Put every student's name on one popsicle stick. For random pairs, choose two sticks at a time. For small groups, color code popsicle sticks by how many groups you want. Hold the sticks with the colored ends in your palm. Students pick a stick and then belong to the group with others who choose the color.
(Differentiating the Process: Flexible Grouping - Wade Petersen)
Deck of Cards
Students pick a card. The student can report to the chosen suit (hearts, diamonds, spades, clubs). Groups can later be changed by telling students to find others with the same number (all the students with a seven form a group, etc.). Divided student in half by telling students to separate by red cards and black cards.
UNO cards - Students are grouped according to color families of cards, by numbers or by functions.
Old Maid cards - Perfect for dividing students into pairs. Chose the number of cards required and sort out those pairs. The "Old Maid" can be used for an odd number of students or to be the teacher's partner.
(Differentiating the Process: Flexible Grouping - Wade Petersen) Index Cards
Use the same number of index cards as you have students. Put matching stickers or symbols on the index cards. If students are to work in pairs, make sets of index where every two cards have a matching sticker/symbol. Students chose an index card and then find the other student in the room that has the matching sticker/symbol. If you want students to work in groups, make matching index cards for the number of students you want per group.
(Differentiating the Process: Flexible Grouping - Wade Petersen) Clock Buddies
For each group, create a puzzle with the same number of pieces as students to be in the group. Give each student a piece of the puzzle and ask them to walk around the room to put the puzzle together.
Famous Pairs
Make a set of index cards with famous (cultural) pairs on them. Students search for their match.
http://www.dots-n-spots.com/?p=297
(Works similar to clock buddies)
Popsicle Sticks
- Put every student's name on one popsicle stick. For random pairs, choose two sticks at a time. For small groups, color code popsicle sticks by how many groups you want. Hold the sticks with the colored ends in your palm. Students pick a stick and then belong to the group with others who choose the color.
(Differentiating the Process: Flexible Grouping - Wade Petersen)Deck of Cards
- Students pick a card. The student can report to the chosen suit (hearts, diamonds, spades, clubs). Groups can later be changed by telling students to find others with the same number (all the students with a seven form a group, etc.). Divided student in half by telling students to separate by red cards and black cards.
- UNO cards - Students are grouped according to color families of cards, by numbers or by functions.
- Old Maid cards - Perfect for dividing students into pairs. Chose the number of cards required and sort out those pairs. The "Old Maid" can be used for an odd number of students or to be the teacher's partner.
(Differentiating the Process: Flexible Grouping - Wade Petersen)Index Cards
- Use the same number of index cards as you have students. Put matching stickers or symbols on the index cards. If students are to work in pairs, make sets of index where every two cards have a matching sticker/symbol. Students chose an index card and then find the other student in the room that has the matching sticker/symbol. If you want students to work in groups, make matching index cards for the number of students you want per group.
(Differentiating the Process: Flexible Grouping - Wade Petersen)Clock Buddies
Puzzle Pieces
- For each group, create a puzzle with the same number of pieces as students to be in the group. Give each student a piece of the puzzle and ask them to walk around the room to put the puzzle together.
Famous Pairs