Puzzling Partner Groups

I have a great group of students again this year, great in so many ways. But, they are not so great at picking partner groups!

I have a number of students who always want to work with the same people, some people that are actually fought over, and some people who are never chosen.

I have tried a number of strategies, such as clock partners, but there is always someone missing…or a clock is filled out wrong…and it often takes too long.

So,  I started using partner picking cards. I got an adorable set of milk and cookie ones free online.

Students pull a card out of the basket and find their number partner with the opposite item.

But there are times we need to work in groups of three. So I made these animal cards.

I call it “Lions, Tigers and Bears!” even though those are not the animal groups I have!

I like this system because I can easily change things up.

Sometimes I have them find their animal partners (group of 3 lions) and other times I call out what they need in a group (lion, monkey and an eagle).

This way we can easily jigsaw and I can hand out roles. For example all the lions collect the supplies, or all the eagles record answers, or I need all the monkeys to get together and share what they learned in their groups.

The last strategy I am using is puzzle pieces. I use this to form groups of four.

Students select a card from the basket and then form a group. Again it is really easy to assign roles using these cards or to move students around.

These strategies have really helped in my classroom this year, students are working with a variety of people and they think they are having fun!!

Need some partner grouping cards?

Here’s a quick set of keys and locks that also includes several ideas for grouping students in different ways using the same set of cards!

Enjoy!

Click here to email your freebie