Background: School recess time offers an opportunity for children to be physically active. This study objectively investigated the contribution of recess and break times to daily physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE). Methods: Participants included 18 children from an elementary school (11 girls, 7 boys). They wore an Actiheart (CamNtech, Cambridge, UK) for 3 days (2 week-days and one weekend day). This device recorded accelerometry (ACC) and heart rate (HR) data using an epoch setting of 15 s. PAEE was estimated using the branched model equations (activity counts + HR). Physical activity level (PAL) was calculated following the ratio Total Energy Expenditure (TEE)/Resting Energy Expenditure (REE). During the school time, children’s PAEE during the two recess periods (RP PAEE) lasting about 15 min (morning and afternoon) and during the break time’s midday (11.30 am - 1.30 pm, BT PAEE) were also assessed. Results: Recess and break time’s midday represented 8.7% and 16.7% of the PAEE during school days in boys and 6.8% and 14% in girls, respectively. A relationship between BT PAEE and PAEE was found both in boys and in girls (r2 = 0.92, p<0.001 and r2 = 0.50, p<0.05, respectively) and between RP PAEE and PAEE in boys (r2=0.62, p<0.05). No relationship was found between school and free days for PAEE children. Discussion: Ridgers et al. (2011) have reported that recess contributed 17.9% and 15.6% toward boys’ and girls’ school day physical activity levels. In the present study, recess less contribute toward boys’ and girls’ school day PAEE. MVPA should not be the only outcome to be considered to show the impact of recess or recess interventions on physical activity.