PIG Game (for primary pupils)

PIG is a fun and interesting game to play during Maths Week with the whole class! There are 2 levels:

  • Basic PIG game – suitable for 3rd and 4th classes (need 1 die for each group)
  • MULTIPIGATION game – more challenging for 5th & 6th Class. (dice needed for each group)

Basic PIG game instructions

Number of players per team: 2 to 6

  1. Players take turns with a die.
  2. On a player’s turn he/she can roll a die as many times as they like.
  3. If a roll is a 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, the player adds that many points to their score for the turn.
  4. A player may choose to end their turn at any time and “bank” their points.
  5. If a player rolls a 1, they lose all their unbanked points and their turn is over.

Beginner’s Game: The first player to score 50 or more points wins.

Advanced Game: The first player to score 100 or more points wins.

MULTIPIGATION instructions

The multPIGation game will stretch the pupils a bit more. This is similar to basic PIG but players throw 2 die and multiply the two scores.

Even number can be banked but odd answer loses point/turn.

Note to teachers

Teachers can email the name of the winning pupil to mathsweek@wit.ie with the word “PIG” as the subject line and we will generate a PIG champion certificate and email it back to the teacher.

Teacher Peter Kane has found this game to be a powerful and fun way to get his pupils doing maths. The above instructions are based on his recommendations for the game.