Dice or Number Cubes

What are dice?

Dice are no longer just six-sided cubes that we used to play board games. Dice are a fantastic math manipulative that come in a wide variety of sizes, number of sides, and side labels. Below is a selection of some dice that are great for classroom use.

What math concepts can I teach using dice?

- Mental Math

- Number Operations - adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing

- Data Collection

- Fractions

- Builds Math Language

Where can I get dice?

Regular six-sided dice can often be purchased at dollar stores for around 6-8 dice for $1. It is wise to invest in a good collection of regular dice because they are such a versatile manipulative and can be utilized to create games in any subject. Other dice are usually available from educational supply companies. The large foam dice, are often in the "physical education" section because often physical education teacher utilize them for physical activities. If you cannot acquire the unique dice, you can always create you own by taping over the numbers on a regular dice, or by using geometric nets to create your own.

Concrete Manipulative: Wide Variety Available through Spectrum Educational

Virtual Manipulatives - Virtual Dice - Allows you to customize your dice with 6, 8, 10, or 12 faces