Daily movement breaks became embedded in our class schedule last year. Each day at 10 o'clock we went out for a quick movement break. We had a simple routine each day and also added in a few playground games. As the weeks went by, it was clear that it benefited all the students and helped them to focus when we returned to the classroom.
Usually, I do Gaeilge straight after the movement break. So we started to incorporate some of our Gaeilge lesson into the movement break. The students loved it as it was more time outside in the fresh air and they didn't even realise the amount of learning taking place!
Here are a few ideas of games and activities you could use during movement breaks.
Cén t-am é a mhac tíre?
The Irish equivalent of What time is it Mr Wolf? This became a daily one as the students really liked it and they could certainly count to 12 by the end of the year!
A great one to teach time in a fun practical way.
Rith
I didn't have a name for this one. All students line up in centre of pitch. I called out a question linked to the vocabulary and phrases we were learning for the week. For example 'An maith leat a bheith ag.....'
Children then run to one side of pitch if they like it and to the other side if they don't. To get back to the centre of the pitch for the next question, they have to answer the question correctly; 'Is maith liom a bheith ag..../ní maith liom a bheith ag...' It offers an opportunity to repeat phrases a lot and also hear their peers forming the sentence.
If the vocabulary was new, I would bring out the flashcards as a visual prompt to those who needed it.
Cars
Deir Ó Grádaigh
Again this can be adapted to most topics you are teaching in Irish. You can also use call and response to get the children using the language. 'Bígí ag rith.....Tá mé ag rith'.
I am going to continue incorporating Gaeilge outdoors this year as it led to lots of Gaeilge neamhfhoirmiúil in a fun context. If you have any other ideas for using Irish in movement breaks, leave a comment below!