Welcome back to Playful Pedagogy, and Merry Christmas! Today is Day 1 of the 12 Games of Christmas! Today’s game/tool is: Multi-Sided Dice (also known as D&D dice or role-playing dice). These dice are a simple, magical way to bring fun, suspense, and engagement into your classroom.
Prefer to watch instead of read? Here’s a short video where I talk about how I use Multi-Sided Dice in my classroom.
Multi-Sided Dice are traditionally used by one or more players, and their purpose varies depending on the game. In role-playing or tabletop games, dice determine outcomes, actions, or story events.
Players roll the dice to see what happens next—whether it’s a skill check, a plot twist, or a decision in the game. Dice games emphasize chance, strategy, storytelling, and creative thinking, keeping every roll exciting.
Why Dice Are Magical in the Classroom
At first glance, dice might seem like just another gaming accessory. But in reality, they are one of the most underestimated tools in a teacher’s toolkit. Why? Because dice bring a little suspense, surprise, and fairness into everyday activities. That element of unpredictability turns ordinary classroom routines into opportunities for fun and engagement.
I keep mine in a little black bag (labeled, of course—because I lose everything!) and I use them in a variety of ways that make learning interactive, playful, and meaningful without requiring a lot of prep.
How I Use Dice in My Classroom
Randomized Student Check-ins
Each student is assigned a number. When it’s time for an emotional or wellness check-in, I roll the die to see who will share. For example, if I roll a five, “Santa, Number Five” gets to tell us how they’re feeling today. I mark down who’s number was rolled, and continue with a few more students each day until everyone has had an opportunity to share if they want to. It’s a playful way to make check-ins engaging and fair.
Classroom Management
When all students want to participate or raise their hand, rolling a die is a fun and neutral way to decide who gets a turn. It keeps participation fresh and prevents any one student from getting all the ‘stage time’.
Storytelling and Co-Creation
Dice are amazing for generating plot twists or selecting ideas during co-created stories. I put lots of story elements on the board, roll the die, and let chance guide the next plot development.
Writing Prompts & Choose-Your-Own-Adventure
Dice can determine writing prompts or story paths. I have templates where students can roll dice to decide characters, challenges, or plot twists—perfect for advanced classes that love a bit of narrative adventure.
Vocabulary and Learning Games
Dice are also handy for quick vocabulary reviews or other educational games. Roll, act, define—whatever fits your learning goals!
The beauty of dice is that they bring joy and surprise into everyday classroom routines without requiring hours of prep.
How Multi-Sided Dice Can Be Used Across Subjects
Multi-Sided Dice are incredibly versatile and can be adapted across subjects:
Literacy:
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Roll to choose writing prompts, story twists, or characters.
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Co-create stories with dice-guided plot events.
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Practice vocabulary or spelling games using random rolls.
Math:
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Teach counting, operations, probability, and logic with dice.
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Roll to create patterns, sequences, or group assignments.
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Make problem-solving games fun and randomized.
Additionally, there are Math Dice available that help you build number sentences and equations, which could be a good addition for a math class!
Science:
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Roll dice to select categories, experiments, or observations.
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Explore cause-and-effect and prediction activities.
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Encourage inquiry by letting chance guide exploration.
Social Studies:
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Use dice to pick historical events, countries, or cultural topics to discuss.
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Facilitate collaboration through role-based or chance-driven group activities.
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Connect dice outcomes to real-world decision-making or historical scenarios.
Creative Arts / Movement:
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Drama: assign roles, actions, or emotions with dice.
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Music: determine beats, rhythm, or instruments with dice.
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Physical activity: dice can guide movement games or exercises.
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Expression: use dice to spark artistic or creative choices.
SEL & Wellbeing (this is how I frequently use dice in our classroom):
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Assign student numbers and roll for emotional check-ins
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Encourage fair participation, turn-taking, teamwork, and empathy.
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Bring a playful twist to daily routines.
Teachers can easily adjust rules, dice types, or pacing to match age, classroom space, and learning goals. Dice bring rich, meaningful play without extra prep time.
CONCLUSION
Have you tried Multi-Sided Dice with your learners? How have you used them in your classroom? Share your ideas in the comments!
Thanks for joining me on Day 1 of the 12 Games of Christmas. Come back tomorrow for Game 2—and may your classroom be full of play today! I hope you have a very Merry Christmas, and if you don’t celebrate Christmas, I hope you have a wonderful day full of play