Computation Dice Games

Written by Donna Boucher

Donna has been a teacher, math instructional coach, interventionist, and curriculum coordinator. A frequent speaker at state and national conferences, she shares her love for math with a worldwide audience through her website, Math Coach’s Corner. Donna is also the co-author of Guided Math Workshop.

I remember being in a teacher’s classroom and the students were making equations to equal the number of the day, which was 44. I noticed that all the students were using just two numbers in their equations (40 + 4, 50 – 6, etc.). I wanted to try to push their thinking just a little, so I asked if anyone could make an equation with three numbers to equal 44. Crickets chirping. Okay, so they needed a little more support. I asked them if I added 20 + 20, what would I still have to do to get to 44. That did it! Hands went up, and we wrote the equation 20 + 20 + 4 on the chart. They, of course, followed with more. We even got into some multiplication and division! Very cool. This experience made me realize that we need to get our students to think outside the box on a regular basis. Throw them a curveball, so to speak. With that on my mind, I created these easy little computation dice games for combining 3 numbers, using multiple operations, to make a target number.

Grab these free computation dice games

There are two versions: one that uses just addition and subtraction to make 11 and another that uses addition, subtraction, and multiplication to make 21.  Because there’s a strategy component, you’re also sharpening their problem-solving skills! Click here to grab your computation dice games. Enjoy!

28 Comments

  1. Cindy Calenti

    These are great games. I am going to give them to my daughter to play with her children. 🙂

    Cindy
    Granny Goes to School

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      Sounds perfect, Cindy! Couldn’t be easier to play. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Sarah

    We’ve been practicing computation and I totally agree that the kiddos need to think outside the box! Love the idea 🙂 Thanks!

    Sarah
    The Fabulous First Grade

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      Thanks, Sarah! I hope the kiddos like the game. 🙂

      Reply
  3. Beverley Baird

    Great games as usual! Thanks so much!

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      Thanks, Beverley! Who doesn’t like games, right? 🙂

      Reply
  4. Tammy

    I like the way you stretch your mathematicians. Thank you for sharing.
    ❀ Tammy
    Forever in First

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      That’s ALWAYS my goal!! 🙂

      Reply
  5. Su Anna

    Oh…I love these games. I’m sure my students will too. Thanks 🙂

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      Thanks, Su Anna! I love that they’re so easy and require virtually no teacher prep.

      Reply
  6. Fontenot's Firebreathers

    Sounds good. Even older kids can do this! I will see if my 4th graders are up on this one! they tend to live in the box 🙂 They hate when I flip the box over!!

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      Ha ha…flip the box over. Love it!

      Reply
  7. Melissa

    These are great! Thank you for the Christmas gift. 🙂

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      You’re welcome, Melissa! 🙂

      Reply
  8. Amanda

    Thank you so much for these! My kiddos love these dice games. I love how they let them practice their basic skills in a new way!

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      Anytime you can make practice a game, it’s a win-win situation! 🙂

      Reply
  9. Anonymous

    Love all your ideas! And freebies!!! Thank you so much!
    2nd Grade Teacher

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      You’re very welcome. 🙂

      Reply
  10. Patti kmetz

    Thank you for these computation dice games. I am a 4th grade teacher and I am going to use a workshop model to teach math this year. These computation games will work great at the beginning of the year to help me manage math workshop. One station will be a game station.

    Reply
  11. Mama Suzi

    Thank you so much for all your great ideas! I love your blog!

    Reply
  12. Katie

    Hi! I can’t get the third link to work:

    “If you are looking for more low-prep, high-engagement activities, check out this blog post to see more great games for multiplication.”

    Any suggestions to get to the additional blog post?

    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      Huh, I’m not sure why the link was broken, but I’ve fixed it now! Thanks for letting me know. 🙂

      Reply
      • Janet

        Worked for me, thanks!

        Reply
  13. Cortina V J Nystad

    Hi! Is there still a link to download this game?

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      Yes! It’s toward the bottom of the post, in the sentence right above my signature.

      Reply
  14. Chaley Morin

    Hi Donna, great game! Is there a link to download this game?

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      Yes, it’s at the bottom of the post. It didn’t stand out very much, so I’ve underlined and bolded it. Sorry for the confusion!

      Reply
  15. Tracie A Drabinski

    Love your Blog and all your work! We’ve been practicing computation and I totally agree that the kiddos need to think outside the box! Love the idea!!

    However, i am having issues downloading..Dropbox won’t “open” i guess…any thougths!?
    TIA

    Reply

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