These warm ups are intended for the the grade 2 level. Each warm up is intended to take 5-10 minutes worth of class time. Feel free to mix and match activities for the ultimate warm-up!

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Race Track Tag Materials: Cones

  • With the cones set up a “race track” in the shape of a figure 8 with a start line and a finish line. The start line and finish line should be at different points along the track, such as opposite ends.
  • Students must only run inside the race track and can only go one direction around the track. Start with the taggers spread out in the track, but then they must run in the proper direction when tagging.
  • Choose 2-4 people to be taggers, depending on how large you have made your race track.
  • The goal is for the students to make it from the start line to the finish line without getting tagged. When students make it to the finish line they can then walk back to the start line and join back in the game.
  • If a student is tagged, they switch roles with the tagger and they new tagger must give the old tagger a 5-second “get away” time.
  • Note: You can choose any locomotor movement you wish for students when moving around the track.

Ocean Motion Materials: Cones

  • Have all students line up on one end of the gym. Choose one student to be “it”. That person will stand on a line in the middle of the gym.
  • The person who is “it” can only move side to side on the line and can not leave the line at any point during the game. The people who get tagged and join the first tagger also can not move off the line.
  • When the tagger calls out “Ocean Motion” all of the students run across the gym and try not to be tagged.
  • If a student gets tagged they join the tagger on the line.
  • Note: You can play around with which line the taggers stand on. You can also start splitting up the taggers to different lines once more people are tagged. This can allow the game to go on longer and you can talk with your class why splitting up the taggers makes the game easier or harder.

Balloon Bump Materials: Balloons, Cones

  • Divide the students into two teams. Split the gym in half vertically with cones. Have one team against the wall on each half.
  • Each team will receive one balloon.
  • The goal is for the students to move the balloon from one end to the other without letting it touch the ground or holding on to it.
  • Students can only touch the balloon once and then they must let someone else from their team touch it. All students must be involved and touch the balloon at least once.
  • Note: You can increase the challenge by have teams compete against each other. Or you can have them compete against themselves by timing themselves and trying to beat their time each round.

Everybody’s it Tag Materials: N/A

  • The game starts out with everyone in the gym being it and trying to tag each other.
  • When a student gets tagged they sit down where they were tagged and watch the person that tagged them.
  • It is very important that students know who tagged them so if they get tagged and they don’t know who it was the student can put their hand up. Either the teacher can stop the game and asked who tagged the person, or the game can continue and the person who tagged the other person can just make sure to tell them.
  • The student that is tagged the watches for the person who tagged them to be tagged. When they person who tagged them is tagged, that student is allowed to rejoin the game.
  • The last person standing with everyone tagged is the winner.
  • Note: To increase the intensity of the game you can have students complete static locomotor movements until they can rejoin. For example jumping jacks or high knees in place.

Donkey Tails Materials: Pinnies or Scarves

  • Give each student a pinnie and have them tuck it in a pocket or their waistband so it is sticking out like a tail.
  • Have students start in a circle facing outwards or inwards looking at each other.
  • When the teacher says “Go!” the circle immediately breaks and all students try to get the pinnie or “donkey tail” of the other players.
  • The goal is to collect the most pinnies possible. If a student loses their pinnie they are not out, they are allowed to continue in the game and try stealing other pinnies.
  • When a student steals one person’s pinnie they also get all of the pinnies that they collected.
  • Note: You can have students work in teams if necessary and divide the teams by shirts and students wearing pinnies (if you have enough pinnies for the game).