Explorer Warm-up
Explorer warm-up: the teacher tells a jungle adventure story and students act out the moves (climbing, crawling, jumping rivers).
How to play
- Gather students and start the story.
- Act out moves: climb a tree (reach up), crawl under branches, jump over a river.
- Change the pace with the story.
- Finish by "arriving at the camp" and resting.
Rules
- Keep space between explorers.
- Follow the story.
Variations
Easier
Slow, simple story.
Standard
More actions.
Harder
Students add parts of the story.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: seated actions.
- Attention needs: picture cards for the moves.
Learning goals
- Warm up through locomotor skills.
- Develop imagination and body expression.
PatioLab has "Explorer Warm-up" and 599 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
More warm-ups for Elementary
Active Blind Man's Bluff
Active "Blind Man's Bluff": a partner guides a blindfolded classmate by voice so they can tag the others.
Active Corners
Active corners: each corner of the area has an exercise; students run to the corner called and do that exercise.
Animal Races
Animal races: students move like different animals across the space — a fun way to warm up all major muscle groups.
Around the World
Around the world: each area of the playground is a continent and students travel between them doing different moves.
Balance Pose Challenge
Balance pose challenge: students hold balance poses alone, in pairs and in small groups, improving stability and body control.
Body Echo
Body echo: the teacher makes a sound or rhythm with the body (claps, stomps) and students repeat it like an echo.
