Shut the Box
Here is a game that uses two dice and cards with the numbers 1 to 12 on them. The aim of the game is to turn over all the cards. You can turn over the cards that match the numbers on the dice.

Notes for adults
To play the game, start with the numbers showing on all the cards.
The first player rolls the two dice.
They can turn over the cards which are the same as the numbers rolled.
For example, if a $4$ and a $5$ is rolled, they would turn over the $4$ and $5$ cards. If a double is thrown, the player's turn ends. They can roll the dice again until they can't turn over any more cards. The cards that are left showing are then added and that is their score.
The dice are then passed to the next player who turns the cards the right way up again and then rolls the dice in the same way as player one. They now can keep on rolling dice as long as each time they can turn over some new cards. Remember that if a double is thrown, the player's turn ends. When the player can't turn over any more cards, those that are left are added together and that is the
player's score.
The winner is the person with the lower score.
It can be played with just one turn each or each player can have a number of turns that you decide at the beginning of the game.
Here
.doc .pdf are some cards which you could print out and cut up to play the game.
You can also play it on the computer using this interactivity.
Full screen version
This text is usually replaced by the Flash movie.
Notes for adults
Additional information about the interactive resource:
In variation $1$, you turn over the number shown on one or both dice.
In variation $2$, you turn over the value of both dice, their sum, or their difference.
In variation $3$, you turn over a combination of numbers that add up to the sum of the dice.
In variation $4$, you turn over a combination of numbers that add up to the product of the dice.
The "SCORE - SUM" uses scoring by adding the cards that are left.
The "SCORE - COCATENATE" uses scoring by reading the dice scores as digits in a two digit number.
Start with the basic rules and play the game as a class, or perhaps one half of the class against the other, perhaps using large dice. You could use an interactive whiteboard with digits to erase, use "real "
.doc .pdf larger cards fixed to an ordinary board with Blu
Tack, or you could simply have the numbers written on the board and cross them out. You could also use the
interactive version of the game. After playing a few times, encourage the children to be critical of the game. The game offers opportunities for the teacher to identify the children's understanding the meanings of numbers to $6$ and linking their
iconic representation on dice with their numeral.
Pairs of children could then test out the different versions of the game with the aim of explaining why they thought it was good or not so good. This could then lead into a whole-class discussion about features of "good" mathematical games in general. Invite the learners to suggest what else could be changed in the game. Identifying the variables in this way (for example, number of players,
type of dice, number of cards etc) is a useful skill which children can apply again and again. Pairs could test their own version to see whether they have made a good game.
Most children will find it manageable to use numbers $1$- $6$ to start with. Do let them go on to explore their own games, they may well surprise you!