Paper and Pencil Math Games

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Paper and Pencil Math Games are a mixture of nostalgic and new! These 15 fun games only require pencil, paper, and dice and require no prep on the teacher’s part! Students practice a variety of math skills as they become more self suff icient by creating simple game boards on paper to play the games. As students play over and over, they are sure to learn the games by heart and be able to play on their own anytime!

Here’s what’s included:

1. A cover page in color and black andwhite for teachers who’d like to place the games in a folder

2. 15 Math Games with student friendlyinstructions, visuals, and examples

These games are ideal for math centers, early f inishers, and homework!

Paperand Pencil

Math Games


Paperand Pencil

Math Games1. Choose a game.2. Gather the materials.3. Read instructions,

making sure each player understands the rules.

4. Have a fair, fun time playing!

Instructions:

Ford’s Board

Paper and Pencil Math Games

Players: 2-3Materials: 3 dice, paper, pencilObject: Be the f irst player to get to zero

Zoom To Zero


How to Play:

• Each player writes the number 999 on a sheet of paper.

• A player rolls 3 dice. The player arranges the digits in a certain order. For example, a roll of 2, 4, and 7 can make the numbers 247, 427, 724, etc. Subtract the 3-digit number from 999.

• The opposing player also subtracts to double check the answer.

• Players continue to take turns rolling the dice, creating a number and subtractingthe number from 999.

• The f irst player to reach 0 exactly is thewinner.

• A player may choose to roll one or two diceinstead of three. If a player can only makenumbers that are larger than her remainingscore, she loses that turn.

Paper and Pencil Math Games© 2015 Ford’s Board

Players: 2 or moreMaterials: 2 dice, paper, pencilObject: Be the f irst player to reach 100

How to Play:

• A player rolls the dice and mentally f igures out the sum.

• The player may stop and record that sum or continue to roll and add the sums together, stating the sum each time. For example, a player rolls 6 and 5 and says “11”. The player may record 11 on paper and stop for that turn. If the player decides to keep going, he may roll a 3 and a 4. Since 3 plus 4 equals 7, he adds 11 to 7 and says 18, then decides to record his score or keep going.

• The player may roll as many times as he likes.

• Whenever the player decides to stop, herecords his score. It is now the next player’s turn.

• BEWARE! If a player rolls a 1 on one die, the player must record a 0 for that turn, keeping theprevious score. If a player rolls a 1 on both dice,he loses all points and has to start over at 0!

• The f irst player to reach 100 wins the game.

Pig (Addition)


Pig (Subtraction)Players: 2 or moreMaterials: 2 dice, paper, pencilObject: Be the last player in the game

How to Play:

• Players start the game with 100 points each.

• A player rolls 2 dice, f igures the total, and subtracts the total from 100. For example, a player rolls a 2 and a 5, which equals 7. The player subtracts 7 from 100 and has a score of 93. The player keeps rolling and subtracting from the previous score until a 1 appears on either die. When a 1 is rolled, the turn is over and it is the next player’s turn.

• When a player has lost all points, he or she isout of the game.

• The last player in the game is the winner.

Paper and Pencil Math Games © 2015 Ford’s Board

Going To BostonPlayers: 2-3Materials: 3 dice, paper, pencilObject: Be the f irst to get to apredetermined number, such as 100

How to Play:

• A player rolls all three dice and records the total. Then the player rolls two dice and records the total. Finally, the player rolls one die and records the total. The player then adds all totals from that round. For example, a player f irst rolls a 3, 5, and 3. The player writes 11 and then rolls two dice. The player rolls a 6 and a 4 and writes 10. Finally, the player rolls a 5. The player then adds 11+10+5 to get his score for that round, which is 26.

• It is now the next player’s turn.

• The f irst player to reach a predeterminednumber, such as 100, wins the game.

• Variation: Players may choose to add two diceand multiply the sum by the third die. Forexample, if a player rolls a 3, 5, and 3, she may add 3+3 to get 6 and multiply 6x5 to get a scoreof 30 for that round. Be sure to decide whichstrategy will be used at the beginning of thegame.


