Facing a quiet class and not sure how to start? The best esl warm-up activities are short, active and built on what students already know, such as a song, Simon Says or a quick review game.
This page sits within the wider set of esl teaching resources on the site.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Review time in a kids’ warm-up | 5-10 minutes |
| Age bands used for kids’ warm-ups | ages 3-9 and ages 9+ |
| Time limit per answer in the ball pass game | 3 seconds |
| Repeats per move in the exercise routine | 3-5 |
| No-preparation warm-ups in one ESL Games list | 40 |
The figures come from ESL KidStuff and ESL Games. Teaching sites update their pages, so check the source before you rely on them.
Why start with a warm-up?
A warm-up does a lot in a few minutes. ESL Games says an effective one helps to break the ice, activate language learning mode, reactivate prior knowledge, and introduce the day’s topic.
The TEFL Institute of Ireland makes a similar point: rather than jumping right in, begin class with fun activities that review the previous class, introduce the new material and engage the students. It also describes its list of warm-ups as adaptable to any age group.
When you choose a warm-up, look for these qualities:
- It is short enough that it never eats the main lesson.
- It gets students speaking, moving or listening straight away.
- It connects to last lesson or to today’s topic.
- It is low-stakes, so nobody feels tested before they are settled.
Warm-ups for younger learners (ages 3-9)
ESL KidStuff sets out a routine for younger students, ages 3-9, that you can run in this order at the start of a lesson:
- Greet each child by name as they enter and gesture for them to sit down.
- Hand out name tags and call out each name.
- Greet the class with a glove puppet.
- Sing a hello song or a review song from last class.
- Check the homework you set last lesson.
- Run a short exercise routine.
- Review earlier vocabulary, structures, games or songs.
The same page suggests a cushion for each student, because it makes seating easy to organise. Arranging the cushions in a fan shape around you before class saves time once the children arrive.
The puppet greeting is the most theatrical step. You shout the puppet’s name into a cloth bag and nothing happens, then each student tries, and finally everyone shouts together and the puppet wakes up and jumps out of the bag. As lessons progress, the puppet can ask new questions based on what your students have learned.
The exercise routine is a simple set of commands. Students follow your lead through these moves, and each one except standing up and sitting down is repeated 3-5 times:
- Stand up.
- Hands up and hands down.
- Jump.
- Run and stop.
- Turn around and stop.
- Sit down.
For the review step, the source suggests spending 5-10 minutes and notes that young children enjoy familiar games. Little kids also have short attention spans, so it helps to have plenty of activities ready to pull out at different stages of the lesson.
Another idea from the same page is What’s in the bag? Fill a cloth bag with items from earlier lessons, such as plastic fruit or animals, shake it, then pull out objects and teach or elicit their names.
Warm-ups for older learners (ages 9+)
For older students, ages 9+, ESL KidStuff still starts with greetings and name tags, but students write their own. Learners whose first language uses a non-Roman alphabet, such as Japanese, should write their names in English letters, and may need a model to copy the first time.
After that, the page recommends a fast, fun review activity covering vocabulary, structures or grammar from earlier lessons. Three examples show the range:
- Ball pass questions: students stand in a circle and you throw the ball to a student after asking a question. In a later round, students throw the ball and say food words with a limit of 3 seconds, and anyone who cannot answer in time sits down until one student is left standing.
- Spin the bottle: everyone sits in a circle with a bottle in the middle. The student the bottle points to answers a question, and if the answer is correct, that student spins next.
- Vocabulary basketball: you need a basket, such as a trash can, and 2 balls, which can be scrunched-up paper. Students form 2 teams and line up in front of the basket.
Each of these can be pointed at almost any topic. Swap the questions and the same game works for numbers, classroom objects, food or grammar points.
Quick ideas that suit any age
The TEFL Institute of Ireland lists several warm-ups that need almost no equipment:
- Sing a song: it engages students, helps with pronunciation and introduces new vocabulary. For a lesson on feelings, “If you’re happy and you know it” is the example given.
- Watch a music video: it works along the same lines as singing, with visual stimulation added.
- Simon Says: it engages students physically and mentally, and lets you reuse vocabulary from earlier classes.
- Interviews: students interview one another, which tests vocabulary and gives practice of real conversations between peers.
- I went to the market: a game that reviews vocabulary and tests students’ memory.
If you teach adults, ESL Games offers a list of 40 no-preparation warm-ups. It also describes the A to Z Race, an alphabet game that encourages teams to fill the board with vocabulary.
Some warm-ups grow into full activities once students get competitive. When that happens, these esl classroom games are a natural next step.
How to fit a warm-up into your lesson
Treat the warm-up as a bridge between what students already know and what comes next. A simple way to plan it:
- Decide what you want to review or introduce today.
- Pick one warm-up that uses that language, such as a ball pass, a song or an interview.
- Gather any props before class, whether name tags, a bag of objects or a ball.
- Keep it brisk, and move on while energy is still high.
Once the warm-up is done, your plan for the rest of the lesson takes over. Browsing these esl lesson plan ideas can help you decide what the warm-up should lead into.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a warm-up last?
Show answer
For the review portion of a kids’ warm-up, ESL KidStuff suggests spending 5-10 minutes. Shorter is fine if the lesson is packed.
Do warm-ups need preparation?
Show answer
Some need none at all. ESL Games lists 40 that require no preparation, while ideas such as name tags or a bag of objects need a little setup beforehand.
Is it fine to repeat the same warm-up?
Show answer
For young learners, yes. ESL KidStuff says it is fine to recycle games and activities from past lessons because kids enjoy playing familiar games, though you should be careful not to play a game to death.
What about online classes?
Show answer
The ESL Games page points to a sister site for online warm-ups and filler activities, so it is worth checking that page for the current pointer. Many of the ideas above, such as interviews and question games, can also be adapted for a video call.
