If a butterfly flew into the room they'd just dissolve. They have these little speed minds. Drop a marker on the floor and "poof" their concentration is shot. This being the case its necessary to grab them from the minute you walk in. These warm-ups are effective and fun for you and them.

Magnet Cup Shuffle
Three paper cups and one small magnet from the white board. Just like you've seen in those old Forties movies with a guy on the street, suitcase open. Write your name on the board with three stars and the class' name with three stars. Overturn the cups and put them left to right on the floor. Set the magnet under the center cup, give them a simple shuffle, stop, and smugly ask the class "This one?" of course pointing to the wrong one. "NO!!!!!" they'll cry!!! Look a little disturbed, your face thinking "Hey, I might lose" but still confidently point to the second wrong cup and say "This one!!!!" "NO!!!!!!!!!!!!" Ok, now, distraught face, point to the third and correct cup and ask with animated dejection "This one????" They'll say "Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!" You push the third cup forward and pick it up. No kidding, they'll give a celebratory little roar. You stand with mock saddness and erase one of your stars. Repeat two more times, getting a little fancier with you cup shuffles but always making it clear where the magnet is. Erase all your stars. Count the stars for your side and their's. Say, "So you are the…? They'll stand and say "Winners! Winners! Yes,yes,yes!!"

The upshot of all this is to rivet their little minds on you. You've drowned out the individual little fancies that were dancing in their respective minds and unified their attention. They are "warmed-up" and concentrating on you alone. Now just quickly transition to your lesson.

Pretend
This one's great and easy. Walk in, stand everyone up and say, "Pretend you are a table!" Giving a little demonstration. Then walk about giving praise for the most impressive tables. Follow a few seconds later with "Pretend you are a pencil!!!" Do the same, inspecting, giving praise, pointing out exceptional pencils. Follow with a few more. This is great because it get them out of their seats, burning off a little energy, concentrates them on you and requires thinking in English. Gotta know what a pencil is; gonna find out what pretend means. If some kids get out of hand, they have to sit down while the other kids get to pretend. You can even welcome some class suggestions. This will get them all jazzed up as they surround, you shouting out personal favorites. Just say, "Pretend you are a..." and look inquisitively around the room. Letting them suggest is especially good for sleepy classes that have just napped because you can wait a long time before you choose which shouting kid's suggestion you like; making them shout louder, jump more and get all woken up even faster.