Warmers in Grammar Lessons

How to Design Warmers in Grammar Lessons That Actually Work

When teaching grammar, context is everything. We want our students to see language as a tool for communication, not just a set of rules to memorize. That’s why presenting grammar within a meaningful context—through a reading or listening exercise, a short video, or a real-life situation—helps students connect form and function. However, I often notice that especially novice teachers, in their enthusiasm, unintentionally introduce the target language too soon—right in the warmer.

For example, when teaching the present perfect for experiences (Have you ever…?), some teachers kick off the lesson by asking students “Have you ever been to Paris?” or “Have you ever eaten sushi?” The problem here is that the students haven’t learned the structure yet, so they can’t respond meaningfully. Instead of warming them up, this approach can leave them feeling lost or frustrated.

So, how can we design warmers that actually serve their purpose?

1. A good warmer should connect to the theme of the lesson. If students will read a text about travel experiences, the warmer could involve discussing famous travel destinations, looking at pictures, or brainstorming different ways people travel. This way, they start thinking about the topic without struggling with unfamiliar grammar.
2. Warmers should help students notice language patterns naturally, not put them on the spot. If the goal is to introduce Have you ever…?, students could listen to a conversation where people share experiences. The warmer could be a quick discussion: What do you think they’re talking about? What kinds of experiences do people usually share? This way, they are primed for the grammar without needing to use it yet.
3. A good warmer sets the tone for the lesson. It should be fun, interactive, and low-pressure. Games, pictures, personal anecdotes, or quick movement-based activities (like a mingle task) can work wonders. If the class is about past experiences, showing them interesting images and having them guess what happened can spark curiosity without forcing them into using unknown structures.
4. A warmer should last around five minutes. It’s a warm-up, not the workout itself! If it drags on, students might lose focus before they even reach the grammar point.
5. The best warmers leads students to the lesson naturally. If students just discussed adventurous activities, they’ll be more receptive when they see Have you ever… pop up in a text or audio. They’ll already have the mental readiness to grasp the meaning.
6. Warmers aren’t just time-fillers—they’re essential for setting the right mood, activating prior knowledge, and guiding students into the lesson smoothly. Instead of overwhelming them with unfamiliar grammar, use the warmer to get them thinking about the topic in a way that feels natural and engaging. When done well, a warmer can make all the difference in a successful grammar lesson!

One more thing worth mentioning: warmers do not have to be elaborate. Some of the most effective ones I have used over the years were the simplest. A single image on the board. A question written on the wall. A quick show of hands. The point is not the activity itself but the connection it creates between where your students are when they walk in and where you need them to be by the end of the lesson.

If you are teaching grammar regularly, it is also worth building a small bank of go-to warmers that you can adapt to different structures. A mingle activity works for present perfect just as well as for past simple. A picture prompt can introduce almost any tense. Once you have a few reliable formats, the planning becomes much faster.

The more you practise designing warmers with a clear purpose, the more natural it becomes. And your students will feel the difference — even if they cannot explain why the lesson felt so smooth.

How do you use warmers in your lessons? Share your ideas in the comments!

For more on lesson planning, have a look at Lesson Planning Essentials: Warm-ups and Lead-ins and Games, Fillers and Warm-ups.

Further Reading

TEFL Warmers and Fillers — ESL Base

Warm-ups and Fillers — Ellii