“Warm-ups” are quick simple exercises that help to activate the body, mind, or the voice. Students develop a willingness to “let-go”, build self-confidence, develop a sense of community and stimulate creativity. Warm-ups injected into the daily lesson or morning meeting become part of the “routine”. They can be used at any time and they can be modified in any way. (Between 5-15 minutes)
Cat Wants Your Corner
Circle up. One in the middle who is the cat. Cat goes around to the mice on the outside edge and says “Cat wants Your Corner”. The mice respond with “Go to your neighbor”. When the cat's back is turned the mice are to silently make eye contact and switch places with someone. If the cat beats the mouse to their spot, then they become the cat. Make sure that the mice switch with another person and not just run to an open spot. Hilarity ensues when the Cat is oblivious to all the switching going on behind their back.
Fruit Salad (All My Neighbors)
Set-up a circle with the exact # of chairs minus one. Assign students a fruit group (say four different fruits if you have 16 kids). Have a caller call out a fruit. Fruits must switch places with their own fruit. Caller tries to get to a spot before the fruit does. After someone has been up twice you can call “Fruit Salad!” and everyone must switch. Rule: you can't sit back down in your same seat.
VARIATIONS: Use sports teams, or elements for science. If you are using this early on in a class you don't have to use artificial categories. All My Neighbors) For adults and team building, try experience topics: "All my neighbors have been on a plane", "All my neighbors have a sibling", "All my neighbors are wearing red".
Stretches, 8-count shake out
Example activity. Sometimes I call this Rubber Chicken. Each limb shakes 8 counts and then you repeat in descending order. Start with the Right Hand, then the left hand, then the right foot, then the left foot and repeat. Giggles ensue when you get down around "3" - even with adults.
List immersion
Immersion lists are a great way to get the brain engaged. I always use these when I need to get the kids focused and turning on their brains for an activity that require mental dexterity. Timed lists of whatever topic works. Ex: A list of everyone you have ever met for 5 min, a list of everyone it would be cool to meet (alive or dead, real or imagined) for 3 min, 20 statements that begin with the word "I" for 7 min, a list of every food they have ever eaten for 5 min, every place they have ever been, every science experiment they have ever conducted....One rule I have: "Once I say go, I am not going to answer any questions". This is hard for some kids, because they ask "What if I can't remember the person's name? Does family count? Does spelling count? I never really "met" my mom she's just my mom can I list her?" They get hung up on the specifics when the point is to get them to dive into their brain space and just go. the "rules" don't really matter - what maters is that their brain is whirring for the entire time.
Group count
Circle up. Anyone can say the next number in sequence, but only one number can be said at a time. If two people say the #, then you start over. It takes time and it takes time before they can focus and get on task - sometimes it just may not work if the kids are not in the right frame of mind. Start with a small number like 10 and then move up. Helpful suggestions: Sometimes the kids struggle with this when they are hyper. If they struggle, have them turn their backs on the circle. If they still struggle have them move to the outside edges of the room. If they still struggle? Maybe this is not the right day to do this exercise. Try again another day - they will eventually be in the right space to do it.
Look Down, Look Up
Students in a circle. Eyes closed and face pointed to the ground. Students must look up and look at one other person in the circle and ONLY that one person. Say "Look up. Now if that person you are looking at is looking back at you, switch places". repeat several times and then get ready for the variations. Variations: "This time when you switch places, i want yo to cross as if the center of the circle is a pool of hot lava and you are barefoot", "As if the center is a bowl full of Jell-o", "As if you are being chased by a swarm of angry bees", the variations are endless......OR you can make it competitive: If the person is looking back at you, you both have to scream and then you are "dead" (out) and must leave the circle. As the circle narrows the excitement builds.
Tag team photos
One person strikes a dramatic pose in the playing space. They must freeze in a pose that is full of energy and character and emotion. The next person in line must come up and complete the other side of the picture, by freezing in a way that makes as much sense as it can. After about 3 seconds the first person leaves and now there is a new half of a picture on stage. You keep repeating until you are done. Some of the pictures will be great and will make sense, but in the beginning many of them will not make any sense at all. Keep the pace moving and if they are struggling - take some suggestion from the audience on how to complete the picture.
Hi-Ya!
This is one we did in the workshop and is hard to describe. Just remember that it is a rhythm, vocal, energy, and teamwork warm-up.
A structure with endless varieties. It is a simple passing a clap game. Pass a clap and the word " Zip"-left. A Clap and the word "Zap"-right. And a clap and the word "Zop"-across the circle at someone. You can change the words and the "actions" as they fit your needs, but it should always maintain the basic structure and be focused on keeping the action going.
“Warm-ups” are quick simple exercises that help to activate the body, mind, or the voice. Students develop a willingness to “let-go”, build self-confidence, develop a sense of community and stimulate creativity. Warm-ups injected into the daily lesson or morning meeting become part of the “routine”. They can be used at any time and they can be modified in any way. (Between 5-15 minutes)
EVEN MORE WARM-UPS!!!! A few warm-ups and then links to even more Warm-Ups!