Random Pickers & Group Makers
Fair, fun ways to pick a student, a number or a team — on the board in one click.
Which tool do I need?
- Call on students fairly, with nobody picked twice: Random Name Picker
- Spin for a student, word or prize, with holiday themes: Wheel of Names Spinner
- Make random groups or a seating chart and keep some students apart: Student Group & Seating Chart Generator
- Draw raffle numbers or a number in any range: Random Number Generator
- Pick a letter for an alphabet or word game: Random Letter Generator
- Pick a winner and time a task at once: Duck Race Timer & Random Picker
Pick & Group tools
Ready in one click
Teaching guides
All guides- Engagement & Games 8 min read
Halloween Classroom Activities: Fun, Not-Scary Ideas for K–5
Fun, not-scary Halloween classroom activities for K–5: themed name pickers, a Halloween word list, math and review games, a party plan and calm-down ideas. - SEL & Wellbeing 8 min read
Thanksgiving Classroom Activities: Gratitude Ideas for K–5
Gratitude-centered Thanksgiving classroom activities for K–5: sharing prompts, a turkey name hat, a fall word list, pie fraction math and a calm short week. - Engagement & Games 12 min read
Interactive Whiteboard Activities for Elementary: Free Smartboard Ideas for the Whole School Day
Free interactive whiteboard activities for K–5, from morning meeting to dismissal: calendar math, hundreds charts, word building, timers and review games.
About Random Pickers & Group Makers
Calling on students, choosing helpers and forming groups happen dozens of times a week. A random picker makes each choice fair and quick, and students can see that nobody is playing favorites. These tools share one class list, so you type your roster once and use it in the name picker, the wheel, the magic hat, the group maker and the duck race. Random number and letter generators handle raffles, number games and alphabet activities.
Every picker uses your browser’s cryptographically secure random number generator, and most have a no-repeat option so everyone gets a turn before anyone is picked twice. Class lists stay on your device — nothing about your students is uploaded.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to type my class list into every tool?
No. The Random Name Picker, Wheel of Names, Magic Name Hat, Group Maker and Duck Race share one class list saved in your browser. Change it in one tool and the others use the new list.
Can I make sure every student gets a turn?
Yes. The name picker has a no-repeat mode, the wheel can remove each winner, and the magic hat can keep drawn names out until you put them back.
Can I keep certain students apart when making groups?
Yes. The Group Maker lets you list pairs of students who should not be in the same group or sit next to each other, and it plans around them.