Warm-Up for the Day: Cold, Heat, Game or Test
Each group gets a different scenario (cold morning, hot day, game, endurance test, return from injury) and adapts a warm-up to it. Students learn there's no one warm-up that fits everything.
How to play
- The teacher presents the variables that change a warm-up: length, intensity, specific part, clothing and hydration (4 min).
- Groups of five with a scenario card: cold winter morning, very hot day, before a game, before an endurance test, return from a healed ankle sprain. They design a six-minute warm-up (8 min).
- Groups pair up and each leads its warm-up for the other without revealing the scenario; the receiving group tries to guess it (12 min).
- Discussion: what each group changed and why (longer when cold, shade and water when hot, ankle work after injury...) (6 min).
Rules
- In the heat, work in the shade if possible and drink water between blocks.
- In the injury scenario, no sudden jumps or all-out direction changes.
- No warm-up ends at maximum intensity.
Variations
Easier
Only two very different scenarios (cold and hot) for the whole class.
Standard
Five scenarios, one per group.
Harder
Each group gets two combined cards (for example, cold plus game) and must balance them.
Adaptations
- Students with asthma: the cold-day group builds in an especially slow progression and respects their pace.
- Wheelchair users: they help design, and the group includes seated versions.
- Students with reading difficulties: the card has a picture of the scenario.
Learning goals
- Adapt the warm-up to the day's conditions.
- Apply injury-prevention measures.
- Justify choices about length and intensity.
Equipment for a class of 25
- scenario cards: 6
- cones: 20
- pens: 6
Teacher tip
Put two hints on each card about what should change so groups don't get stuck. If the actual day is very hot, run the practical part in the shade and extend the discussion.
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