What you get with the class spinner
- Free, with no signup and no ads
- Paste a whole class list, one name per line
- Take each student off after their turn, so nobody goes twice
- Pick up to 3 students at once, ranked 1st, 2nd and 3rd
- Present mode fills the board with just the wheel
- Keep a wheel as a share link, and record a spin as a video
How to use the class spinner in 4 steps
- Paste your class list into the Names box, one name per line. A comma-separated list works too, or import a .txt or .csv file.
- Spin. Press Spin, tap the wheel, or press Ctrl and Enter. The wheel slows down and lands on one student.
- Press Remove Winner from List so nobody goes twice. The next spin only picks from students who have not had a turn.
- Press Present to show just the wheel, full screen, on the board.
The full guide covers every control, from Auto-fill to the results list.
Call on students fairly, without repeats
A random student picker takes the choosing out of your hands. Students can see the wheel decide, so nobody can say you always pick the same people, and quieter students get called on as often as everyone else.
After each spin, press Remove Winner from List. That name comes off the student picker wheel, and a note tells you how many names are left. Keep going and every student gets one turn before anyone gets a second. When the wheel is empty, paste the list back in, or open your class's share link again, and start a new round.
Want names to stay on? Press Keep and spin again instead. Then anyone can come up at any time, which keeps the whole class listening.
Make random groups and partners
Press 2 or 3 next to Winners under the wheel. One spin then picks that many students, ranked 1st, 2nd and 3rd, and takes them off the wheel. That is your first pair or group of three. Spin again for the next, and carry on until everyone is placed.
For a set number of teams, such as four teams for a quiz, the team picker wheel puts each student on a team as they spin. If you need the winners back on the wheel, press Put them back.
Show the wheel on the board
Press Present in the top right corner of the wheel. It fills the screen with just the wheel, your spin's name and the Spin button, sized for a projector or interactive whiteboard. Space or Enter spins, and Escape leaves full screen.
It runs in the web browser, so it works the same on Chromebooks, iPads, Windows laptops and classroom boards, with nothing to install. Students can also open it on their own devices.
Keep a wheel for each class
The site does not store your class list, on our server or in your browser. To keep a wheel, spin once, press Share Link to This Wheel in the result box, and bookmark the link. The names travel inside the link, so it opens the same wheel every time.
Make one link per class or period and keep them in a folder of bookmarks. Leave the link in your sub plans and a substitute teacher can open the same wheel on any device.
Classroom wheels ready to spin
Each one opens already filled in. Edit the list to fit your class.
Subject wheel
Pick a subject to review, a homework to start or a quiz round.
Grade wheel
Letter grades from A+ to F for classroom games. Just for fun.
Word wheel
A random everyday word to spell, define or put in a sentence.
Letter wheel
A random letter for phonics, spelling and word games.
Number wheel 1 to 100
Draw a number for a 100 square, bingo or math games.
Animal wheel
30 animals for charades, drawing games and research.
Category wheel
A random topic for review rounds and word games.
Chore wheel
Set up for home chores. Swap in class jobs like line leader and clean-up crew.
Icebreaker wheel
Questions for the first day or a new group.
Would you rather wheel
Clean questions for warm-ups and quick discussion.
Not a classroom list? The wheel of names, decision wheel and prize wheel work the same way, and there are more ready-made wheels.
Classroom activities by grade level
A classroom spin wheel is more than a random name picker for teachers. Put questions, jobs, rewards or prompts on it instead of names. Here is how teachers use it, then ideas by age group.
Random Student Selection
Call on students fairly with a classroom spin wheel, so nobody can say you always pick the same kids.
Group and Team Formation
Spin the wheel to make random groups for projects, lab partners or reading buddies in seconds.
Behavior and Reward Wheel
Reward positive behavior with a prize wheel: stickers, free time, choose-a-seat or class jobs.
Quiz and Review Questions
Pull random review questions from the wheel to keep test prep moving.
Classroom Jobs
Rotate line leader, paper passer and clean-up crew in the open, so the class can see it is fair.
Brain Breaks and Energizers
Spin for a quick stretch, dance break, or mindfulness activity when energy dips.
Seating Charts and Partners
Reshuffle seating or assign reading partners at random, with no arguments.
Vocabulary and Spelling Practice
Add this week's words and spin to call on students to define, spell, or use them in a sentence.
Elementary (K-5)
- Star Student of the Day reward wheel
- Sight-word and spelling spin practice
- Brain breaks: dance, stretch or yoga
- Line leader and classroom-job rotation
Middle School (6-8)
- Cold-call review for math and science
- Random lab partners and group projects
- Vocabulary quiz spin (define, use or spell)
- Class debate topic picker
High School (9-12)
- Socratic seminar question wheel
- Random Do-Now or warm-up prompt
- Presentation order and peer-review pairs
- Senior privileges and raffle picks
Is the class spinner fair?
Yes. Every name gets an equal slice, and each spin uses your browser's secure random number source, so no student is more likely to come up than another. The same name can come up twice in a row by chance, which is why Remove Winner from List is there. How the random pick works.
Questions About the Classroom Wheel Spinner
How do I use this as a classroom wheel spinner?
Paste your class list into the box, one name per line, and press spin. After each pick, press Remove Winner from List so the next spin only picks from students who have not had a turn yet. Press Present to fill the screen on the board.
Can I save my class list?
Your list is not stored on our server or in your browser, and it is not kept between visits. To keep it, press Share Link to This Wheel after a spin and bookmark the link. The names travel inside the link, so anyone you give it to gets the same wheel.
Is the class spinner free?
Yes. There is no signup and no fee, and no limit on spins or names. Auto-fill is limited to a few requests a minute.
Is the random picker truly random and fair?
Yes. Every name gets an equal slice, and each spin uses your browser's secure random number source, crypto.getRandomValues. Nobody can time a click to change the result. Names can come up again unless you remove the winner.
Can I pick more than one student at a time?
Yes. Set Winners to 2 or 3 and the wheel picks that many in one go, ranked 1st, 2nd and 3rd, and takes them off the wheel. Press Put them back to return them.
Does it work on Chromebooks, iPads and interactive whiteboards?
It runs in any modern web browser, so there is nothing to install. On a board or projector, use Present to show just the wheel, full screen.
What does auto-fill do?
Type a topic, such as '5th grade reward ideas', and it suggests 20 items and makes a background picture to match. Only the topic you type is sent to our server, not your list. You can edit the suggestions before you spin.
Can I record the spin for a giveaway?
Yes. After a spin, Share Video downloads or shares a recording of it, and Share Image makes a picture of the result. Both help show entrants the draw was fair.
Can a substitute teacher use my class wheel?
Yes. Press Share Link to This Wheel after a spin and send the link. It opens the same wheel with your class list on any device, with no account needed.
Can I embed the spin wheel on my website?
Yes. Once your wheel has names, an embed code appears at the bottom of this page. Paste it into your class website or blog and it shows just the wheel.
Guides for teachers
Random Name Picker for Teachers
Setting up a class wheel, cold calling fairly, forming groups and keeping a wheel for each class.
50+ Spin Wheel Ideas for Teachers
Ideas by use: picking students, class jobs, math and vocabulary review, brain breaks and end-of-term games.
Spin the Wheel for Classroom Management
Fair turns, reward wheels, transitions and class jobs, from the youngest classes to high school.
How to Use the Classroom Spinner Wheel
Every control, step by step.
Need a timer as well? The Clock's classroom timer is made by the same person.
Put the wheel on your class website
Add names to the wheel above and an embed code appears here. Paste it into your class website, Google Site or blog, and it shows just the wheel with your list on it.