Warm up activities

Light and quick activities to do at the beginning or end of class to engage students in low-stakes conversations.

A fanned-out set of colour reference cards arranged in a rainbow gradient displayed on a wooden surface.

This fun and energetic activity gets the creative juices flowing through co-created storytelling. A great activity for team building, fun, laughter, and creativity. Best done in person but could likely be adapted for virtual settings.

Kelley Cranford

Origin Stories

This reflective activity challenges students' perception of the world by decentering colonial ways of knowing and being.

Felecia Caton Garcia, Heather Wright

Equity Unbound Activity

Guess The Topic Mingle

This is a fun activity to introduce a new topic which will also work well as a warm-up activity.

Heather Kretschmer

Auditory Affect

Students explore an auditory digital tool and afterwards reflect on and talk about their experience

Heather Kretschmer

Equity Unbound Activity

Creativity Booster: 16 Squares

Creativity Booster activities can be used as a fun warm up the beginning of each class. This '16 Squares' activity invites students to think visually and require creative problem solving.

Diana Varma

Equity Unbound Activity

Creativity Booster: An Ode to the Other Hand

Creativity Booster activities can be used as a fun warm up the beginning of each class. This particular activity invites students to discover feelings of empathy.

Diana Varma

Equity Unbound Activity

Creativity Booster: 5 Senses

Creativity Booster activities can be used as a fun warm up the beginning of each class. This 5 Senses activity invites students to quiet and focus their minds.

Diana Varma

Equity Unbound Activity

Creativity Booster: Yes, Let’s!

Creativity Booster activities can be used as a fun warm up the beginning of each class. This Yes, Let's activity invites students to get silly and quiet their inner critics.

Diana Varma

Activity, Equity Unbound Activity

Would You Rather?

This fun icebreaker can be used to spark interesting conversations in class.

Frank Tontala

Equity Unbound Activity

Desert Island Songs

This music activity will help students to voice their thoughts in a positive way.

Isabel Rodriguez

Equity Unbound Activity

What Can You Do With A…?

This is an engaging activity that can be used as a warm-up before class.

Noha El-Sebai

Equity Unbound Activity

Imaginary Buffet (or Potluck)

This activity builds active listening and memory by having participants add to a growing shared story. It’s ideal for re-engaging groups after breaks and encouraging creative, judgment-free collaboration.

Maya Hey

Equity Unbound Activity

PowerPoint Karaoke

Engage students in improv presenting, and enhance oral presentation skills in a light and humorous way.

Maha Bali, Jasmina Najjar, Hoda Mostafa

Activity

Lost in Translation

This icebreaker activity sparks creativity and cultural awareness by exploring unique, untranslatable words from different languages. It encourages sharing, builds connection, and opens discussions about meaning, culture, and communication.

Francesca Helm

Equity Unbound Activity

Thick Greetings

Try out a slower and more deliberate opportunity for everyone to introduce themselves.

Maha Bali, Mia Zamora, Autumm Caines, Laura Gibbs, Rebecca J. Hogue

Equity Unbound Activity

Tiny Demons / Drawing Monsters

Help students express and face their fears in a way that can help reduce stress and anxiety.

Lyse Edwards

Equity Unbound Activity

Pop-up Psychogeography Journey Journal

To invite students to use their bodies to represent, collaboratively, an image of something that is worth discussing.

Sarah-Jane Crowson

Equity Unbound Activity

While We Wait

Make use of the 5-10 minutes before class time or if you give a break in the middle of class.

Jasmina Najjar, Maha Bali

Equity Unbound Activity

Two by Three by Bradford

This is a great warm-up exercise which involves pairs of students creating movements and sounds to replace counting numbers 1-3, encouraging creativity and collaboration.

Sarita Shukla

Equity Unbound Activity

Theatre of the Oppressed: Opposites

Warming up before class or after a break in a longer class. Encouraging use of the body, refreshes students' bodies and minds.

Tina Pippin

Equity Unbound Activity

Theatre of the Oppressed: Image Theatre

To invite students to use their bodies to represent, collaboratively, an image of something that is worth discussing.

Maha Bali, Alex Fink, Tina Pippin, Sarita Shukla

Equity Unbound Activity

Share an Object From Home

This is a simple icebreaker activity that encourages students to share something about themselves.

Maha Bali

Equity Unbound Activity

Meditation

Meditation provides an opportunity for students to relax before or after teaching.

Nadine Aboulmagd

Equity Unbound Activity

Wild Tea / Mad Tea Party

This activity promotes small group intimacy and collaboration, making a large group session feel interactive.

Maha Bali

Equity Unbound Activity

Four Ideas for Checking In

Ideas for checking in with your students at the beginning of any class.

Maha Bali, Mia Zamora

Equity Unbound Activity

Collaborative Storytelling

Promote a sense of community and break the ice in class with collaborative storytelling activities.

Jasmina Najjar

Equity Unbound Activity

Spiral Journal

Promote focus and reflection while allowing individuals to compose responses thoughtfully and calmly in writing.

Maha Bali, Mia Zamora

Warm up activities

Add Your Heading Text Here

Create your Teaching Portfolio

Update your Teaching Compass

Manage and grow your hub

What is a hub?

Create a new announcement

Warm up activities

Experience OneHE: Book Your Demo