How to make random student groups
Start with the students taking part in the activity, using first names or classroom numbers. You can paste up to 200 names, with each student on a separate line.
- Paste your class list into Students, one name per line.
- Under How to split, choose Number of groups to set how many groups you need, or People per group to set the target number of students per group. Enter a value from 2 to 20 in the matching field.
- Choose a naming style under Group names: Group 1, 2, 3…, Colors, or Animals. If you want a marked leader, select Mark the first person in each group as leader.
- Select Make groups to create the groups. Check the result before assigning students to tables or activities.
- Use Shuffle again for another arrangement, or Full screen to display large group cards on your projector.
- Keep the result with Copy as text or Print, or use Send to scoreboard for up to 8 teams and Send to quiz board for up to 6 teams.
What if the class divides unevenly
The tool balances the whole class rather than leaving a small leftover group. With 10 students and a target group size of 4, you get groups of 4, 3, and 3—not 4, 4, and 2.
The target size determines how many groups are needed, then students are spread across those groups. Group sizes never differ by more than 1. With groups of 2 and an odd number of students, one group of 3 is made instead of leaving one student alone.
An even split stays even: 24 students divided into 6 groups gives 6 groups of 4. If you request more groups than there are names, the tool shows a message instead of creating empty groups.
Ways to use groups in class
Choose the split to match the activity: a fixed number of groups for available tables, or a target group size for small-group work. Display the result before students move, and keep the same groups for the activity.
- Warm-up partners: choose a group size of 2 for students to discuss the opening prompt, then return to whole-class discussion.
- Classroom centers: choose the number of groups to match your available centers, and use the groups through the center activity.
- Review-day teams: generate teams before the game, then send them to the scoreboard or quiz board for that review session.
- Small-group tasks: mark a leader when making groups so each group has a named person to coordinate its work during the task.
Common questions
What if the numbers do not divide evenly?
Students are distributed so group sizes differ by at most 1. For example, 10 students with a target group size of 4 become groups of 4, 3, and 3, rather than leaving a final group of 2.
Can I name the groups?
You can choose numbered groups, color names, or animal names under Group names. The available naming sets include 8 colors and 20 animals.
Can I reshuffle the groups?
Yes. Select Shuffle again to shuffle the names and split them again. The tool uses the browser's cryptographic random generator, but a reshuffle does not guarantee that every student gets different teammates.
Can I print the groups?
Yes. Use Print to open the browser's print window, with Letter or A4 paper available. You can also save a PDF from that window or use Copy as text to copy the groups into your lesson notes.
What if two students have the same name?
Matching names stay as separate people, so neither student is removed from the list. Use a classroom number or another short identifier if you need to tell them apart on the displayed group cards.
Is this random group generator free?
Yes, you can use the tool free in your browser without an account. Lists and settings stay in that browser and are not sent to a server. If the browser blocks storage, the tool still works until you close the page and tells you that your work was not saved.