I've heard it said before that you need not harp on kids to memorize their math facts, but instead have plenty of fun math games handy to be played generously each day. The result? Math fact memorization will become a non-issue! I must admit that it does seem like a legit idea! Below you will find 5 variations for the same fun dice game for students in 1st-6th grade. It is easily adaptable, a good blend of luck and good old fashioned number sense computation. Along with a multiplication dice roll game called, "Roll to 1,000," you will also find dice roll games called "Roll to 100," for addition, subtraction, addition/subtraction, addition with rounding, and a subtraction game called, "Roll to 0." Find the game that works for your student's level, or mix and match within the classroom to meet every student where they are. Directions and a free scoring sheet are included for every dice roll game. Students can turn their paper over if they need more room for calculating their score. To give students a greater challenge for any of the following dice roll games, use 8-sided or 12-sided dice.
Roll to 1,000: Multiplication/Multiplication
All you will need for this fun activity is:
- 3 dice for each pair of students
- 2 printable scoring sheets, one for each student
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The directions are simple: The first person to get 1,000 points wins the game!
Here's how you do it: The player whose birthday is next in the calendar year rolls all three dice and chooses which two dice to multiply first together. The product of the two dice are then multiplied together with the third die. That amount is added to the scoring sheet. The other player rolls and does the same thing. They take turns, keeping a running total for the length of the game when a player reaches 1,000 points. That person is then declared a winner!
Need something for everyone in your classroom? Check out these variations for a variety of ages and abilities!
What you need:
- 2 dice
- 2 printable scoring sheets, one for each student.
Directions: Students roll 2 dice, add them together and write their number onto their scoring sheet. Students continue adding, keeping a running total, in order to see whether they or their partner reaches 100 first!
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Roll to 100: Addition/Subtraction
Needed:
- 2 dice
- 2 printable scoring sheets, 1 for each student
Directions: Students roll 3 dice, choose which two to add together first, and then subtract the 3rd dice from that sum. Students put their final number onto their scoring sheet and keep a running total, in order to see whether they or their partner reaches 100 first! (For kids who need an extra challenge and are familiar with multiplication, have them add two dice first, then multiply the sum with the third die! You can use the blank sheet at then end of this blog to use for this purpose. :)
Roll to 100: Addition to the Nearest Tens Place
What you need:
- 2 dice
- 2 printable scoring sheets, 1 for each student
Directions: This game is ideal for students who are just starting to add, skip count by tens, and learning how to round to the nearest tens. Students roll two dice, add them together, and then round to the nearest tens place. Students will be adding either "0" or "10" to their scoring sheets, and will continue until someone reaches 100. Simple and fun, quick and useful!
What you need:
- 2 dice
- 2 printable scoring sheets, one for each student
Directions: Students roll 2 dice, add them together and write the number onto their scoring sheet, underneath the number 100. Students subtract the sum and hope to be the first to reach 0!
I've also included a blank scoring sheet (without directions) if you want more flexibility in how you use this printable. You may also use playing cards (with picture cards and joker taken out) instead of a pair of dice with any of the above dice roll games.
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I really want to hear how you have used this dice game in your classroom, and if you have found it useful. Also, if you came up with even more variations, let me know and I can add them here for our readers. Have fun!