Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Wipeout Dice Challenge: Free Printable Game for Year 1
- ForYear 1
- StageKey Stage 1
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Wipeout Dice Challenge is a free printable maths game for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6). Children roll two dice, add the numbers together and cross out the total. It takes about 10 minutes, needs two dice and a pencil, and suits 2 to 4 players.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages. Page 1 is for the children. Page 2 is for the grown-up and has notes on how to use the sheet, help ideas and a stretch idea. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children play a dice game on a printed sheet. Each player has one row. They roll two dice, add the two numbers and cross out the total. The sheet includes a table to fill in, and children track their totals on a score line as they play. It gives short, repeated practice at adding two small numbers, and the dice add a little luck so every game feels different.
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Why play a dice game to practise adding?
Young children often learn adding best when they can see and touch the numbers. A die shows a number as a pattern of dots, so children can count the dots, recognise the pattern or just know the number. Rolling two dice gives them two small numbers to put together, and they do it again and again with a new pair each time.
A game also gives a reason to keep going. Children want to cross out their totals, so they add many times without it feeling like a worksheet. The score line lets them see their progress. Taking turns and watching others add adds speaking, listening and fair play to the maths.
Skills and curriculum link
- Adding two small numbers
- Number bonds
- Tracking a total
- Reading a table
- Taking turns
This sheet supports the area below. It is matched to the published England framework. Please check it against your own school plan.
| Framework | Subject or area | Strand | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Curriculum (England) | Maths | Addition and subtraction | Year 1 |
What children will be able to do
- I can add two small numbers.
- I can keep track of my total on a score line.
- I can say what I rolled and what it makes.
Helping your child add with dice
- Count the dotsLet your child say how many dots are on each die. Some children know the pattern at once. Others need to touch and count each dot.
- Count onStart with the bigger number and count on the smaller one. This is quicker than counting everything from one.
- Use fingers and countersFingers, counters or small objects are all fine. They show the numbers and help children check their answer.
- Say it aloudAsk your child to say the whole sum, such as "three and two makes five". Saying it helps the number fact stick.
Key words
- AddPut two numbers together to find how many there are altogether.
- TotalThe answer when you add. It is how many you have in all.
- DiceSmall cubes with dots on each side. One of them is called a die.
- RollThrow the dice so they land and show a number.
- Cross outDraw a line through a number to show you have used it.
- Score lineA line of numbers where you keep track of your progress.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for the children. Keep page 2 for the grown-up.
- Read the rules out loud together so everyone plays the same game. Give each player one row, a pencil and a turn to roll.
- Roll the two dice. Say each number, add them together and say the total out loud.
- Cross out the total on your row. Take turns, and fill in the table and score line as you play.
- Check against the notes on page 2, then talk about how you added. Come back another day, because repeating a familiar game builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Use counters to count each die before adding. Put out counters to match the first die, then counters for the second. Push them together and count them all. Say the total out loud before crossing it out. Play slowly and take turns.
To stretch confident children
Use three dice for bigger totals. Add two of the dice first, then add the third. Ask your child to say which two they added first. Then try adding the dice in a different order and see what happens to the total.
Make it a game
Count how many rolls you needed to win. Play again and see if you can win in fewer rolls. Luck plays a part, so a low score is not always about skill. Keep a tally of each game on scrap paper.
Talk about it
- What did you roll, and what does it make?
- How did you add the two numbers? Did you use your fingers, counters or your head?
- Which number did you start with when you counted on?
- Is it better to have a big number or a small number on your next roll? Why?
- What would happen if we used three dice instead of two?
- Can you think of another way to make the same total?
Take it off the page
Dice hunt
Roll two dice, add them, then find that many small objects around the room, such as books or toys. Count them out to check your total.
Pairs of socks
Lay out socks, spoons or building bricks in two groups. Count each group, then push them together and count them all.
Dot patterns
Draw the dot patterns of a die on paper or in chalk outside. Practise knowing each number without counting the dots one by one.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first game, then let them lead. About 10 minutes is plenty. Cheer for good reasoning as well as correct totals, and let them roll and check.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, table activity or homework. It needs no preparation beyond printing and two dice per group. Page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed groups.
Home educators
Use it on its own or alongside a wider maths plan. It works well with counting books, outdoor games and everyday talk about numbers. Print it again for brothers, sisters or revision.
Where this fits in your child's learning
Before this game, children usually learn to count objects, recognise numbers and know what adding means. They may have put two small groups together and counted them all. Knowing the patterns on a die helps, because it lets them see a number without counting every dot.
After this, children move on to adding within 20, learning number bonds to 10 and using what they know to add faster, such as making a ten. All of this sits within the addition and subtraction strand of the Year 1 National Curriculum for England. Playing games like this one builds the quick recall that supports later maths.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- What did you roll and what is your total?
- How did you add the two numbers?
- What do you need to reach the end of the line?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Wipeout Dice Challenge for?
It is written for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6), in Key Stage 1. Younger children can play with counters and adult support. Older children can use three dice for a bigger challenge.
- What will children practise?
They add two small numbers, work with number bonds and track their totals on a score line. Rolling the dice gives them lots of short practice, with a new pair of numbers each time.
- How do I use it?
Print both pages, give page 1 to the children and keep page 2. You need two dice and a pencil, and each player gets one row. It suits 2 to 4 players and takes about 10 minutes.
- What if it feels too hard?
Use counters to count each die before adding. Put out counters for the first number, then the second, and count them all together. Playing slowly and saying each number aloud also helps.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it as often as you like, for example for brothers, sisters or a few weeks later for revision.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper, a pencil and two dice. That makes it good for quiet time after school, rainy days and school holidays, and it gets children talking and writing by hand.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. The sheet prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Print both pages, give page 1 to the children and keep page 2 for yourself.
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Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.