What this planner does
For an organiser-led rotation at a school carnival or corporate family day in Singapore, you can allocate groups to activity stations using a timetable. This planner builds the timetable: which group is at which station in each round, when each round starts and ends, and which groups have a break if there are more groups than stations. It is a scheduling tool, not a capacity calculator or staffing recommendation.
The planner does not determine how many groups you need, how many people fit at a station, what equipment is required, or whether a particular station is suitable for your participants. Those decisions belong to the organiser, venue and each station operator. Confirm group sizes, permitted users, staffing and station suitability with your vendors before using this timetable.
How the rotation works
The planner produces one full cycle of max(groups, stations) rounds. In each round, at most one group occupies each station and each group is at most at one station.
- Equal groups and stations (e.g. 4 and 4): every group is at a station in every round. No breaks.
- More groups than stations (e.g. 6 groups, 4 stations): some groups have a scheduled break each round. Every group still visits every station exactly once over the cycle.
- More stations than groups (e.g. 3 groups, 5 stations): some stations are unused each round. Every group visits every station exactly once.
Total programme time = (rounds x minutes per round) + ((rounds - 1) x transition minutes). There is no transition after the final round.
Illustrative default schedule
4 groups, 4 stations, 10 minutes per round, 2 minutes between rounds, starting at 10:00. This is an arithmetic example, not an operating recommendation.
4 rounds, 46 minutes total (10:00 to 10:46).
| Round | Start | End | Station 1 | Station 2 | Station 3 | Station 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10:00 | 10:10 | Group 1 | Group 2 | Group 3 | Group 4 |
| 2 | 10:12 | 10:22 | Group 2 | Group 3 | Group 4 | Group 1 |
| 3 | 10:24 | 10:34 | Group 3 | Group 4 | Group 1 | Group 2 |
| 4 | 10:36 | 10:46 | Group 4 | Group 1 | Group 2 | Group 3 |
Build your schedule
Limitations
- The planner assigns labelled time slots. It does not account for queue length, crowd flow, setup delays, weather or equipment readiness.
- Scheduling a group at a station does not mean everyone in that group can play simultaneously, that queues are eliminated, or that the activity is safe or accessible for all participants.
- Group sizes, permitted users, staffing requirements and station suitability must be confirmed with the actual vendor or venue for each station.
- The 1 to 20 range for groups and stations is a software input limit, not an operating standard or recommendation.
- Food station throughput is a different problem. Use the food station servings planner for that.
Questions about the planner
Does the planner tell me how many groups to create?
No. The planner allocates the number of groups you choose to the stations you specify. Deciding how many groups suit your headcount, age mix, venue and programme is your responsibility. Confirm group sizes, station capacity and staffing with your venue and vendors before using the schedule.
Is the generated timetable an operating guarantee?
No. The timetable is arithmetic: it assigns labels to time slots. It does not account for queue behaviour, setup delays, equipment readiness, weather or participant flow. Treat it as a starting draft and confirm operational details with each station operator.
What happens if I have more groups than stations?
Some groups will have a scheduled break each round. The planner shows which groups are on break and allocates each group to each station once across the full cycle.
Can this planner schedule food stations?
This planner assigns groups to activity time slots. It does not calculate food servings, throughput or crew requirements. For food planning, use the separate food station servings planner.
For choosing the right activity stations, see planning a school carnival or planning a corporate family day. For original DIY game ideas with materials and scoring, see carnival game booth ideas.
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