Order My Operations!Players: 2Materials: 3 dice, paper, pencilObject: Be the f irst player to earn 50 points

How to Play:

• A player rolls 3 dice. The player creates a problem with the three numbers using addition, subtraction, multiplication, and/or division. (This may be f igured mentally or on paper. If paper is used, the player conceals the operations used.) The player tells the opposing player the answer to the problem only. For example, if a player rolls a 4, 3, and 2 she may create the problem 4x3÷2= 6. She says “6” to the opposing player.

• The opposing player has to f igure out which operations were used and the order of the operations.

• If the opposing player is correct, he earns 3 points. If he is incorrect, he earns 0 points. If the opposing player shows an error in theplayer’s calculations, he earns 4 points.

• Take turns. The player who is the f irst to reach 50 wins the game.

• Variation: Make the game more challenging byusing more dice.


Players: 2Materials: 4 dice in two colors, paper, pencilObject: Be the f irst player to reach 1,000

Four Dice Factors

How to Play:

• A player rolls 4 dice. She adds dice of the same color to get a factor, then multiplies the factors. For example, the player rolls a blue 6 and 3 and a red 2 and 6. Since 6+3=9 and 2+6=8, the player would multiply 9x8 to get a score of 72. The player records the factors, multiplication facts, and answer on paper. It is now the opposing player’s turn.

• Players continue to take turns rolling the dice, adding to f ind factors, multiplying the factors to f ind products, and writing the math sentence.

• Each time, the new score is added to theprevious score.

• The f irst player to reach 1,000 wins the game.

• (A player may challenge an answer. If the playeris correct, he may add the correct score to histotal and the opposing player adds 0. If thechallenger is incorrect, the opposing player addsDOUBLE the score to her total.)


Three Strikes and You’re Out! Players: 2-4Materials: 2 dice, paper, pencilObject: To cross off the most numbers on the board

How to Play:

• Each player draws the following game board:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

• A player rolls a die and crosses off open numbers that match their roll, including combinations that add up to the roll. For example, if a player rolls a 5 and a 4, he adds 5+4 to get 9. He may cross off 5, 4, 9, and any other combination for 9. In this case, since 8+1=9, 7+2=9, and 6+3=9 those digits may also be crossed off. The game board wouldlook like this:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

• Take turns. If a player is unable to cross out any number, he earns a strike. After three strikes, a player is out of the game.

• The game ends when all players are out or when a player crosses off all numbers and isdeclared the winner.

• If all players strike out, the player with the most numbers crossed off wins the game.

XX XXX X XXX


Over The HillPlayers: 2Materials: 3 dice, paper, pencilObject: Be the f irst player to reach 18

How to Play:

• Each player draws the following game board:

• A player rolls three dice. The player adds or subtracts amounts on the dice, crossing off sums or differences on their “hill”. The player must go in numerical order and cross off as many numbers as possible in that roll. When no more numbers can be crossed off on thatroll, it is the opposing player’s turn. Forexample, a player rolls a 4, 3, and 6. Since 4-3+1, the player may cross off 1. Since 6-4=2, the player may cross off 2. Since 6-3=3, the player may cross of 3. There is not a combinationfor 4, so it is now the opposing player’s turn.

• Take turns. Each player starts at the endpointof the previous turn. When a player cannot create any or anymore numbers from a roll, his or her turn is over.

• The f irst player to reach 18 wins the game.

12 3

4 567

8 9 10 11 1213

1415

1617

18

Example:

XXX

* Numbers on dice may be combined to get answers. For example, if a player rolls a 4, 2, and 3 he may add 4+2=6, then add 6 to 3 to get 9.


The Place Value GamePlayers: 2-4Materials: 1 die, paper, pencilObject: To make the largest number possible

How to Play:

• Each player draw a game board with a predetermined number of spaces to represent place value, such as:

• A player rolls the die and each player places the number on her or his game board.

• Once a number is placed, it cannot be erased.

• Players take turns rolling the die.

• Once all numbers have been placed for that round, each player reads his or her number.The player with the largest number for that roundearns 1 point. If two or more players have thelargest number, they each earn a point.

• Draw a game board for each round.

