dice game duplo

As part of the 21 Challenge I posted an activity which at its core was focused on Early Numeracy Fun For Preschoolers.

This Duplo dice game I played with our preschooler last week is also focused on early numeracy, in particular:

  • counting – recite numbers in order
  • one to one matching – while being able to recite numbers is a skill preschoolers can learn by rote, one to one matching means that they count out items correctly. This takes time and practice and there are so many real life opportunities you can use to help them practice counting out, eg two biscuits for each child.

Materials needed for Duplo dice game:

Dice Game Using Duplo For Preschoolers

  • Duplo blocks. We played with 29 pieces, but you could play with fewer or more blocks if you wished.
  • 1 dice

How to play Duplo dice game:

Dice Game Using Duplo For Preschoolers
Spread out Duplo blocks.

Dice Game Using Duplo For Preschoolers
Let the preschooler roll the dice. Have him count the dots on the side facing up, by pointing to each dot and saying the correct number.

Dice Game Using Duplo For Preschoolers
The preschooler can then take as many blocks as he rolled. Have him count the blocks out one by one and stack them on top of each other.

Dice Game Using Duplo For Preschoolers
Take turns rolling the dice and stacking the blocks. Along the way take the time to compare the size of the towers. Talk about the towers being equal, smaller than, bigger than etc.

Dice Game Using Duplo For Preschoolers
You can get them to point to the taller tower. You can even ask them how much bigger is this tower than the other in simple scenarios like the one photographed above.

Dice Game Using Duplo For Preschoolers
The winner is the one who has the tallest tower once all the blocks have been used.

Dice Game Using Duplo For Preschoolers
The preschooler enjoyed the game and we played it many times in a row. It is a great quick game to start building the foundations of numeracy for your preschooler.

Does your preschooler have a favourite numeracy based game?

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4 comments...read them below or add one

  • Erin July 22, 2012 at 9:17 pm

    Awesome idea, will definitely use this one. Thanks :)

  • Mackenzie July 23, 2012 at 4:07 am

    What a great blog! I LOVE your ideas and they show your hard work with your kiddos! We would be HONORED if you would join us on Saturday Show & Tell on Cheerios and Lattes. Our readers (primarily from US and Canada) would love your ideas too! We’d love to share your great blog! :) Have a great weekend!
    Mackenzie :)
    http://www.cheeriosandlattes.com/saturday-show-tell-20/

  • Kate @ Our Little Sins July 29, 2012 at 8:57 pm

    Oooh, my Mr 3 would love this. He’s obsessed with Lego/Duplo and counting and numbers at the moment. This is perfect!

  • Kylie @Octavia and Vicky August 05, 2012 at 8:09 am

    Love it! I’d like to try and modify this for my toddler. Would you mind if I write about it when I have given it a go? With links and kudos to you in the post, of course. Let me know what you think, thanks.