PatioLab
Home › Activity library › Warm-ups for Elementary › Partner Warm-up

Partner Warm-up

Partner warm-up: pairs do mobility and light activation exercises together, such as back-to-back squats and mirror stretches.

PhaseWarm-up
Duration6 min
Ages8–12
SpaceAny space
EquipmentNo equipment
IntensityLow

How to play

  1. Pair students up.
  2. Arm circles facing each other, then high-fives above the head and at knee level.
  3. Back-to-back slow squats with arms linked.
  4. Mirror lunges and side stretches.

Rules

Variations

Easier

Simple movements.

Standard

Full sequence.

Harder

Faster pace and more reps.

Adaptations

Learning goals

Add this activity to your lesson

PatioLab has "Partner 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

⏱ 7 min👥 Ages 6–10📍 Outdoor yard
Equipment: Blindfold

Active "Blind Man's Bluff": a partner guides a blindfolded classmate by voice so they can tag the others.

Orienteering Moderate intensity

Active Corners

⏱ 8 min👥 Ages 7–12📍 Outdoor yard
Equipment: cones

Active corners: each corner of the area has an exercise; students run to the corner called and do that exercise.

Activation Moderate intensity

Animal Races

⏱ 7 min👥 Ages 6–9📍 Any space
Equipment: No equipment

Animal races: students move like different animals across the space — a fun way to warm up all major muscle groups.

Imitation Moderate intensity

Around the World

⏱ 6 min👥 Ages 7–12📍 Outdoor yard
Equipment: No equipment

Around the world: each area of the playground is a continent and students travel between them doing different moves.

Orienteering Low intensity

Balance Pose Challenge

⏱ 6 min👥 Ages 8–12📍 Gym or classroom
Equipment: No equipment

Balance pose challenge: students hold balance poses alone, in pairs and in small groups, improving stability and body control.

Balance Low intensity

Body Echo

⏱ 5 min👥 Ages 6–11📍 Gym or classroom
Equipment: No equipment

Body echo: the teacher makes a sound or rhythm with the body (claps, stomps) and students repeat it like an echo.

Focus Low intensity