The right warmer depends on its job: build the group, change the energy, recycle language or lead into the topic.
scripts/warmer_picker.py picks warmers from warmer-bank.md by purpose, level,
class size, time and online use, shuffles them reproducibly with --seed, and skips ones already used.
Trigger Conditions
Activate this skill when the user:
- Needs a warmer, icebreaker, energiser or lead-in for a language lesson
- Is planning a first lesson with a new group
- Wants a game to review last lesson's vocabulary or grammar
- Teaches online and needs a warmer that works in a video call
Longer speaking activities: communicative-activity-generator. Children: young-learner-esl-activity-generator.
Workflow
1. PURPOSE -> icebreaker / energiser / settler / review / lead-in
2. CLASS -> level, size, minutes, online, last lesson's language, today's topic
3. PICK -> python scripts/warmer_picker.py --purpose review --level B1 --minutes 10 --seed 3
4. ADAPT -> fill it with the class's language or topic; prepare cards or slides
5. SAFETY -> check personal topics, physical contact and movement (references/warmer-principles.md)
6. DELIVER -> instructions, demo, timer; stop while it is still funOutput
For each warmer: name, purpose, time, materials written out (prompts, word lists, picture ideas), teacher instructions, a lower-level and higher-level variation, and an online version. For review warmers, use the learners' actual words from last lesson; for lead-ins, connect it explicitly to today's text or task.
Purposes, timing, first lessons, sensitivity, online tips and adaptation: warmer-principles.md.
Scripts
python scripts/warmer_picker.py --purpose icebreaker --level A2 --students 14 --minutes 10 [--online] \
[--seed 7] [--exclude "Line up" "Human bingo"] [--show 3] [--bank file.md]Purposes: icebreaker, energiser, settler, review, lead-in. Exit codes: 0 warmers found, 1 nothing matches, 2 bank unreadable or bad arguments.
Additional Resources
| File | Content |
|---|---|
| warmer-bank.md | 34 warmers with purposes, levels, minimum class size, minutes, online use, prep and procedure |
| warmer-principles.md | Choosing by purpose, timing, first lessons, cultural and personal sensitivity, online, linking to the lesson, adapting |
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