We all know how difficult it is to concentrate on a single task for any length of time.  However enthusiastic we might be at the start, we can soon become bored by the monotony, disenchanted with the routine.

Researchers have suggested that the average intelligent adult has a dedicated attention  span of about 20 - 30 minutes ... on a good day!  This is why good teachers and trainers vary the activities in which they seek to engage their students and trainees.  It is why students should be advised to take regular  breaks when working on assignments or revising.

Frequent breaks enable learners to achieve greater retention.  We tend to remember dramatic first impressions - outstanding highlights - and the most recent part of a presentation or input (usually at the end).  By increasing the number of breaks, not only do you increase the number of "beginnings" and "ends" but the interjections themselves, if they are lively and innovative, actually form "dramatic interludes" - a series of "high points" that will have considerable impact on the learner.

If adults have difficulty concentrating for any length of time, imagine how much more difficult it is for children.  However, help is at hand.  Instead of attempting to fix their interest firmly on a single activity, we should try to discover ways of enabling their brains to do what brains do best - multi-tasking.

BrainBites is a collection of activities that can be used to inject variety and interest into lessons.  Although the activities (which include mental and physical puzzles, problems and brain-teasers) are intended as interjections into longer lessons, many of them stand alone as being interesting and useful in their own right or as introductions to further lessons.  Many of them link with other BrainBites activities and support the kinds of learning outcomes that form the backbone of literacy, numeracy, problem-solving and interpersonal skills.  Each activity is a lively interjection designed to introduce fun into the classroom whilst stimulating students into making their own connections.

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