Random Group Generator

Random Groups, With the Rules Teachers Actually Need

Purely random groups are fair, but every teacher knows the two students who should never share a table — and the new student who needs a buddy. A random group generator with rules gives you both: the class sees a fair shuffle, and you quietly keep the pairs that matter together or apart.

1. Paste the class list from a spreadsheet or roster — one name per line or comma separated.
2. Pick the size: pairs for peer review, trios for labs, fours for projects — or a fixed number of groups for stations.
3. Add rules (optional): “Ava + Ben” under keep together, “Diego + Emma” under keep apart.
4. Make groups, then show them on the board, print them or copy them. Not happy? Shuffle again — the rules stay.

Example: 18 students, 5 groups, 3 rules

Rules: Ava + Ben together, Diego + Emma apart, Kai + Luna apart. One shuffle:

• Group 1: Emma, Chloe, Kai, Rosa
• Group 2: Ben, Ava, Nia, Mateo
• Group 3: Omar, Jonah, Isla, Priya
• Group 4: Diego, Hiro, Finn
• Group 5: Luna, Quinn, Grace

What size should student groups be?

• Pairs: think–pair–share, peer editing, reading buddies. Everyone talks.
• Groups of 3–4: the sweet spot for projects and labs — big enough for ideas, small enough that nobody hides.
• Groups of 5–6: stations, debates and games where roles keep everyone involved.

Give each group something to talk about with a morning meeting question or a would you rather question, and time it with the classroom timer. Picking teams for a game or sport? The random team generator balances by skill. Need one name, not groups? Use the random name picker.