• After 10 rounds, the player with the most pointswins the game.

____ ____ ____ , ____ ____ ____


Moons AND CratersPlayers: 2Materials: 1 die, paper, pencilObject: To earn the most/least amount of points

How to Play:

• A player rolls the die and draws that many moons. The same player rolls again and draws that many craters. For example, if a player rolls a 4, then a 3, his game board would look something like this:

• The player writes the multiplication sentence4x3=12 to represent the model. The player may also choose to write a repeated additionsentence, such as 3+3+3+3=12. The score is12 for that round.

• Take turns rolling the die, drawing moons and craters, and writing number sentences.

• Keep a running total of the scores for eachround.

• The player with the highest (or lowest) score atthe end of a predetermined number of roundswins the game.


Strike DownPlayers: 2-4Materials: 2 dice, paper, pencilObject: Be the f irst to strike out all numbers

How to Play:

• Players draw the numbers shown to the left down the side of their paper.

• A player rolls two dice and adds or multiplies the numbers. For example, if a 5 and a 2 is rolled, the player may strike out 7, since 5+2=7 or 10 since 5x2=10. A player may strike out only one number on a turn.

• Take turns. If a player is unable to strike a number, it is the opposing player’s turn. The winner is the f irst to strike out all numberson her or his list.

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

15

16

18

20

24

25

30

36


Smash the Singles!Players: 2 or moreMaterials: 1 die, paper, pencilObject: To earn the highest score

How to Play:

• Each player draws three of the following game boards on paper:

• A player rolls the die and all players write the number in a square on their game board. Once a number is written it cannot be erased.

• Take turns rolling the die and placingnumbers until all nine squares are f illed.

• Each player f inds sums in rows, columns, and diagonal and records the sums in the correct circles.

• Examine the sums. “Smash” any sum thatappears once by crossing it out. Do not include“smashed sums” in the score.

• The player with the highest score after threerounds wins the game.

6Example:4

6

3512 3

2 1110

111010139X X

Numbers 9 and 13 are “smashed” because they only appear once. 11+10+11+10+10=52. The score for this player’s round is 52.

Paper and Pencil Math Games

Players: 2-4Materials: 1 die, paper, pencilObject: Get as close to 100 as possible withoutgoing over

Over and Out!


How to Play:

• Each player draws the following game board for each round:

• Players take turns rolling the die. Each playerwrites the number in either the tens columnor the ones column on his or her game board.Once a number is written, it cannot be erased.

• After all six numbers have been placed, f ill any blank spaces in the ones column with zeros, then add.

• The player who gets closest to 100 withoutgoing over wins the round.

• Play a predetermined number of rounds.

10’s 1’s1.2.3.4.5.6.Total:

Example:6

31

21

20

00

9 6

The player’s score is 96 for this round. If the player is closest to 100 without going over, she wins the round.


Players: 2Materials: paper, 2 coloring pencilsObject: To have the largest score

How to Play:

• Players write the numbers 1-30 on paper as shown.

• Each player uses a different color coloring pencil.

• A player chooses a number and circles the number with the pencil. The opposing player f inds all the proper factors of the number, circling each with his coloring pencil. (A proper factor is all factors of a number except itself.)

• Players alternate turns choosing a number and f inding factors until there are no factors left for the remaining numbers.

• Players add the numbers they circled.

• The player with the larger score wins the game.

• *Choosing a number with no factors left is an illegal move. Although you get to add the number to your score, you lose your next turn!

Find the Factors

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30


Block Out Players: 2Materials: 2 dice, graph paper, 2 coloring pencilsObject: To have the greatest total area

How to Play:

• A player rolls two dice and uses the numbers rolled to determined the length and width of his rectangle. The player uses the coloring pencil to draw and label the rectangle.

• Take turns rolling the dice, determining the length and width and drawing rectangles until there is no more room to draw rectangles.

• Each player adds the area of all his or her rectangles.

• The player with the greater total area wins the game.

Example of a gamewhere each player has had her or his f irst turn.

4x4=16

5x1=

5 *Actual graph paper will have more grids.

Paper and Pencil Math Games

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Transcript of Paper and Pencil Math Games