Ashley Roman

Professor Suk

EDUC 230

April 20, 2017

Roll the Dice!

On the first day of school, students are typically stressed with their new surroundings and

the immense amount of information they are to take in. From numerous new courses to finding a

classroom, the first day can prove to be intimidating. In order to transition freshman students into

their new Algebra I course, the entire class will engage in an ice break activity, Roll the Dice!

This activity will span across the entire period to ensure as much information is taken in

regarding students as possible. After all, getting to know each individual is vital to the classroom

to ensure optimal learning.

The game, Roll the Dice! requires minimal materials, but outputs a lot of fun. The

materials required for the ice breaker activity include three dice, Roll the Dice! directions

worksheets, Roll the Dice! outcomes worksheets, and the class. Each student will be handed a

directions and outcomes worksheet to hold onto for reference; however, outcomes will also be

displayed on the projection screen. The dice will be used to due minor mathematical additions

such as one plus one or six plus five.

In order to start the game, a volunteer from the class will be selected to roll the first

number. The student will have the option to choose one, two, or three die to use for their roll.

Following the roll of the dice, the number(s) will be added up. That number reflects how students

must organize themselves into lines or blobs. An outcome may have students line up

alphabetically or go into blobs based upon their favorite color. After the students have lined

themselves up or gathered into blobs, students will then have a few minutes to get acquainted to
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those around them. Following a brief introduction, another volunteer will come up to roll the

dice. The game will continue on until all of the possible outcomes have been run through or if

time should run out.

Throughout the activity, students will learn about the interests of their classmates and any

common ground that they may share. In a line, students may talk to those who are closely

grouped to them. For example, students may line up in order of their birthdays and talk with their

neighbor. On the other hand, in a blob, students will be grouped together based upon similar

interests. Blobs hold common ground that classmates may share and then feel more comfortable

being around. Regardless of a line or blob, students will have the opportunity to learn about the

interests and similarities they have in common with their classmates.

As a future mathematics teacher, I chose an activity that I thought would be both fun and

engaging for the students. The ice breaker itself combines the ice breakers I often participated in

throughout my schooling. Often times, Roll the Dice! featured just a pair of students getting to

know each other in which rolling the dice would determine a question to ask the partner. Though

it was fun to get to know one individual, I found myself only knowing information about one

person as opposed to the whole class. As a middle school student, Lines and Groups were used

to determine placement and interests. In this case, the teacher would randomly call out how

students were expected to line up or group themselves. The product of combining Roll the

Dice! and Lines and Groups is an activity that involves a student getting to know the entire

class. I also opted to withdraw the term groups as it is overused. I replaced the term with the

word blobs as it may catch a students attention more than the generic groups term. As a

whole, Roll the Dice! is an ice breaker activity that enables students to know their classmates

while computing minor mathematical additions.

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Roll the Dice Directions

1. A volunteer will come up to the front of the
class and select the amount of die to use.

2. The volunteer will role their selected amount

of die and add up the number(s) landed on.

3. The volunteer will tell the teacher the number, then the teacher will
read the outcome from the Roll the Dice Outcomes worksheet.
The outcome will be displayed on the projection screen.

4. Based on the outcome, you will line yourselves up or gather into

blobs (groups).

5. You will then have three minutes to talk with your neighbors or
group members and get to know them.

6. After three minutes, the activity will be repeated with new

volunteers until all of the outcomes have been produced or if time
runs out.
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Roll the Dice Outcomes

1. Gather into blobs based on your favorite school subject!

2. Line up in alphabetical order of your last name!

3. Gather into blobs based on your favorite animal!

4. Line up based on the number of letters in your first name!

5. Gather into a blob if you are in Miss Romans Algebra I

course!

6. Line up based on the amount of siblings you have!

7. Gather into blobs based on your favorite sport!

8. Line up based on the time you go to bed!

9. Gather into blobs based on your favorite food!

10. Line up based on the time you wake up!

11. Gather into blobs based on if you love the beach or the mountains!

12. Line up based on the period you have Miss Romans Algebra I course!

13. Gather into blobs based on your favorite season!

14. Line up in order of height from tallest to smallest!

15. Gather into blobs based on your favorite television show!

16. Line up in alphabetical order based on your first name!

17. Gather into blobs based on your favorite color of the rainbow!

18. Line up in the order of your birthdays beginning with January!

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