Teach Addition with This Fun DIY Math Game

This is a super-easy way to teach addition. Just make a homemade early math game with large dice, recyclables, and pom poms!

If you want a really fun way to help your kiddos learn the early math concept of adding, try this fun, hands on game!

Teach Addition With This Fun Math Game

It’s so much fun to roll the large foam dice and pick up the soft pom poms. Take turns and count out loud! I love how visual this activity is, as you see the pom poms heading down the paper towel tubes and gathering together, just begging to be added up!

One of the best parts? This DIY game is super budget-friendly. It’s made out of readily available and recycled materials! Read on below to see how simple it is to put together!

Skills:

Ages:

Prep Time:

Watch the Video to See How to Make and Play This Early Math Game

Putting this early math game together takes all of a few minutes! Kids can enjoy rolling the dice, and then adding the corresponding number of pom poms down the paper tubes. Those pom poms will gather all together for a super visual way to understand simple addition!

All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

Watch the Video to See How to Make and Teach Addition in a Fun Way!

Putting this early math game together takes all of a few minutes! Kids can enjoy rolling the dice, and then adding the corresponding number of pom poms down the paper tubes. Those pom poms will gather all together for a super visual way to understand simple addition!

All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

How to Make Your Own Addition Dice Game

This DIY game will only take a few minutes to set up, and it’s a great opportunity to make use of some recyclable materials! It allows you to teach addition not only effectively, but in a fun way!

We reused a box from an old KiwiCo crate, but you could use any old box with a lid, like a shoebox! For the dice, we grabbed this set from The Dollar Tree. If you don’t have a shop nearby, you could always build your own out of cardboard or grab this awesome multi-sided dice set.

Here’s how easy this is to make!

Materials

Cardboard Box With A Lid (like a shoebox)
Paper Towel Tube
Tape

Cardboard Box With A Lid (like a shoebox)
Paper Towel Tube
Tape
Permanent Marker
Dice
Pom Poms

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1

Cut a paper tube in half.

Step 2

Stick it on the lid of an old box with tape.

Step 3

Draw a plus and equal sign on the box.

Step 4

Play the game by rolling the dice.

Step 5

Place pom poms through each tube corresponding to each number.

Step 6

Add all the objects together.

Step 1

Cut a paper tube in half.

Step 2

Stick it on the lid of an old box with tape.

Step 3

Draw a plus and equal sign on the box.

Step 4

Play the game by rolling the dice.

Step 5

Place pom poms through each tube corresponding to each number.

Step 6

Add all the objects together.

Educational Benefits of this DIY Addition Game

This game is so much fun for kids. Obviously it teaches them addition – but there are also quite a few other math skills they will also be learning too.

Representation – this refers to making math ideas real by using objects. So in this game, kids are representing the addition with pom poms.

This game also teaches what addition is and what that + sign means. As they see each number on the dice, grab the pom poms, and then count them all together, they are understanding how math works at the most basic level.

I am a huge fan of sensory play and the big dice with the pom poms is mind-enhancing sensory play at its best.

Your child will have to memorize addition facts in order to do more difficult math equations later on. This activity helps them become familiar with the numbers and what the facts are.

Educational Benefits of this DIY Addition Game

This game is so much fun for kids. Obviously it teaches them addition – but there are also quite a few other math skills they will also be learning too.

Representation – this refers to making math ideas real by using objects. So in this game, kids are representing the addition with pom poms.

This game also teaches what addition is and what that + sign means. As they see each number on the dice, grab the pom poms, and then count them all together, they are understanding how math works at the most basic level.

I am a huge fan of sensory play and the big dice with the pom poms is mind-enhancing sensory play at its best.

Your child will have to memorize addition facts in order to do more difficult math equations later on. This activity helps them become familiar with the numbers and what the facts are.