How to use the Random Group Maker
- Load your class. In Settings, pick a class list or click the pencil to paste names, one per line. Every name appears on the board.
- Mark who’s away. Click a name to mark that student absent, or untick them under “Who’s here today”. Absent students are left out.
- Choose the groups. Use + and − to set how many groups you want. Click the count, or press M, to set the people per group instead.
- Deal them out. Press Space or Make groups and watch the names fly into colored group cards. Press it again to reshuffle, C to copy, or Print.
Classroom ideas
- Think-pair-share: set “People per group” to 2 for instant talk partners, and reshuffle each lesson so pupils work with new classmates.
- Stations: make as many groups as you have stations, switch on Colors, and put a matching colored card on each table.
- Leaders and roles: turn on the leader star; the starred student collects materials and reports back for the group.
- Sub plans: print the groups and leave them with the cover teacher, or copy them into your lesson notes.
- On the Classroom Board, the “Group work” template puts the group maker beside a timer and voice levels.
Keyboard shortcuts
| + / − | One more or one fewer (groups or people per group) |
| M | Switch between number of groups and people per group |
| N | Next style of group names |
| L | Star a leader in each group, or not |
| C | Copy the groups as text |
| F | Present full screen |
Frequently asked questions
Are the groups really random?
Yes. The class is shuffled with a Fisher–Yates shuffle driven by your browser’s cryptographic random generator, so every arrangement is equally likely. The flying names are just the animation.
What happens when the class doesn’t divide evenly?
Group sizes never differ by more than one. With 25 students in 4 groups you get one group of 7 and three of 6. Asking for groups of 4 gives six groups: one of 5 and five of 4. Pairs in a class of 25 make eleven pairs and one trio — never a group of one.
How do I leave out absent students?
Click their name on the board before you make groups, or untick them under “Who’s here today” in Settings. The list is remembered for each class until you change it.
Can I print or save the groups?
Yes. Print sends just the groups to your printer, and Copy puts them on the clipboard as text you can paste into an email, a document or your LMS.
Are my students’ names uploaded anywhere?
No. Class lists stay in this browser’s local storage on this computer. They are shared with the name picker and other tools on this site, but never sent to a server.
Updated October 31, 2026 · Free to use in any classroom, no account needed.