12 Simple Dice Games for Kids That Make Math Practice Fun

Want an easy way to sneak in math practice without worksheets? These simple dice games will give you endless possibilities for fun ways to build math skills with your kids at home or school!

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Looking for a simple way to help your kids practice math without pulling out another worksheet?

Grab a pair of dice.

Dice games are one of the easiest ways to turn everyday math practice into something kids actually enjoy. Because research (and experience) tells us that kids learn best when they’re having fun!

With just a few dice, a pencil, and a scrap of paper, you can play quick games that build important math skills in just 5-10 minutes.

Math Skills You Can Practice With Dice

These simple dice games help kids build all kinds of math skills:

addition and subtraction
multiplication and division
place value
number sense
problem-solving
mental math
arrays and area
comparing numbers

That’s a LOT of learning! And the best part? It feels like play, not work.

These games are a great way for parents to connect with kids after school. They can also be used by teachers during dreaded indoor recess days, or for a fun family game night. So many possibilities!

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Got your printables? Alright, let’s jump in!

12 Fun and Easy Dice Games for Kids

Dice Wars

Goal: Collect all ten point markers, or have the most when time runs out.

How to Play: Each player starts with 2 dice and 5 point markers (pennies, pebbles, jelly beans, etc). Players each roll two dice and add the dots. The player with the higher total takes a point marker from their opponent. Play until one player has all ten points, or set a 3–5 minute timer and the player with the most points wins. Click here to learn more about this game.

Variations:

If you roll doubles, you take two point markers!
Try multiplying instead of adding, or making fractions with the numbers on the dice.

Race to 100

Goal: Be the first to reach 100 points.

How to Play: Roll 2 dice, and mark the total number of tally marks on a piece of paper. Roll again, and add that many more tally marks. Keep rolling and adding until you reach or surpass 100.

Variations:

Multiply, instead of adding. Then add each product to your score. First to reach 100 wins!
Race to 0: Played just like race to 100, but start by subtracting your roll from 100.
Try multiplying instead of adding, or making fractions with the numbers on the dice.

Threes Away!

Goal: Have the lowest score after three rounds.

How to Play: On your turn, roll all five dice. 3s are worth zero points; all other numbers count as their face value. You must keep at least one die each roll (you must keep any 3s). Continue re-rolling the remaining dice until all 5 are kept. Add the value of your dice (excluding 3s) and record your score. The round ends once all players have had a turn. After 3 rounds, the player with the lowest total score wins!

Example turn:
Max rolls 2, 2, 3, 4, 6. He keeps the 3 and re-rolls the rest.
He then rolls 1, 1, 3, 5. He chooses to keep both 1s and the 3.
He re-rolls the last die and gets a 4.
His score (excluding the 3) is 1+1+4=6.

Blockout (The Array Game)

Goal: Score the most points by filling your grid.

How to Play: Each player needs a 10×10 grid (or larger), a pencil, and two dice. On your turn, roll both dice and draw an array on your grid using those numbers (for example, a 4 and 5 make a 4×5 or 5×4 array). Shade in the array and record your score inside (4×5 = 20). Arrays may touch but cannot overlap. If your array won’t fit, you score zero for that turn and count up your total score (add together the points for all arrays in your grid). Once both players are “stuck”, the highest total score is the winner!

Variation: Both players make boxes in the same (larger) grid. Once both players are “stuck,” the person with the most area covered wins!

Odd or Even

Goal: Be the first player to reach 10 points.

How to Play: Decide ahead of the game who is “odd” and who is “even.” Each player rolls 1 die. Add them to find the sum. If the sum is even, the “even” player gets a point; if it’s odd, the “odd” player gets a point. The first player to 10 points is the winner!

Variations:

Have each player roll 2 dice and add the sums individually. If there are 2 odd numbers the “odd” player get 2 points; if there is 1 odd and 1 even, each player gets 1 point; and so on.
Try multiplying or subtracting instead of adding.

Pig

Goal: Be the first player to reach 100 points.

How to Play: On your turn, roll the die as many times as you want, adding the results to a running turn total. But beware the “Pig Rule” which states that if you roll a 1, your turn ends immediately, you lose all points accumulated during that turn, and it becomes the next player’s turn. You can stop rolling at any time to “bank” your turn total, adding it to your permanent score. First person to reach 100 points wins!

Variation: Use two dice instead of one. If you roll a single 1, you lose the points for that turn. If you roll double 1s, you lose your entire game score. Yikes!

Shut the Box (paper version)

Goal: Be the player with the lowest total score.

How to Play: Write the numbers 1–9 on paper (or lay out numbered cards). On your turn, roll 2 dice and add the dots. Cross out or cover any open number or combination of numbers that equals the total (for example, a roll of 5 could be 5, 3 + 2, or 4 + 1). Once a number is “shut,” it stays closed. If you cannot make the total, your turn ends. Add your remaining open numbers; that is your score. The next player goes. After everyone has a turn, lowest score wins!

Variations:

If only numbers 1–6 remain open, roll only 1 die.
Play multiple rounds and keep a running total.

Target Number

Goal: Be the closest to the target number.

How to Play: Choose a target (ex: 25 or 100). On your turn, roll two dice five times. For each roll, choose to add, subtract, multiply, or divide the number rolled to/from the previous total, trying to get as close as possible to the target. Record the result. Closest number wins the round.

Variations:

Roll five individual dice and create an equation adding, subtracting, multiplying and/or dividing in any order to get as close to the target as you can.
Players must stay under the target. Going over automatically loses.

Bump

Goal: Claim all the spaces on the board, or have the most spaces when the time runs out.

How to Play: Write numbers 1-12 on a piece of paper. Give each player 12 tokens (coins, buttons, etc). On your turn, roll two dice and add the numbers. Place one counter on the matching number. If the space has an opponent’s counter, you may “bump” it off and replace it with yours. The game ends when someone claims all the spaces, or when time runs out.

Variation:

If you land on your own space, add a second token to “lock” it. Locked spaces can’t be bumped.
Play with multiplication instead of addition.

Knock Off the Clock

Goal: Cross out all the numbers on the clock face.

How to Play: Draw a clock face and write numbers 1-12 around it. Roll two dice. Choose whether to add, subtract, multiply, or divide the two numbers to make a number on the clock, and then cross it out, and keep rolling. Each number can only be used once. If you can’t make an open number, your turn ends. Add the numbers left uncrossed for your score. After everyone has a turn, the lowest score wins.

Variations:

Play solo (try to cross out all numbers), or compete against a friend (lowest score wins).

Tug of War

Goal: “Pull” the marker to your end of the board.

How to Play: Draw a row of 17 squares and place a marker in the middle space. Players sit across from each other, each claiming one end of the board. On your turn, roll one die and move the marker that many spaces toward your side. Take turns rolling and moving the marker back and forth. The first player to get the marker onto the last space on their end wins!

Variation: Play multiple rounds and keep track of who wins the most rounds.

Place Value Showdown

Goal: Make the largest number.

How to Play: Draw three place value columns (hundreds, tens, ones). Roll one die at a time and choose where to place each digit. Once placed, it cannot be moved. After three rolls, compare numbers. Largest number wins.

Variations:

Instead of largest, try to build the smallest number.
Add a thousands column for older students.
Before scoring, you may roll one extra dice. If you do, you must swap the extra dice for one you’ve already placed.

Want more fun math activities for kids? Try these!

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