youcubed: Shut the Box

youcubed: Shut the Box
This is a paper and pencil version of an old game.It is fun for young children and anyone can enjoy the game of chance mixed with the fun of finding a strategy. There is even more opportunity for conversation about odds and probability.

Task Instructions

  • Write the numbers 1 through 9 in a horizontal row on the paper.
  • Player 1 rolls the dice and calculates the sum of the two numbers. Player 1 then chooses to cross out numbers that have the same sum as what was calculated from the dice roll.
  • If the numbers 7, 8 and 9 are all covered, player 1 may choose to roll one or two dice. If any of these numbers are still uncovered, the player must use both dice.
  • Player 1 continues rolling dice, calculating the sum and crossing out numbers until they can no longer continue.
  • If all numbers are crossed out, the player say’s “shut the box”. If not all numbers are crossed out, player 1 determines the sum of the numbers that are not crossed out and that is their score.
  • If “shut the box” is achieved, player 1 records a score of “0”.
  • Player two writes the numbers 1 through 9 and follows the same rules as player 1.
  • The player with the lowest score wins.

Variation

Player 1 and 2 can choose to play 5 rounds, totaling their score at the end of each round.  The player with the lowest total score wins the game.

Materials

  • Two dice
  • Paper and pencil

youcubed (Stanford University)
Math Topics
Addition & Subtraction, Probability
K-6
Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade

What are you looking for?

Organization

youcubed (Stanford University)

Website URL

Type of Resource

Challenge
Dice Game

Assigned Categories

Resource k12

youcubed: Shut the Box
This is a paper and pencil version of an old game.It is fun for young children and anyone can enjoy the game of chance mixed with the fun of finding a strategy. There is even more opportunity for conversation about odds and probability.

Task Instructions

  • Write the numbers 1 through 9 in a horizontal row on the paper.
  • Player 1 rolls the dice and calculates the sum of the two numbers. Player 1 then chooses to cross out numbers that have the same sum as what was calculated from the dice roll.
  • If the numbers 7, 8 and 9 are all covered, player 1 may choose to roll one or two dice. If any of these numbers are still uncovered, the player must use both dice.
  • Player 1 continues rolling dice, calculating the sum and crossing out numbers until they can no longer continue.
  • If all numbers are crossed out, the player say’s “shut the box”. If not all numbers are crossed out, player 1 determines the sum of the numbers that are not crossed out and that is their score.
  • If “shut the box” is achieved, player 1 records a score of “0”.
  • Player two writes the numbers 1 through 9 and follows the same rules as player 1.
  • The player with the lowest score wins.

Variation

Player 1 and 2 can choose to play 5 rounds, totaling their score at the end of each round.  The player with the lowest total score wins the game.

Materials

  • Two dice
  • Paper and pencil
youcubed (Stanford University)
Math Topics
Addition & Subtraction, Probability
K-6
Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade

What are you looking for?

Organization

youcubed (Stanford University)

Website URL

Type of Resource

Challenge
Dice Game

Assigned Categories