Partner Pairing Cards for Cooperative Learning Things That Go Together

Partner Pairing Cards

Looking for new ways to randomly pair your students for cooperative learning? These partner pairing cards are a fun way to do just that, plus they get the kids up and moving (built in brain break)!

These partner cards do not require any reading, so they can be used at any grade level with students of any ability.

To use, just pass the cards out to your students and send them to find the person with the matching card. No more issues with hurt feelings or the same friends always trying to be together – or you having to spend the time pairing kids up. They can be used for academic tasks or fun activities.

As a bonus, you can use these partner cards as a “What goes together?” language and vocabulary building activity. Great for special education and SLPs.

WHAT YOU WILL GET:

5 different sets of partner pairing cards (60 pairs, 120 total cards)
6 heading cards for use in your pocket chart

Each set includes 24 cards (12 pairs) that go together in some way. Just pass them out and have students get up and find their partner.

SET 1 – Food items that go together (peanut butter & jelly, milk & cereal, spaghetti & meatballs, etc.)

SET 2 – Non-food items that go together (pencil & paper, bee & hive, glove & hand, etc.)

SET 3 – Beginning sounds match (sun/sock, book/ball, pirate/popcorn, etc.)

SET 4 – Color match – Match the crayon with an item that is the same color.

SET 5 – Matching Halves – Each card shows half of an item. Students match up with their other half to form a complete picture. (Most of these pictures are divided on a line of symmetry, but a few are not. You could incorporate these into a math lesson if you teach that topic.)

HEADING CARDS

There are several choices for heading cards. You can use these in your pocket chart along with the partner pairing cards if you need to keep your students matched up for a longer period of time. Includes:

Today’s Partners
Who’s Your Partner?
Work Buddies
Learning Teams
Learning Partners
Go Togethers

Once you start using partner pairing cards like these, I think you’ll find it’s much easier and more appealing to your students. I’ve had kids in the past who didn’t like to work with anyone. But using these fun cards made them much more willing to work cooperatively with whoever the ended up with. I hope you will see the same results!