Pass the Pencil: Math Game Freebie

I heard about this game a gazillion years ago. One of the many fabulous teachers in my district passed this on at a meeting. I’ve modified it very slightly.

We played it last week and the kids had a blast! Seriously, they were very excited (in a controlled way) and had LOTS of number printing practice.

Name: Pass the Pencil

Learning Objective: To practice printing the digits from 0 to 9.

Game Objective:  To be the first person to fill the recording sheet.

Directions:

1. Form groups of 3 to 5 people.
2. Everyone receives the recording sheet you see below.
3. The group receives one die and one pencil to share.
4. The first person rolls the die. If a 2, 3, 4 or 5 is rolled that player loses their turn and the die is passed on.
5. BUT, if they roll a 1 or 6, they quickly start printing the digits (0 to 9) on the recording sheet.
6. While they are printing, the next person rolls the die. If they roll a 1 or 6 they yell “stop” and the person printing has to “pass the pencil” so that the new person can start printing.
6. The die is passed and rolled around the group.
7. When someone rolls a 1 or 6 for a second (or third or fourth … ) time, they continue printing digits from where they left off previously.

Extensions:
1. Print the game on both sides of the sheet and play until someone fills BOTH sides.
2. Modify the game to practice printing letters or colour words or sight words or ….. (use your imagination)

You can grab the sheet by clicking on the image.

Grade ONEderful: Math game to practice printing digits 0 to 9

CLARIFICATION:

I’ve received a few comments about my instructions, so I’ll try again:

Everyone takes turns rolling the dice. If you roll a 1 or 6, then you pick up the pencil and start printing the numbers on the sheet. So you would print 0, 1, 2, …. 7, 8, 9 then start over on the next line from 0 again. While you are printing the rest of the group is still rolling the dice. The person printing continues printing until someone else rolls a 1 or a 6. That someone else yells stop, takes the pencil and starts printing numbers from 0 to 9. Now you are rolling the dice with the rest of the group.

When you roll a 1 or 6 again, you start printing from where you left off.

Hope this helps!

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18 thoughts on “Pass the Pencil: Math Game Freebie”

  1. Love this game! This reminds of a game we play at christmas with my family! You take a small gift and wrap it a million times. Then you sit in a circle and 1 person rolls the dice. You need to roll doubles. If you roll doubles, you have to put on a toque, scarf and mitts and start unwrapping! While this is happening the dice is getting passed around and other people are trying to roll doubles. If someone else rolls doubles, they switch places with you! 1st person to unwrap the gift wins it! Let me know when you hit 500, I would love to donate something to your giveaway!!

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  2. I used to play this game with my Title I math kids and they would write numbers. The first person to get to 50 was the winner. Hardly ever happened, but sometimes. They loved to play it.

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  3. I used to play this game with my Title I math kids and they would write numbers. The first person to get to 50 was the winner. Hardly ever happened, but sometimes. They loved to play it.

    Reply

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