Buddy Sticks
Put like stickers on the bottoms of two craft sticks. You will need as many sticks as there are children in your classroom. Place sticks in a plastic cup with stickers facing down. Children choose a stick and then find the person whose stick matches theirs. That is their partner.
Note! You can also use matching letters, shapes, numbers, etc. on the sticks.
*For small group work, put like stickers on four sticks. Remember, groups of two or four are more conducive to social interaction.
*When there is an odd number of students, let the last child chose whichever group she would like to be a part of.
Go Together
Glue pictures of things that go together like socks and shoes or dogs and bones on index cards. (You can find these on the internet.) Children match pictures to find their partner.
*Cut playing cards in half and pass out to students. When they match up their puzzle they will
find their partner.
Study Buddy
Use these sticks each Monday to pair up children. Explain that is their "study buddy" for the week. They can help each other and work with each other all week.
Partner Teach
One student pretends they are the teacher and demonstrates or explains something to a friend. Then they switch places.
Partner Coach
One student demonstrates a skill while the other student “coaches” (corrects, makes suggestions). Switch places.
Back Writing
Study buddies take turns making letters, shapes, numerals, spelling words, etc. on their partner’s back. After the partner guesses correctly they can change places.
Partner Pop Up Q & A
Students stand and face their study buddy. The teacher poses a question. The students talk it over, agree on an answer, and then stoop down. When the teacher sees all students down she says, “Pop!” The students pop up and say their answer out loud.
*Come back tomorrow for creative projects children can do with their friends!
