Let’s MX IT UP (Assigning Groups for Classroom Collaboration)

Using these sticks is a great way to get students into organized, even groups, pairs, or teams, for classroom assignments and activities.

This is an idea I got while attending the SAS course. The professor made a set that used math symbols, numbers, letters, moths, days of the week, and more. 

When I made my sticks, this morning, I wanted them to make them work for my classroom set up.

My Mix it Up Sticks

Here’s what I did…

I used 5 different colors of popsicle sticks (I had to paint the purple). The five colors correspond to the table colors in my Art Room. 

I used numbers, artists (from my curriculum), types of line, shapes, craft goodies, and more to finish my “Mix it Up” sticks.

Here are just a few ways the sticks can be used…

ž To get students into table groups – Pass out sticks at random or as kids walk in the door. Students go to the table that matches their stick. (In the past I have used color cards to do this.

žAssigning a table leader or spokes person- pass out all the same color stick to the matching table. Student with a number _____ is the table leader.

Getting into groups

Pass sticks out at random

žFor groups of 4 – find the people who have the same 2 shape (Star= free choice)

žFor groups of 3 – find the people who have the same craft goodie as you

žFor pairs- find the student who has the same artist as you

žFor large groups of 6-7 – find the people who have the same type of line

žFor splitting into 2 teams – use letters A and B

Troeg and Olive would not move
 until I snapped a photo with them in it.
Such attention hounds !