Mix-n-Match
Grades K-12
Big Idea
In this Kagan Cooperative Learning Structure, students are able to demonstrate their understanding of virtually any academic concept in an engaging way that includes music and movement! Individual students are provided with cards that each have a match. Students "mix" around the room to music, and find the student with the matching card when the music stops.
Directions
- Teacher passes out cards to students.
- When the music starts, students "mix" by walking around the classroom, continuously trading cards as they go.
- When the music stops, students freeze and read their card.
- Teacher tells the students to "find their match".
- Students place cards outward facing on their chest, and try to find the student with their matching card.
- As students find their match, they move to the front of the classroom and wait to be checked by the teacher.
- When all students find their match, the structure can be used again!
When To Use
This engaging cooperative learning structure is best used for reviewing content, but can also be used without content as a fun class builder! Below are some academic suggestions for using Mix-n-Match:
Literacy
- Synonyms and antonyms
- Text features and their descriptions
- Compound Words
- Homophones
- Words and Definitions
Math
- Dollar-cent notation and coins
- Expanded form and written form
- Shapes and attributes
- Digital and analog time
- Equations and correct answers
Strategy Variation
It can be helpful to have students that have found their match, move to a designated spot in the room, so that they are not in the way of students who are still searching. This also signals to the teacher that they are ready to be checked for correctness.
In addition, you can make the activity more challenging by adding parameters (i.e. no talking allowed while find your match, or timing the students).
This activity can easily be done on the fly by quickly creating cards with index cards. Lakeshore also makes "Grab and Match" cards that work well with this activity.
Fun tidbit: adding music while students are mixing allows for increased engagement! Also, the starting and stopping of the music signals to students when to mix, and when to find their match, rather than students waiting for teachers to give verbal directions.
Take a look at what Mix-n-Match looks like in action in a 2nd grade classroom! They are learning telling time with digital and analog clocks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1R4ZXvTDyc