physical break

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physical break (plural physical breaks)

1. (idiomatic) A short break in a meeting or in a classroom setting, intended to improve attention by giving people a chance to move around.
   • 1973, Frank B. May, To Help Children Read: Mastery Performance Modules for Teachers in Training, page 73:

     Hopefully you decided to use the dancing, rhythms, or dramatic play as an opportunity for plenty of movement — a chance for a physical break between two intellectual activities.

   • 2005, Jane L. Sigford, Who Said School Administration Would be Fun?, page 91:

     Adults need a physical break every hour so they can get up and move around.

   • 2006, James P. Trotzer, The Counselor and the Group: Integrating Theory, Training, and Practice, page 83:

     These activities are most useful as icebreakers at the start of group sessions or energizers when group members indicate a need for a physical break

   • 2008, Michael Gurian with Kathy Stevens and Kelley King, Strategies for Teaching Boys and Girls -- Elementary Level, page 19:

     She followed the lead of other teachers who utilized physical break times in lesson plans.