PE Warm-Up Videos: 5–10 Minute Warm-Ups Kids Actually Want to Do

The warm-up is the part of a PE lesson that's easiest to rush — and the part that sets the tone for everything after it. A good warm-up gets every student moving straight away, prepares the body for the lesson, and gives you a minute to set out equipment. A video can do all three.

What a good PE warm-up includes

Most warm-up frameworks follow the same idea, often called RAMP:

• Raise — gently increase heart rate and body temperature (jogging in place, skipping).
• Activate — wake up the muscles the lesson will use (squats, lunges, arm circles).
• Mobilise — move joints through their range (hip circles, reaching, twisting).
• Potentiate — finish with short, sharper efforts (jumps, quick feet, sprints) so students are ready for full speed.

An immersive interactive warm-up video does this in the order you'd want: running in place to start, then ducks and side-steps, mirror poses that stretch and balance, and faster sections near the end.

8:29 · 7 levels Video plays from YouTube (privacy-enhanced mode) only after you press play.
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How long should a PE warm-up be?

For most lessons, 5 to 10 minutes is right:

• About 5 minutes for a short lesson or a younger class. Try Steal the Egg or Subway Train Escape.
• About 7 minutes for a standard lesson. Keyboard Escape mixes punches, mirror poses and sprints.
• 8–9 minutes before a high-intensity lesson or a fitness test. Highrise Run and Sky Obby Run both have seven levels that get harder as they go.

Why use a video for a PE warm-up?

Every student moves at once. No lines, no waiting for a turn.

You're free to coach. While the screen leads, you can walk the room, correct a landing or encourage a student who is holding back.

It's consistent. The same warm-up every lesson builds habits. Students learn the moves and start competing with themselves.

It feels like a game. Many students who groan at "jog three laps" will happily "escape the castle". The story does the motivating.

Matching warm-up moves to the lesson

Running a video warm-up in the gym

1. Big picture, big sound. A projector on a wall or a portable screen works; the sound matters most because the beat cues every move. A Bluetooth speaker solves weak sound.
2. Spread out. Arm's length all around. Rows facing the screen work better than a circle.
3. Demonstrate the first sign. Do the first JUMP with them so everyone sees how big to go.
4. Let students scale. Bigger jumps for those who want a challenge, toe-raises for those who need it.
5. Finish into the lesson. When the video ends, go straight into the first activity while bodies are warm.

Adapting for different students

• Younger students: shorter runs, more praise, and permission to skip any move.
• Students with limited mobility: arm moves (PUNCH, MIRROR) can be done seated. Ducks become nods or shoulder dips.
• Very competitive groups: count the coins or levels they "beat" without stopping.
• Students who feel self-conscious: the first-person view keeps everyone looking at the screen, not at each other.

Setting up a screen for the gym

Many gyms have no screen at all. A small projector, a portable screen and a speaker are enough to make every warm-up a video warm-up — see our movement corner setup guide for what matters most.

A sample warm-up for a 45-minute lesson

Here's how a video warm-up fits into a typical lesson:

1. 0–2 minutes: students come in, find a space facing the screen. Press play as soon as the first group is ready — latecomers join in without a fuss.
2. 2–9 minutes: the run. Walk the rows, give quick cues ("softer landings", "lower duck"), and praise effort out loud.
3. 9–10 minutes: a short active stretch while you explain the main activity. Bodies stay warm, and students are already listening.
4. 10–40 minutes: the main lesson.
5. 40–45 minutes: cool-down — slow walking, deep breaths, static stretches.

Common warm-up mistakes

• Starting too fast. Sprinting in the first minute is how hamstrings get pulled. Good runs start easy; let them.
• Static stretching first. Long held stretches belong at the end of the lesson. Before activity, keep things moving.
• Too long. A 15-minute warm-up eats the lesson and tires students out. Five to ten minutes is enough.
• Same warm-up for every lesson. Rotate between two or three runs so students don't switch off — and pick the one whose moves match the day's sport.
• Ignoring the students who stop. Some children stop because a move is hard, not because they don't want to. Show the easier version and invite them back in.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good warm-up for PE class?

A 5–10 minute warm-up that raises the heart rate gradually, wakes up the muscles the lesson will use and ends with a few short, faster efforts. A follow-along run video covers all of these.

Are video warm-ups as good as teacher-led warm-ups?

They do the same job and free you to coach. Many teachers alternate: a video on most days, a teacher-led warm-up when the lesson needs something specific.

What age are these PE warm-up videos for?

They suit elementary and middle school students, and adults use them too. Younger children can follow along with easier versions of each move.

Do I need a gym to use them?

No. Every move happens on the spot, so a classroom with desks pushed back or students standing beside their desks works.