How to Make Dice Using Toilet Paper Rolls

Learning Goal:

This game will help your child:

• Practice counting from one to six

Materials:

• 1 Empty toilet paper roll or paper towel roll*  
  
• Scissors  
  
• Markers  
  
• Clear tape  

* Note: If using a paper towel roll, cut it in half to the size of a toilet paper roll.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

• Step 1: Flatten your toilet paper roll. Press on the roll until it’s completely flat.

* If you do not have a toilet paper roll, make a cylinder by rolling a square piece of paper.

• Step 2: Use scissors to cut 2 pieces from the toilet paper roll. Each piece should measure the length from the knuckle to the tip of an index finger. Discard remaining roll.
  

  

• Step 3: Cut a thin strip from one piece. You should have one large piece and one smaller piece.
  
• Step 4: Shape each piece into a cube by unflattening it and bringing the creased lines together until you form a cube-like shape.
  

  

• Step 5: Insert the smaller cube into the larger cube.  
  
• Step 6: Use tape to secure the sides of the cube.
  
• Step 7: Draw dots or numbers on each side to represent the numbers 1-6 on a die.
  

Game Tips: Different games to play using dice

• Roll and Seek: Roll the dice and find the number of objects that match the number you roll. For example, if you roll a two, gather two objects!
  
• Guess the Number: Guess a number between 1-6 and roll the dice to see who's right. If you guessed a six and you rolled a six, you win!
  
• Dice Race: Set up starting and finish lines. Find something to move (your feet, race cars, stuffed animals, etc.). Roll the dice to see how many steps you can take. The first one to cross the finish line wins!

Keep the conversation going:

Here are some conversation starters to help incorporate math talk while playing the game:

• Let’s count how many dots are on the dice.  
  
• Who rolled a larger or smaller number?  
  
• What number follows 4?  

Book suggestion:

“Rooster’s Off to See the World” / “El Gallo Sale A Ver El Mundo” (Ages 4-8) by Eric Carle. In this book, your child will practice counting with a rooster on an adventure to see the world.   

Corresponding Standards:

• Common Core State Standards for Kindergarten 

  • CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.CC.A.2 Count forward beginning from a given number within the known sequence (instead of having to begin at 1). 
    

• California Preschool Learning Foundations 

  • Number Sense 

    • 1.0 Understanding number and quantity  
      

• Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework 

  • Counting and Cardinality  

    • Goal P-MATH 1. Child knows number names and the count sequence.  
      
    • Goal P-MATH 5. Child associates a quantity with written numerals up to 5 and begins to write numbers.