy, and emotional well-being - making it easier to engage with academic tasks like reading.

Together, they make a powerful pair. By using Fitness Finders tokens to incentivize reading, you encourage kids to love books and get moving - all while having fun.

How to Use Fitness Finders Tokens as Reading Rewards

Here's how you can turn reading into a movement-friendly, motivational program using Fitness Finders tokens:

1. Read & Earn: A Token for Every Milestone

• K-2: 1 token per 10 pages or per book
• 3 - 5: 1 token per 20 - 30 pages or per book
• Middle School: 1 token per chapter or 50 pages

Younger students can keep a reading log or use coloring charts for every completed book. Older students might journal what they've learned or write short summaries.

Tip for Teachers: Display a class-wide reading chart and add a sticker each time someone earns a token. Watch motivation soar!

2. Active Reading Challenges

Make reading physically interactive. When a student earns a token, they complete a "movement bonus" like:

• 10 jumping jacks
• Walk a lap around the school
• Yoga pose related to the book theme
• Balance challenge (30 seconds on one foot while retelling the story)

This reinforces the idea that reading strengthens the brain - and movement strengthens the body!

3. Book-Themed Fitness Activities

Bring stories to life with fitness challenges inspired by the books your students read:

The Very Hungry Caterpillar - Caterpillar crawl relay fitness challenge

Charlotte's Web - Spider pose (yoga) fitness challenge

Percy Jackson - Olympian obstacle course fitness challenge

Magic Tree House - Jungle animal movement fitness challenge

You can even turn these into mini "literacy PE days" where kids earn tokens for completing themed stations based on the books they've read.

4. Reading Races: Families vs Classrooms

Encourage reading at home by involving families:

• Send home reading logs with goals tied to tokens
• Each week, students "redeem" books for tokens at school
• Track total tokens earned as a class - and compare with other classes or grade levels

Classroom Challenge Idea: "Can our class read enough pages to cross the United States?" Assign miles (or steps) to pages, and use Fitness Finders tokens to symbolize travel milestones.

5. Book Club + Brain Boost

Start a book club with a fitness twist:

• Meet weekly to discuss a shared book
• After discussion, complete a movement challenge together
• Award tokens for participation, collaboration, and creativity

This approach builds social-emotional skills, teamwork, and positive peer interaction - all while promoting literacy and fitness.

Bonus Idea: "Read to Move" Token Stations

Set up a classroom or home reading corner with 3 - 5 stations:

• Station 1: Read aloud a short story
• Station 2: Answer a comprehension question
• Station 3: Do a movement based on the story
• Station 4: Collect a token for completing all tasks

Great for rainy day PE, indoor recess, or literacy centers!

Why It Works

Incorporating Fitness Finders tokens into reading programs:

✅ Gamifies learning (kids love earning!)
✅ Rewards effort and consistency
✅ Combines brain and body engagement
✅ Builds lifelong reading and wellness habits
✅ Makes learning fun and memorable

And most importantly - it reminds kids that health and learning go hand-in-hand.

For Teachers and Parents

By connecting books with movement and rewards, we make reading an active, exciting experience.

With Fitness Finders tokens, teachers and parents now have a unique tool to motivate reading through movement-based rewards that get kids excited about learning. Whether you're encouraging a reluctant reader or adding energy to your classroom routine, this method brings books to life - literally!

Visit fitnessfinders.net to explore more ways to connect movement, motivation, and meaningful learning today.

How to Use Mileage Club® to Power Your School Fun Run

Get Students Moving Before, During, and After Race Day

When it comes to creating a fun run that's not just fun - but meaningful, motivating, and impactful - Mileage Club is your go-to program. Developed by Fitness Finders, Mileage Club has helped millions of students across the country get active during recess, PE, and beyond.

Here's how you can use Mileage Club to supercharge your school fun run and turn it into more than a one-day event.

What is Mileage Club?

Mileage Club is a flexible, low-cost running/walking program that helps students log miles over time, earn rewards (like Toe Tokens), and develop a love of movement. It's used year-round by thousands of schools - but it's also a perfect lead-up or complement to your annual school fun run.

How to Use Mileage Club Before the Fun Run

Build Excitement and Endurance

Turn your fun run into a culminating event with a 4 to 6 week Mileage Club Challenge.

• Goal: Help students "train" for the fun run by completing laps at recess, during PE, or after school.
• Track Progress: Use Mileage Club lap cards, sticker charts, or EZ Scan to log miles.
• Motivate: Give Toe Tokens for every mile (4 laps = 1 mile) to show progress and build enthusiasm.

Example Goal: "Let's see who can walk or run 10 miles before the big run!"

During the Fun Run: Bring Mileage Club to Life

Use everything you've built in the weeks prior to creating a high-energy, goal-oriented fun run day:

• Set up your track or route with lap stations
• Award bonus tokens or themed charms for each lap
• Let students log laps in real time using EZ Scan
• Celebrate those who've hit personal milestones

Tip: Create a Mileage Club banner or wall display with every student's total miles!

After the Run: Keep the Momentum Going

Your fun run shouldn't be the end - it should be the launchpad for more movement:

• Continue Mileage Club weekly or monthly
• Track ongoing progress and celebrate every mile
• Introduce classroom competitions or family challenges

Recognition Matters: Celebrate "Marathon Milers" (26.2 miles) or "Club Champions" who hit high milestones.

Why This Works:

• Help students set short and long-term goals
• Builds fitness and endurance over time
• Creates a culture of movement in your school
• Encourages daily activity, not just race-day participation

Final Tip

Pair Mileage Club with Fitness Finders Toe Tokens, awards, and EZ Scan, and your fun run becomes more than just a one-day race - it becomes a movement that lasts all year.