25 ways to use a spinner wheel in class
A spinner wheel on the projector makes a choice in front of everyone, so nobody can say it was unfair. Use it to call on students, pick a job, choose a prompt or run a review game. Each idea below says what to put on the wheel, the grades it suits and which of our ready-made wheels to open.
Choosing people
1. Call on students fairly
Put first names on the wheel and spin to choose who answers. Tick "Remove the winner after each spin" so every name comes up once before any name repeats.
Grades K–8You need The wheel with your class's first namesUse Wheel spinner
2. Pick a partner pair
Spin twice to make a pair for a partner task, removing each name as it comes up, until every student has a partner.
Grades 1–8You need The wheel with first names
3. Choose a job for the day
Spin the classroom jobs wheel for one-off jobs, like who takes the note to the office or who waters the plants today.
Grades K–5You need The classroom jobs wheelUse Classroom jobs wheel
4. Pick who shares first
Put group or table numbers on the wheel and spin for the order groups present in, so nobody argues about going first.
Grades K–8You need The wheel with group numbers
5. Choose a reader
Spin to choose who reads the next paragraph aloud. Let a student pass once, and come back to them for a shorter part.
Grades 1–5You need The wheel with first names
Lessons and practice
6. Math fact of the moment
Spin the math facts wheel and the class writes the answer on mini whiteboards. Ten spins make a quick warm-up.
Grades 1–5You need The math facts wheelUse Math facts wheel
7. Letter for a word hunt
Spin a letter and the class thinks of as many words as they can that start with it, or finds an object in the room that does.
Grades K–2You need The letter wheelUse Letter wheel A–Z
8. Number for counting on
Spin a number and the class counts on from it to twenty, or says the number before and after it.
Grades K–2You need The number wheel 1–30Use Number wheel 1–30
9. Shape hunt
Spin a shape and students find one in the classroom, then say how many sides and corners it has.
Grades Pre-K–2You need The shapes wheelUse Shapes wheel
10. Reading response prompt
After independent reading, spin a reading prompt (a favorite part, a problem in the story, a new word) and students answer with a partner.
Grades 1–5You need The reading prompts wheelUse Reading prompts wheel
11. Writing prompt
Spin for the day's quick-write prompt. Students accept the wheel's choice more readily than one you picked.
Grades 1–8You need The writing prompts wheelUse Writing prompts wheel
12. Exit ticket question
Spin for the exit ticket question in the last three minutes of a lesson, and every student answers it on a slip.
Grades 2–8You need The exit ticket wheelUse Exit ticket wheel
13. State of the day
Spin a state and students find it on a map, name its capital, or give one fact about it before lunch.
Grades 3–8You need The US states wheelUse US states wheel
14. Animal research pick
Spin an animal for each student's short research card: where it lives, what it eats and one surprising fact.
Grades 2–5You need The animal wheelUse Animal wheel
15. Probability experiment
Make a wheel with three red and one blue entries, predict how often blue comes up in twenty spins, then spin and tally the results.
Grades 3–8You need The wheel with equal and unequal slices
Community and feelings
16. Feelings check-in
Spin the feelings wheel at morning meeting and invite students to share a time they felt that way. Sharing is always optional.
Grades K–5You need The feelings wheelUse Feelings wheel
17. Getting to know you question
Spin a question for a partner chat in the first weeks of school, such as a favorite food or something you are good at.
Grades K–8You need The getting to know you wheelUse Getting to know you wheel
18. Would you rather
Spin a would-you-rather question and students move to one side of the room or the other, then give one reason.
Grades K–8You need The would you rather wheelUse Would you rather wheel
19. Partner activity
Spin a partner activity for the last five minutes of the day, so pairs know exactly what to do together.
Grades 1–8You need The partner activities wheelUse Partner activities wheel
20. Settle a tie
When the class votes and it is a tie, spin the yes or no wheel and accept the answer. Students take the wheel's word well.
Grades K–8You need The yes or no wheelUse Yes or no wheel
Games and breaks
21. Brain break pick
Spin the brain break wheel when energy drops, and the class does the break it lands on for a minute.
Grades K–5You need The brain break wheelUse Brain break wheel
22. Points for a review game
After a team answers a review question correctly, spin for how many points it is worth. Luck keeps the teams that fall behind in the game.
Grades 2–8You need The number wheel and a review boardUse Review game board maker, Number wheel 1–30
23. Rock, paper, scissors with the class
The class picks rock, paper or scissors together, then you spin the wheel to play against them.
Grades K–5You need The rock paper scissors wheelUse Rock paper scissors wheel
24. Color for a drawing game
Spin a color and students find something that color in the room, or add something that color to a drawing.
Grades Pre-K–2You need The color wheelUse Color wheel
25. Dice without dice
Use the dice faces wheel for a board game on the projector, so the whole class can see the roll at once.
Grades K–5You need The dice faces wheelUse Dice faces wheel
Making it work
- Use first names only on any wheel with students on it. Our wheel keeps the list in your browser and never sends it anywhere.
- Tick "Remove the winner after each spin" when you are calling on students, so the wheel works through the whole class before anyone repeats.
- Let a student pass once if they are put on the spot, and come back to them with an easier question.
- Spin, then wait a beat before you announce the result. The pause is half the fun for younger classes.
Questions teachers ask
- Is it fair to call on students with a wheel?
- It is fairer than hands-up alone, because every student is equally likely to be chosen. Pair it with think time first, so the student chosen has had a moment to prepare an answer.
- Where are my students' names saved?
- In your own browser on that computer. Peabody's wheel never sends the list to us or puts it in a share link unless you choose to share a wheel.
- Can I use the wheel on an interactive whiteboard?
- Yes. The wheel spins with a tap or the space bar, and the buttons are large enough to press on a board. Press F for full screen.
Written for teachers by Peabody Teach. No ads, no affiliate links. Something wrong or missing? Tell us.