Practice Quick Basic Addition and Multiplication

This dice game is a favorite at our house. It helps all of us recall sums and products with speed, encouraged by competition. It is super simple to learn and can be adjusted somewhat to the students' level. It can be played individually, in pairs or as group.

Addition: Toss the dice and add the numbers before the other guy. The end. Isn't that easy? Two six sided die are perfect for beginners and trains the players to know sums without having to think.

Example: 3 + 5 = 8

You can move up to twelve sided dice (you can find them here) once you have mastered the sixes.

Example: 6 + 8 = 14

Multiplication: Toss the dice and multiply the numbers before the other guy. Again, start with six sided dice and move up to the twelve sided dice when you are ready. To play this game with multiplication, the students ought to have the times tables basically memorized. With frequent play, they will increase their speed speedily! (Ha, ha! Alliteration!)

Example: 12 x 4 = 48

Just a note: please, please teach your families the times tables up to twelve (or beyond). My elementary education only taught to the tens and I still struggle with twelves. We use twelves frequently in both measurement (five feet equals sixty inches: 5 x 12 = 60) and time (seventy-two hours equals three days: 6 x 12 = 72).

Okay, do you does your whiz kid want an even greater challenge?

Obtain four dice in two different colors. First add the similar colors then multiply their sums.

Example: (white) 6 + 4 = 10; (red) 5 + 3 = 8 Then multiply: 10 x 8 = 80

Need to see it again?

Example: (white) 6 + 2 = 8; (red) 5 + 3 = 8 Then multiply: 8 x 8 = 64

You and your children will become proficient at these basic addition and multiplication problems in no time at all. Have fun and don't go too easy on 'em!