Bingo card generator

Start with your lesson’s word list or choose number cards. Decide on the grid size and winning pattern before handing out cards so your class knows what counts.

1. Open Cards and choose Words or Numbers under Card type.
2. For word cards, enter one word per line in Words (one per line). Add a lesson heading in Card title.
3. Choose Grid and, for 3×3 or 5×5 cards, decide whether to use Free center square. For smaller number grids, set the upper number in Numbers from 1 to.
4. Set Number of cards from 1 to 200 and Cards per page to 1, 2 or 4. Use Shuffle cards to make a new set.
5. Choose Letter or A4 with Paper, then select Print cards. Use Print calling list for a calling sheet.
6. To call on screen, open Caller and select Call next. Keep the same list and shuffle when checking the printed cards.

A 3×3 card needs 9 different words, or 8 with a free center. A 4×4 card needs 16 words. A 5×5 card needs 24 with a free center, or 25 without it.

The free center is on by default for 3×3 and 5×5 cards and counts as marked. Repeated words are removed even when their capitalization differs, so count different words rather than pasted lines.

A list close to the minimum gives the tool fewer possible sets, so cards can contain the same words in different positions. A longer list allows more variation in which words appear; the tool tells you when there are fewer different sets than requested cards.

Keep entries short enough to read on a printed card. Long entries use smaller text, and text that does not fit is shortened with an ellipsis; the calling sheet shows the full entry.

Standard 75-number bingo uses columns labeled B, I, N, G and O from left to right. Their ranges are B 1–15, I 16–30, N 31–45, G 46–60 and O 61–75.

The tool uses these ranges for its 5×5 number cards. The N column has 4 numbers and a free center, which counts as marked.

Choose Letter or A4 and print 1, 2 or 4 cards per page. Printing opens your browser’s print window, where you can select a printer or save the output as a PDF.

For shared sheets, leave space between cards when cutting them apart and keep each card’s number attached. Use Print calling list to put every word or number on one sheet that you can cut into calling slips or tick off as you call.

Match the cards to the topic you are already teaching. For a short round, agree on a row, column or diagonal; use a full card when you have more time.

• Vocabulary warm-up: give students word cards and read your own definitions aloud, stopping when someone completes the agreed pattern.
• Math review: give students number cards and read problems whose answers appear on the cards, allowing working time between calls.
• Small-group centers: provide word cards and a printed calling sheet so a student caller can tick off entries during the center rotation.
• End-of-lesson review: project the caller and use Call next at your own pace, pausing to discuss a called term before continuing.