Silent Warm-Up: Six Visual Signals to Move

The teacher leads the whole warm-up without speaking, using six gestures and colored cards the class learns at the start. It gets students moving and shows how a class can be organized with Deaf students in mind.

How to play

1. Without a word, the teacher shows six gestures: walk, jog, stop, change direction, jump and pair up (2 min).
2. Free movement following the gestures; anyone who gets lost watches classmates (3 min).
3. Add the cards: each color means a mobility drill (red arms, blue hips, green ankles) (2 min).
4. Three students take turns leading the warm-up with the same gestures (2 min).
5. Silent wrap-up: everyone invents a sign for "thank you" and the group picks one (1 min).

Rules

• Nobody talks during the activity, not even to correct someone.
• Position yourself where you can see the leader.
• Gestures are big, slow and at chest height.
• Don't cut through the middle of other groups.

Variations

Adaptations

• Deaf students: can teach the group real signs from the sign language they use.
• Low vision: stands close to the leader; cards are large and high-contrast.
• Ankle injury: does mobility in place and leads one round.

Learning goals

• Keep visual attention throughout the activity.
• Warm up joints in an orderly way.
• Value nonverbal communication as an inclusion tool.

Equipment for a class of 25

• colored poster boards: 6

Teacher tip

Draw the six gestures on the board first so no one falls behind. Sign languages are real languages; don't present invented gestures as real signs.

More activities like this

More warm-ups for Middle School