Odd one out: which one does not belong?
Four things on the board, three of which belong together. The class decides which one is the odd one out, and you reveal why. Make a list by giving items that belong together the same word after the colon.
15 items (up to 40). Put a colon, a tab, a dash with spaces, an equals sign or an arrow between the term and its meaning. Groups of two or more: mammal (4), fish (4), bird (4), amphibian (3).
Each round is dealt from your list: three items from one group and one from another.
How to use it
- Paste a list where items in the same group end with the same word, like “dog: mammal”. At least one group needs three or more items, and you need a second group.
- Press Play. Four items appear. Let the class talk, then tap the one they chose, or press 1 to 4. Press Space to reveal without choosing.
- The page tells you what the three have in common and what the odd one is. Press N for the next round.
- Each round is dealt from a different group, so a short list goes a long way.
Ideas for class
- Use it as a bell-ringer while attendance is taken. One round takes under a minute.
- Ask a student to explain how they know before you reveal it. A good argument is worth more than a right guess.
- Make a list where a few items could belong in two groups and talk about it when the class disagrees.
- Use it with shapes, parts of speech, animals, states of matter or types of angles.
- Challenge the class to make a round of their own, three that go together and one that does not.
Related
- All five classroom activities
- Match up: terms and meanings from your list
- Flip tiles: a memory game from your list
- Quiz show: a multiple-choice game for the board
- Group sort: sort items into categories from your list
- Live classroom quiz game: students join with a code
- Brain breaks: 60 movement cards with a random draw and a timer
Questions
Why does it say my list can't make a round?
A round needs a group of three or more items and a second group to take the odd one from. Give items in a group the same word after the colon.
Can the odd one belong to more than one group?
A round never shows an item whose name is the same as one of the other three, so there is only one right answer.
Is there a score?
The page keeps a tally of the rounds the class got right while it is open. You can ignore it. Nothing is saved and no name is ever asked for.
How many rounds can I play?
As many as you like. Each round is dealt fresh from your list, so a list of fifteen items gives many different rounds.
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