ESL Warm-Up Activities for Kindergarten

Imagine walking into a kindergarten classroom where little faces light up with giggles and excitement—all because of a fun, simple warm-up activity that gets them ready to learn English!

If you’re a teacher or a parent helping little ones learn English as a second language (ESL), you know how important it is to start with energy and smiles. Kindergarten kids are full of curiosity, but they also have short attention spans. That’s why warm-up activities are like magic—they wake up their brains, get them talking, and make learning fun from the very first minute. In this blog, I’m sharing some super easy, super exciting ESL warm-up activities perfect for kindergarten. Let’s dive in and make English time the best part of their day!

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Why Warm-Ups Matter for Kindergarten

Before we jump into the activities, let’s chat about why warm-ups are so great. Picture this: your little learners just came in from playing outside or eating a snack. Their minds are buzzing with other thoughts. A warm-up is like a friendly “Hello!” to English. It helps them switch gears and focus. Plus, it builds confidence because these activities are simple and playful—no pressure, just fun! When kids feel happy and safe, they’re ready to learn new words, sounds, and ideas. So, let’s get started with some activities you can try tomorrow—or even today!

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1. Hello Song

What You Need: Just your voice (and maybe a big smile!).

How to Do It: Start the class with a cheerful “Hello Song.” You can use a tune you already know, like “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” and change the words. Sing something like:
“Hello, hello, how are you? I’m so happy to see you!”
Clap your hands or wave while you sing. Encourage the kids to sing along and wave back. If they’re shy, don’t worry—just keep singing, and they’ll join in soon.

Why It Works: Songs stick in little heads like glue! This one teaches “hello” and “how are you,” and the waving makes it feel like a game. Before you know it, they’re saying English words without even thinking about it.

Tip: Add their names to the song, like “Hello, Mia, how are you?” They’ll love hearing their names!

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2. Simon Says

What You Need: Nothing but your imagination.

How to Do It: You probably know this game—say “Simon says, touch your nose!” and the kids do it. If you say “Touch your nose” without “Simon says,” they shouldn’t move. Use simple actions like “jump,” “clap,” “sit,” or “stand.” Keep it slow and clear so they can follow.

Why It Works: This game gets them moving and listening to English words at the same time. They learn action words (like “jump”) without feeling like it’s a lesson. Plus, they giggle when someone forgets and moves by mistake!

Tip: Use silly voices or big gestures to keep them laughing.

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3. Color Hunt

What You Need: Colored paper or toys around the room.

How to Do It: Say a color, like “Find something red!” The kids run around and point to or pick up something red—like a toy, a crayon, or a friend’s shirt. Say “Good job!” when they find it, then try another color.

Why It Works: Kids love running around, and this teaches them color names in English. It’s active, it’s loud, and it’s so much fun they won’t even realize they’re learning.

Tip: If you have a big class, do it in small groups so no one gets left out.

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4. Animal Dance

What You Need: Your body and some animal sounds.

How to Do It: Call out an animal, like “Be a cat!” Then, act like a cat—crawl, meow, and stretch. The kids copy you. Try “jump like a frog,” “fly like a bird,” or “roar like a lion.” Make it silly and loud!

Why It Works: Kids adore animals, and moving like them helps them remember the words. They’re practicing listening and speaking (with those funny sounds!) while burning off energy.

Tip: Let a brave kid pick the next animal—they’ll feel so proud!

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5. Pass the Ball

What You Need: A soft ball or stuffed toy.

How to Do It: Sit in a circle. Say a word, like “dog,” and pass the ball to a child. They say “dog” and pass it to the next friend. Keep going with new words—try “cat,” “ball,” “apple,” anything easy!

Why It Works: Passing the ball keeps them focused, and repeating words helps them practice saying English out loud. It’s calm but exciting because they can’t wait for their turn.

Tip: Add a song like “Pass the ball, pass the ball, here we go!” to make it musical.

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6. Weather Game

What You Need: Pictures or drawings of sun, rain, snow, etc. (optional).

How to Do It: Ask, “What’s the weather like today?” Show a picture (or point outside) and say, “It’s sunny!” Then, act it out—put on pretend sunglasses or fan yourself. If it’s “rainy,” wiggle your fingers like raindrops. Kids copy you and say the word.

Why It Works: Weather words are useful every day, and acting them out makes them stick. Plus, it’s a fun way to talk about what they see outside.

Tip: Let them shout the weather word as loud as they can—they’ll love it!

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7. Number Jump

What You Need: Space to move.

How to Do It: Say a number, like “Three!” and jump three times while counting: “One, two, three!” Kids jump with you and count along. Try different numbers up to five or ten.

Why It Works: Counting is a big part of kindergarten, and jumping makes it a game. They hear and say numbers in English without sitting still.

Tip: Add claps or stomps instead of jumps to mix it up.

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8. Feelings Faces

What You Need: Your face (and maybe a mirror if you have one).

How to Do It: Say, “I’m happy!” and make a big smile. Kids copy your face and say “happy.” Then try “sad” (frown), “angry” (scrunch your face), or “sleepy” (yawn). Go back and forth with different feelings.

Why It Works: Little ones are learning to name their emotions, and this helps them say those words in English. Making faces is always a hit—they’ll be laughing in no time!

Tip: Ask, “How do you feel?” and let them show you a face.

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9. Freeze Dance

What You Need: Music (or just hum a tune).

How to Do It: Play music and say, “Dance!” Kids wiggle and move. When you stop the music and say “Freeze!” they stop like statues. Say “Good job!” and start again.

Why It Works: They practice listening for “dance” and “freeze” while having a blast. It’s a great way to get wiggles out before sitting down to learn.

Tip: Add words like “jump” or “spin” before “freeze” to sneak in more English.

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10. Mystery Bag

What You Need: A bag and some small objects (like a toy car, apple, or pencil).

How to Do It: Put objects in a bag. Say, “What’s in the bag?” Pull out one thing, like a ball, and say, “It’s a ball!” Kids repeat “ball.” Pass it around, then try the next object.

Why It Works: The surprise keeps them curious, and they learn everyday words by seeing and touching them. It’s hands-on fun!

Tip: Let a kid pull something out—they’ll feel like little explorers.

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Tips to Keep Warm-Ups Awesome

Okay, now you’ve got ten activities to try! Before I wrap up, here are a few secrets to make them even better:

• Keep it Short: Five minutes is perfect—long enough to wake them up, short enough to keep them excited.
• Be Silly: The goofier you are, the more they’ll love it. Funny faces, big voices—go for it!
• Praise Them: Say “Wow, great job!” or clap for them. It makes them feel like English superstars.
• Mix It Up: Try a new activity each day so they never get bored.