PLACE THE NEGATIVE! 3 DIGIT GAME - Place value negative number board game instructions

Oct 22, 2026

Uploaded by Mabel

“Place The Negative! 3 Digit Game” is a two-or-more-player dice game that builds understanding of negative number place value. Players write dice digits into hundreds, tens, or ones positions across up to six game rows, aiming to achieve the lowest value negative number. After three turns per player, the lowest number wins the round and earns points toward an overall winner.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time8 min

AccessFree to download

Instructions

Turns and scoring

Variations

Winning strategies

Faster playing method

Example of play

PLACE THE NEGATIVE! 3 DIGIT GAME Place The Negative! is a fun negative number comparing game which relies on both luck and skill to get the highest or lowest value negative number. It is great for helping to develop an understanding of negative number place value. Level of difficulty: ❶ Number of players: 2+ Learning: Negative numbers to 666 or 999; comparing negative numbers. You will need - 1 dice (preferable ten-sided, but 6-sided will work) - Each player will need a copy of the Place The Negative board (each sheet has 2 boards) - A pencil or pen for each player Instructions - Each player starts off using the first row (Game 1) on their Place The Negatives grid board. You can use the board for a total of 6 games. - Players take turns to roll the dice. Each player needs to write the number on the dice on their current place value grid into any position (hundreds, tens or ones) to try to get the biggest number possible. - Once all the players have rolled the dice, it is handed back to the first player who rolls it for a second time and writes the digit on the current row of their place value grid into any free position to try to get the biggest number. - This carries on until all the players have filled their current grids (after their 3rd turn) . - The winner is the player with the lowest value number once all the players have had their third throw of the dice. They can add a tally to their score box on their grid. - The play can then start again on a new row of their place value grid. - The overall winner is the player with the highest score once all the 6 games have been played. - Note: once a number has been written onto the grids, it cannot be changed and moved! Variations - Alternative winning strategies: o Highest value number wins o The player closest to a chosen target number (e.g. -500) is the winner. - Alternative playing strategy: o Throw 3 dice at a time and arrange the numbers any way you choose to make the lowest value number. This method is a much quicker way of playing. PLACE THE NEGATIVE! 3 DIGIT GAME Example of play 1st turn Player 1 rolls a 5 and writes the digit in the hundreds column of their Game 1 board. Player 2 rolls a 2 and writes the digit in the ones column of their Game 1 board. | PLAYER 1 | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | 5 | | | | PLAYER 2 | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | | 2 | 2nd turn Player 1 rolls a 6 and writes the digit in the tens column of their board. Player 2 rolls a 3 and writes the digit in the tens column. | PLAYER 1 | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | 5 | 6 | | | PLAYER 2 | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | 3 | 2 | 3rd turn Player 1 rolls a 2 and writes the digit in the ones column. Player 2 rolls a 6 and writes the digit in the hundreds column. | PLAYER 1 | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | 5 | 6 | 2 | | PLAYER 2 | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | 6 | 3 | 2 | Final numbers: Player 1 has-562 Player 2 has-632. Player 2 is the winner because they have the lowest number. They score 1 point. Now both players are ready to start Game 2 on their boards. PLACE THE NEGATIVE | GAME 1 | HUNDREDS | TENS | ONES | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | | GAME 2 | HUNDREDS | TENS | ONES | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | | GAME 3 | HUNDREDS | TENS | ONES | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | | GAME 4 | HUNDREDS | TENS | ONES | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | | GAME 5 | HUNDREDS | TENS | ONES | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | | GAME 6 | HUNDREDS | TENS | ONES | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | PLACE THE NEGATIVE | GAME 1 | HUNDREDS | TENS | ONES | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | | GAME 2 | HUNDREDS | TENS | ONES | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | | GAME 3 | HUNDREDS | TENS | ONES | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | | GAME 4 | HUNDREDS | TENS | ONES | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | | GAM

FAQs

How do players take turns in the 3 digit game?

Players roll the dice and write the digit into a chosen place value position (hundreds, tens, or ones) on their current grid. After all players roll once, the first player rolls again and continues for their third turn.

How is the winner determined?

The winner of a game row is the player with the lowest value number after everyone completes their third throw. After six games, the overall winner is the player with the highest total score.

What learning goals does the game support?

The game helps learners practice negative numbers and their place value, and it includes comparing negative numbers within the target range (noted as up to 666 or 999).

What variations are offered besides the default rules?

Alternative strategies include winning with the highest value number or the player closest to a chosen target negative number (e.g., -500). A faster method suggests throwing three dice at once and arranging digits to form the lowest value number.

Oct 22, 2026

Uploaded by Mabel