Random Name Picker for Classrooms
A spinning name wheel for choosing students fairly. Paste your class list once, spin it from the front of the room, and put it full-screen on the whiteboard.
No names added yet. Type above to get started.
Add at least 2 names to spin
This free random name picker is the classroom name generator version of pulling lolly sticks out of a cup — without the cup. Paste your class list, press Spin, and the wheel lands on one student. The list is saved in this browser, so tomorrow it is already there. Tick "Remove name after picking" and the wheel works through the whole class without repeating anyone, which is what you want for turn-taking. Mute the sound for quiet work, and use full-screen mode so the class can see the wheel made the choice, not you.
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Generate Teaching ResourcesFeatures
- Animated spinning wheel
- Add unlimited student names
- Sound effects for engagement
- Option to remove picked names
- Save class lists locally
- Full-screen mode for projection
How to Use
- 1Enter your student names (one per line or comma-separated)
- 2Click the "Spin" button to start the wheel
- 3Watch the animated wheel select a random student
- 4Optionally remove the selected name to avoid repeats
Why a name wheel beats picking by hand
- The wheel chooses, so no student can argue that you always pick the same people
- Quiet students get called on as often as the confident ones
- Every name has the same chance on every spin
- "Remove name after picking" works through the whole class with no repeats
- Your class list stays in this browser — paste it once, not every lesson
- Full-screen mode is readable from the back row on a projector
- The spin sound can be muted for tests and quiet work
- Nothing to install, no account, and it keeps working if the wifi drops
When a random name picker earns its place
Cold-calling during questioning
Every student stays ready to answer because nobody can predict who is next, including you.
Picking the next reader
Round-robin reading without the students two paragraphs ahead counting who comes next.
Handing out classroom jobs
Register, equipment and tidying jobs get shared out without anyone claiming favouritism.
Deciding who presents first
A neutral spin takes the sting out of going first when nobody volunteers.
Settling who starts a game
Faster than rock-paper-scissors and visible to the whole class on the board.
Working through the whole class
Turn on "Remove name after picking" and the wheel becomes a register of who has already had a turn.
Splitting the class into teams instead
When you need groups rather than one student, the group generator deals the whole list at once.
Explore toolKeeping the activity to time
Pair the wheel with a countdown so each student gets the same time to answer.
Explore toolFrequently Asked Questions
Is this random name picker really random?
Every name on the wheel has the same chance of being picked on every spin, using your browser's built-in random number generator. The wheel has no memory of earlier spins, so the same student can come up twice in a row — tick "Remove name after picking" if you want each name used only once.
Can I save my class lists?
Yes, your class lists are automatically saved in your browser's local storage. They'll be there next time you visit - no account required.
Can I use this on my interactive whiteboard?
Absolutely! The full-screen mode is perfect for projecting on interactive whiteboards or classroom displays.
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