Math Games at Home

by · November 9, 2014

Games using dice are excellent opportunities to help your child develop strategies that will make learning addition facts easier and will help later as your child develops mental math skills. Here are some strategies that you can encourage your child to use:
 +1 (the number that comes after)
 +2 (the number that comes 2 after)
-1 (the number that comes before)
-2 (the number that comes 2 before)
 doubles (these are usually very easy for children to remember – e.g. 2 + 2, 3 + 3, 4 + 4) 
 doubles +1 (5 + 6 = 5 + 5 + 1 = 11)

Adding Games with Dice
These are a few games we’ve learned at school.  Try them at home with your family!

PIG
Math concepts: This game for two or more players gives students practice with mental addition and experience with thinking strategically.
 
The object: to be the first to score 50 points or more.

How to play: Players take turns rolling two dice and following these rules:
 
1. On a turn, a player may roll the dice as many times as he or she wants, while keeping a running total of the sums that come up. (Use scrap paper to keep track, if necessary.) When the player stops rolling, he or she records the total and adds it to the scores from previous rounds.
2. But, if a 1 comes up on one of the dice before the player decides to stop rolling, the player scores 0 for that round and it’s the next player’s turn.
3. Even worse, if a 1 comes up on both dice, not only does the turn end, but the player’s entire accumulated total returns to 0.

Two-Dice Sums

Math concepts: Students of all ages can play this game, as long as they’re able to add the numbers that come up on two dice. While younger children benefit from the practice of adding, older students have the opportunity to think about the probability of the sums from rolling two dice. 
 
The object: to remove all the counters in the fewest rolls possible.
 
How to play: Two or more players can play. Each player needs 11 counters, a game strip that lists the numbers from 2 to 12 spaced far enough apart so the counters can fit on top of each number, and a recording sheet. Here are the rules for playing:
 
1. Each player arranges 11 counters on the game strip and records the arrangement.
2. Once the counters are arranged, players take turns rolling the dice.
3. For each roll, all players can remove one counter if it is on the sum rolled. Players keep track of the number of rolls of the dice it takes to clear their game board. 

Other Games:

* Label each cup of an egg carton with the numbers 0–11. Put two pennies in the carton, close the lid, and shake it up. Using the numbers of the two sections the pennies landed in, make up and solve addition and subtraction problems.

* Involve your child in using numbers to solve problems and make everyday decisions. Have them show their thinking in pictures or by using concrete objects to count. You might ask the following:
• “We need six tomatoes to make our sauce for dinner, and we have only two. How many more do we need to buy?”
• “You have two pillows in your room and your sister has two pillows in her room. How many pillowcases do I need to wash?”

 

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