It’s said that laughter is good medicine! After all, it releases endorphins that make us feel good, puts a smile on our face, and makes us feel comfortable with anyone.
But there is more to laughter than we think. Research shows that laughter can increase learning. By using humor in the classroom or in the student salon, it can help keep students more engaged in the learning experience. Students are more focused and willing to get engaged and perform activities within the classroom and student salon. It is shown that learning is directly proportional to the fun students are having.
To help you incorporate more laughter into your classroom, without having to tell jokes, consider doing some “Laughter Yoga.” I’m not joking, there is such a thing as Laughter Yoga. It is a combination of deep breathing exercises from yoga and laughter exercise. You can easily integrate these fun classroom activities into your day and get your students laughing and learning. Use these exercises to energize your students during long lectures or if your students have been sitting for a while, get them up and out of their chairs and laughing.
Here are a few examples:
- Have students stand in a circle. Have them hold an imaginary cell phone to their ear and begin to laugh.
- Instruct students to stand and find a partner. Have them fake a smile; giggle, then laugh slowly and gradually increase their tempo and volume.
- Have students get up and go around the room and greet as many fellow classmates, however, have them shake their hands and replace the words with laughter.
Integrate Laughter Yoga into your day! Search YouTube or download the Laughter Yoga App onto your device and start laughing!