The Energy Volcano
Energy volcano: the group goes from a sleeping volcano to an eruption of movement, from low to high intensity.
How to play
- Everyone crouches in the center: the volcano is asleep.
- "It's warming up": gentle arm and leg movements in place.
- "Smoke!": stand up and jog gently around the center.
- "Eruption!": run like lava to the edges of the space and walk back to the center; repeat 4 times, increasing intensity.
Rules
- Lava never collides: look ahead when running.
- Walk back to the center.
Variations
Easier
Eruptions at a gentle jog.
Standard
Four full cycles.
Harder
Lava must touch two different walls or cones before returning.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: be the volcanologist who signals the eruption.
- Asthma: shorter eruptions and full rest between cycles.
Learning goals
- Raise activation progressively.
- Practice listening to verbal cues.
PatioLab has "The Energy Volcano" 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.