Trainer Tip #8
Divide Into Groups
The ECEP trainer manuals include activities that are to be completed in small groups. Small group
activities provide participants with an excellent opportunity to learn the content. Participants may
speak up and interact in small groups where they may not be as inclined to do so in a large group.
They tend to sit with friends and coworkers who they often times are tempted to visit with about
things other than the content. The following are some methods that can be used to divide participants
into groups.
• Birthdays – For four groups divide into January, February and March; April, May and June; July,
August and September; October, November and December. Include more or less months in
each group depending upon how many groups you want and how many participants you have.
• Name tags – Color code or place stickers on name tags. Have participants go into a group that
has the same color or the same sticker.
Reusable ideas to place in a trainer kit
• Color coded popsicle sticks – Use colored markers and color the end of popsicle sticks. Color
the number of sticks that you would want in each group. A trainer could use six colors for six
groups or four colors for four groups.
• Playing cards – Choose the exact number of playing cards for the group. Use the four suits for
four groups or divide by color for two groups. If you need a fifth group, use the face cards (kings,
queens and Jacks) for one group along with the numbered sets of the four suits.
• Puzzles – Make a puzzle from a picture or graphic that applies to the lesson. Make four or
five puzzles each with four or five pieces. Number each puzzle piece so that one puzzle is all
number 1's and the next number 2's, etc. The trainer could have the directions for the activity
on the puzzle so that when the group gets together and puts the puzzle together they will know
what to do.
Alexander, N. (2000). Early Childhood Workshops that Work. Beltsville, MD: Gryphon House.