Partner activity wheel
Sixteen ways for two students to work together that fit any subject. Pair the class, spin for the activity, and the routine is set in seconds.
SpacespinCtrl+Enterspin while typingFfull screen
One entry per line. Add *3 after a name to give it three times the chance.
Winners show up here, newest first.
Colors
Ready-made list. Edit it to make it yours: changes stay on this device, and Reset brings the original back.Open in the main spinner →
Pair, then spin
- Make pairs with the team generator set to teams of two. With an odd number, make one group of three.
- Spin for the activity and read its one-line instructions below so every pair knows what to do.
- Set a time: 2–3 minutes for talk tasks, 8–10 for reading, editing or diagrams.
- Ask two or three pairs to share. Choosing them with the random name picker means every pair prepares an answer, not just the confident ones.
What the activities mean
- Think-pair-share: 30 seconds alone, 2 minutes together, then share with the class.
- Back-to-back drawing: one partner describes a diagram or picture, the other draws it without looking. Good for vocabulary and geometry.
- Find the mistake: show a worked example with one error; pairs find and fix it.
- Solve and coach: one partner solves a problem aloud while the other coaches, then they switch for the next problem.
- Make 3 questions: pairs write three questions about today’s lesson, swap with another pair, and answer.
- Summary in 20 words: exactly 20, no more, no fewer. Harder than it sounds.
Making pair work fair
Name the roles (Partner A and Partner B) and say who starts, or the more confident student will do all the talking. Change pairs every week or two so students learn to work with everyone, not only friends.
For students who find speaking hard, choose written or drawn tasks: peer edit, diagram, back-to-back drawing. Hide “Interview” or “Explain in 30 seconds” for that lesson if needed.
Questions and answers
What if partners don’t get along?
Short tasks help: two minutes of structured talk is easier than twenty minutes of open work. If a pairing really isn’t working, rearrange quietly next lesson and let the next random pairing do the rest.
How do I keep pairs on task?
Ask for a product: a sentence, a diagram, three questions. Pairs who know they might be called on to share stay focused.
Does it suit middle and high school?
Yes. Peer edit, find the mistake, and agree or disagree fit any subject up to grade 12. Older students respond best to a clear time limit and a reason for the task.