Nursery World - On the spot

Games involving dice have been enjoyed for many centuries. Lynne Garner suggests activities that can be adapted for children of different ages and abilities dice have been around for thousands of years. Each civilisation seems to have developed their own form of dice. They have been used to play games by poor and rich alike. A great example of this can be found on the high gate of the temple of Medinet in Egypt, where King Rameses III is shown playing a game of dice with the ladies of his harem.

dice have been around for thousands of years. Each civilisation seems to have developed their own form of dice. They have been used to play games by poor and rich alike. A great example of this can be found on the high gate of the temple of Medinet in Egypt, where King Rameses III is shown playing a game of dice with the ladies of his harem.

Dice have been made from all manner of materials, including seashells, seeds, animal horn, ceramics, animal teeth and even bone, which is where the phrase 'rolling the bones' originated. Dice also gave us the phrase 'the die is cast,' because in ancient times the result was considered to be controlled by the gods and not down to luck. A throw of the dice was used to settle arguments, split inheritances and even choose new leaders.

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