Random Grouping Strategies

RANDOM GROUPING STRATEGIES

A list of ideas when you wish to vary the way in which you group the class. These should serve as starting points - be creative!! The more outrageous your grouping technique, the more fun for both you and the class. Allowing students to move from their seats, act or make noises (!!) always gets the lesson off to a fun start. Note that there may be some overlap.

MULTIPLE GROUPS

Hand around a paper bag of smarties (carefully selected beforehand depending on the size of the groups you wish to have). Groups are formed according to colour:

all reds, greens, yellows etc in one group or
one of each colour in each group

n.b. The second version is particularly good if you notice that friends are swapping so that they all have the same colour.

The same can be done with

snakes, M & Ms, jelly beans etc (food, lollies are always a hit!)
numbers on slips of paper, coloured counters, buttons.
rolling dice (good if you have last minute plans. Roughly equal sized groups result. Dice size varies from 4 -10 sided)
playing cards (if you have 24 in the class keep all Kings --> Sevens. Shuffle and deal for groups of 4. If you have an odd number in the class, or a number not divisible by 4, keep as many Aces as you need and call them Wild Cards. The drawer can choose which group she wishes to Join).

Colour of family car, eyes, favorite colour, least favorite colour etc.

For a large class - group into 3's, 7's, 4's etc and then into size of group you need. Particularly good for camp groups.

In paper bag, have mixed-up group items (possibly pertinent to your subject). Girls select one and then find the group which they belong to:

daisy, rose, tulip, daffodil (flowers)
dog, cat, budge, goldfish, guinea pig (pets)
lion, tiger, giraffe, elephants (wild animals)
apple, orange, grape, pear, peach (fruit)
air, fire, water, wind (elements)
snap, crackle, pop (!)

TWO GROUPS

Fold arms (one hand on top, one hand tucked in version!)

all those with right hand on top - one group.
all those with left hand on top - second group.

Which leg do you put into your trousers first?

left leg, right leg groups.

Students hop across the room - group according to left leg or right leg hopping.

Curl tongues - curled tongue group, non-curled tongue group.

Clasping hands - left thumb on top group, right thumb on top group.