Prime the Pump
Warmup activities to get students engaged
Dream Sketch
Recall a recent dream, 3 minutes to sketch it.
Imperfect Portraits
1-minute timer, draw a quick portrait of partner. Don't take it seriously.
Invent an Animal
5 minutes to invent their own animal - simple sketch and a name.
Mood Check-In
Take slow breaths, tune into feelings. Find a GIF expressing current mood.
No Smiling Intros
Introduce themselves with no smiling
Opposite Face Story
Tell a happy or sad story while facial expression is opposite.
Thunk: Art
Can you choose to like a piece of art?
Thunk: Cool
Is it ever possible to define the meaning of 'cool'?
Thunk: Failure
Would life be better if you could never fail?
Thunk: Happy/Sad
Is there more happiness or sadness in the world?
Thunk: Music?
If I compose a song but never play it, is it music?
Thunk: Phones
Would life be better without mobile phones?
Thunk: Same Person
Are you the same person you were 20 minutes ago?
Thunk: Shadow
Is your shadow part of you?
Thunk: Unexpected
If you expect the unexpected, is the unexpected still a surprise?
Thunk: Wind
Can you touch the wind?
Zen Spiral
Draw a spiral without removing pen from paper. Set a 2-minute timer.