[UPDATED – January 2019]
In my class, most often, I pair students up to work through math problems. I also, most often have less than 24 students. I’ve updated the cards to include a version for ONLY 24 cards and groups of 2. This will make it easier to create different groupings within the same class period without having to give students new cards.
Ready to download these free printable random grouping cards?
There are three copies of the cards.
ONE DESIGNED FOR ONLY GROUPS OF 2, One with equations/expressions and one without (groups of 2 or 3 – 36 cards).
Transcript of the video:
Alright, this video is about Random Grouping in your class and I’ve a got new way to make that happen!!!
So for the last few years I followed a suggestion from Al Overwjik who followed Peter Liljedahl to have random groupings in my class daily. That’s right kids sit in different spots each day with different people. And like Al I was using playing cards to match them up. A student would walk in the door grab a random playing card our of my hand and then find the matching one on the desk. The class would then randomly be placed in groups of 3. Easy right. I grew tired of always using cards. I wanted to mix it up. So last year I used different colour popsicle sticks, then I created equations on slips of paper, then coloured paper slips. So this coming semester I’m using these new random grouping cards I created. Below you can download, print them out and then laminate them.
They have different ways to match. Just tape the master grouping card to a group of 3 desks (or pairs will work too) .
Then For example, today I may decide that we are all matching by colour. So when you grab a random grouping card from me at the door, go and sit at that colour. But tomorrow I may decide to match symbols so if a student chooses this card
They would go and sit at the “gear” table! And maybe the day after that I’ll say to match expressions, then the student will have to evaluate the expression on the card to discover what table to sit at.
Pretty easy! There are 12 colours, 12 symbols, 12 shapes, and 12 numbers that match expressions. So 36 cards in total.
If you’re like me and have only 24 kids then you can get rid of a few colours and it’ll all still work out. So grab them below here and have fun mixing it up!!
There are two copies of the cards. One with equations/expressions and one without.
5 thoughts on “Free Printable Random Grouping Cards For Math Class”
I love the idea! I’m going to play around with expanding the set (my class numbers go from 19 to 40).
I like how the same set of cards can be sorted in different ways. We have created some sets of cards to use for putting people in groups as well. They are all math based but only single use.
http://engaging-math.blogspot.ca/search/label/group%20sort%20cards
Thanks for sharing. Looking for some new ways to establish #VRG
These are so cool, thank you! I have my classroom mainly set up in groups of four–do you have a suggestion on how to adapt these cards to work for groups of four? Thanks so much!
These are awesome, I am using them to help form coding groups for some math questions. I am also using them for math discussions(homework problems).
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