# Warmer and Icebreaker Bank

`scripts/warmer_picker.py` reads this table. Purposes: **icebreaker** (new group, learn names), **energiser**
(wake up, move), **settler** (calm, focus), **review** (recycle last lesson's language), **lead-in** (introduce
today's topic). Keep the column order.

| Warmer | Purposes | Levels | Min Ss | Minutes | Online | Prep | How it works |
|--------|----------|--------|--------|---------|--------|------|--------------|
| Name and gesture | icebreaker, energiser | A1-C2 | 4 | 5 | yes | none | Circle: each S says their name with a gesture; the group repeats all previous names and gestures |
| Find three things in common | icebreaker | A1-C1 | 4 | 8 | yes | none | Pairs or threes find three non-obvious things they share (not "we are both students"); report the most surprising |
| Two truths and a lie (intro) | icebreaker, lead-in | A2-C2 | 3 | 10 | yes | none | T models with three facts about themself; Ss guess the lie with questions; then Ss do it in groups |
| Human bingo | icebreaker | A1-B2 | 8 | 12 | no | low | Bingo grid of prompts (has a pet, speaks three languages); mingle, find a different name for each square |
| Line up | icebreaker, energiser | A1-B2 | 6 | 8 | no | none | Ss line up by birthday, distance from home, or first name alphabetically, speaking only English |
| Interview and introduce | icebreaker | A2-C1 | 4 | 15 | yes | none | Pairs interview each other with five questions and introduce their partner to the class |
| Questions on the board | icebreaker, lead-in | A1-C1 | 2 | 10 | yes | none | T writes answers about themself (a number, a place, a name); Ss guess the questions; then Ss do the same in pairs |
| Name chain with adjective | icebreaker | A2-B2 | 4 | 5 | yes | none | Each S says an adjective with the same first letter as their name (Happy Hana) and repeats previous names |
| Would you rather | energiser, lead-in | A2-C2 | 2 | 5 | yes | none | Read a dilemma (would you rather never use your phone or never watch TV?); Ss move to one side or vote and explain |
| Hangman with a twist | review, settler | A1-B1 | 2 | 5 | yes | none | Hangman with a key phrase from the last lesson; the winner must use it in a sentence |
| Alphabet race | review, energiser | A1-B2 | 4 | 7 | yes | none | Groups write one word for each letter A-Z in a topic (food, jobs) in three minutes; points for unique words |
| Backs to the board | review, energiser | A1-B2 | 6 | 10 | no | none | One S per team faces away from the board; teammates define words from last lesson; first to guess scores |
| Word association chain | energiser, review | A2-C1 | 3 | 5 | yes | none | S1 says a word, S2 says a connected word and explains the link if challenged |
| Odd one out | review, settler | A1-C1 | 2 | 5 | yes | low | Sets of four words from last lesson; pairs find the odd one out and justify (several answers can be right) |
| Running dictation warmer | energiser | A1-B2 | 4 | 10 | no | low | Short text on the wall; runners read and dictate to partners; first accurate pair wins |
| Picture prediction | lead-in, settler | A1-C2 | 2 | 5 | yes | low | Show a picture linked to today's text; pairs predict what the lesson or story is about |
| Mystery word | lead-in | A2-C1 | 2 | 5 | yes | none | T describes today's topic word in three clues of increasing help; Ss guess as early as they can |
| Quick-fire questions | review, energiser | A1-B2 | 2 | 5 | yes | none | Pairs ask each other as many questions with last lesson's structure as they can in two minutes; count them |
| Sentence auction (mini) | review | A2-C1 | 4 | 10 | yes | low | Five sentences from last lesson, two wrong; teams bet 10 points on correct ones |
| Spelling ball | review, energiser | A1-A2 | 4 | 5 | no | none | Throw a soft ball; catcher says the next letter of the word; mistakes restart the word |
| Silent line-up quiz | energiser | A2-B2 | 6 | 8 | no | none | T reads a question; Ss stand on the "true" or "false" side of the room |
| One-minute talk | settler, lead-in | B1-C2 | 2 | 5 | yes | none | Each S speaks for one minute on a topic card without stopping; partner times and asks one question |
| Tell me about | lead-in | A2-C1 | 2 | 7 | yes | none | Dice or numbered list of topics; roll and talk about the topic for 30 seconds |
| Categories | review, energiser | A1-B1 | 3 | 7 | yes | none | Call a letter; teams write a word for each category (country, job, food, verb) starting with it |
| Scrambled sentences | review, settler | A1-B2 | 2 | 5 | yes | low | Words of 3-4 sentences from last lesson in random order; pairs reorder them |
| What's in the bag | lead-in, energiser | A1-B1 | 4 | 5 | no | low | T has objects linked to the topic in a bag; Ss feel or ask yes/no questions to guess |
| Emoji story | lead-in, energiser | A2-C1 | 2 | 7 | yes | low | Show a sequence of 5 emojis; pairs tell the story they suggest using past tenses |
| Song gap-fill | settler, lead-in | A2-C1 | 2 | 10 | yes | low | Play a song linked to the topic; Ss fill 6 gaps; discuss the song's message |
| Proverb match | lead-in | B1-C2 | 2 | 7 | yes | low | Match halves of proverbs about today's topic; discuss whether they are true and if there are equivalents in Ss' L1 |
| Desert island objects | icebreaker | B1-C1 | 3 | 10 | yes | none | Each S chooses three objects to take to a desert island and explains why; group picks the most useful |
| Weekend in three words | icebreaker, settler | A1-C1 | 2 | 5 | yes | none | Each S describes their weekend in three words; partners ask questions to find out the story |
| Shout it out | energiser | A1-A2 | 4 | 5 | no | none | T shows flashcards quickly; first S to say the word correctly keeps the card |
| Fortunately, unfortunately | energiser, lead-in | B1-C1 | 3 | 7 | yes | none | Story chain alternating sentences starting "Fortunately..." and "Unfortunately..." |
| This or that | icebreaker, energiser | A1-B1 | 4 | 5 | yes | none | T says two options (tea or coffee, beach or mountains); Ss point, move or type and explain briefly |