This game, for 2 - 4 players, can be played at different levels according to ability.
You need a set of thirteen cards numbered from 0 to 12 for each player and two dice for each game.
Click to download a set of cards and brief rules to print out.
The players arrange their cards face up in front of them and throw the two dice in turn.
The scores on the dice may be added, subtracted, multiplied or divided. Thus a throw of a 6 and a 2 can give 8, 4, 12 or 3, because 6 + 2 = 8, 6 - 2 = 4, 6 x 2 = 12 or 6 ÷ 2 = 3.
Only one number each go may be selected. When the player has decided which number it is to be, they turn over that card stating what they have done, for example, "6 times 2 is 12".
The exact words to be used can be given to practise certain ways of expressing what has been done. For example, "add" can be used or "plus", in in the case of subtraction, children can be asked to say, for example, "The difference between 6 and 2 is 4".
This verbalisation is important and is what gives the game it's title. A rule can be added that if the number sentence is not given then the player may not turn over a card that move.
The winner is either the first player to have turned over all their cards, or the one who has most turned over when it is time to stop playing.
Younger children can play using just addition and subtraction. In this case the winner is the first to have turned over all but two cards.
It is instructive for children to make a graph of all the ways to make the numbers from 0 - 13 with two dice. This helps them to use strategy in the game.
