Student Contributor: F. Lebo
Popsicle sticks can be used as finding partners in class. Since some students may not always have a partner in a class this makes sure that every student is getting someone new to work with.
Popsicle sticks can be found at most grocery stores and the dollar store. The colored circle dots can also be found at the dollar store making this tool easy and cheap to use! Instead of letting your students pick a partner themselves you can have each student choose one popsicle stick from a cup in front of the class. Each stick will have 1 colored dot that is the same as another in the class, which creates a pair or a trio! This ensures that every student gets a partner, and no one is left out.
Need to change groups? On the same popsicle stick you can put numbers, shapes, and symbols for students to change a pair and create new groups! There can be up to 4 different things on the stick that helps choose partners.
I placed this tool in the supportive phase because that is where it is best fit, it allows for students to have a partner and not having to worry about whether they will be able to work with someone. Since it’s not a good idea to allow students to pick their own partners this will alleviate the anxiety that it comes with and is a fair way for students to work with someone.
This is also a Student-Centered strategy since this helps with making sure all students are included in class when a partner is needed. Since sticks are pulled at random students don’t know who they are working with and every student has someone of the same color, shape, number or image as someone else in the class. This tool is meant to help students with collaboration and working together and working with someone new frequently.
More Information –
Tool Source: Gus Nollmeyer
