Math Game Monday: Bowling (Shut the Box)

This game is fun for all ages, but especially good for elementary children just beginning to think about probability.

Many parents remember struggling to learn math. We hope to provide a better experience for our children.

And one of the best ways for children to enjoy learning is through hands-on play.

Bowling (Shut the Box)

Math Concepts: addition, probability.

Players: solitaire.

Equipment: two six-sided dice, pencil and paper.

How to Play

Draw circles in a bowling-pin pattern. Write the numbers 1–10 in the circles.

Roll two dice and cross out any combination of circles that exactly matches that sum. Those are the pins you knocked down. Roll again, trying to hit more pins.

If all the numbers left are 6 or less, you may choose to roll only one die.

Can you knock down all the pins?

Variations

Play as a solitaire game, or compete with another player to see who can knock down the most pins.

Use the game as a journaling prompt:

• What is your strategy?
• How would you count score, so you could compare your performance from one game to the next?
• How would you modify the game rules? Is your version easier or harder than the original game?