Roll a D20 Dice - Fun at-home activities for Kids.

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Roll a D20 Dice

Make a paper D20 die, decorate it, roll it many times, record results, and explore probability and averages with simple charts.

Table of contents

Step-by-step guide to make a paper D20 die

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Probability of Dice

What you need

Paper, scissors, glue or tape, coloring materials, ruler, pencil, notebook, pen, calculator, adult supervision required

Step 1

Gather all your materials and set them on a clear table so you can work without losing anything.

Step 2

Find a D20 icosahedron net online and print it or draw a D20 net on your paper using a ruler and pencil.

Step 3

Cut out the D20 net carefully along the outer edges using scissors.

Step 4

Fold every triangle edge sharply along the crease lines so the net can form the 3D shape.

Step 5

Number each triangular face from 1 to 20 using your pencil, assigning each number once.

Step 6

Decorate each face with colors or small pictures so your die looks awesome and easy to read.

Step 7

Apply glue or tape to the tabs and assemble the net into a sealed 20-sided die.

Step 8

Give your finished die one gentle test roll to make sure it is sturdy and rolls freely.

Step 9

Open your notebook and draw a simple table with two columns labeled "Roll number" and "Result."

Step 10

Roll your D20 exactly 60 times and write each result in the table one row at a time.

Step 11

Tally how many times each number from 1 to 20 appeared using marks or counts in your notebook.

Step 12

Use your tally counts to draw a bar chart on a page showing the frequency for each number from 1 to 20.

Step 13

Add all 60 roll results together and divide by 60 to calculate the average (mean) roll.

Step 14

Write one short sentence about whether the results looked fair compared to the idea that each number should come up about equally.

Step 15

Share a photo of your decorated D20 and your chart on DIY.org so everyone can see your experiment.

Help!?

What can we use instead of printer paper, glue, or a pre-made D20 net if they aren't available?

If you can't print a D20 net or lack printer paper, draw the icosahedron net with a ruler and pencil on cardboard or an old cereal box and use strong clear tape instead of glue to assemble the tabs.

What should I do if the net won't fold into a clean 20-sided die or the tabs won't hold?

If the net won't form properly, re-cut any uneven outer edges, score and sharply fold every triangle edge with a ruler before applying glue or tape to the tabs, and let glued tabs dry under a light weight so the die seals and rolls freely.

How can I adapt the cutting, rolling, and recording steps for younger or older kids?

For preschoolers, use a pre-cut or pre-made D20 and record only 10 simple rolls with help, for elementary kids let them cut, number, decorate and complete the full 60-roll table and tally, and for teens add repeated trials, deeper stats like standard deviation, or redesign the net for sturdier materials.

How can we extend or personalize the experiment beyond rolling 60 times and making one bar chart?

You can personalize it by making several differently decorated D20s, sealing them with clear tape for durability, color-coding number ranges, comparing each die's bar chart and mean to the expected distribution, and sharing photos and results on DIY.org.

Watch videos on how to make and use a paper D20 die

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Math Games for Kids - Math Challenges for Kids

4 Videos

Facts about probability and statistics for kids

🎲 A standard D20 shows the numbers 1–20 and on a fair die each face has a 5% chance to come up.

🔺 A D20 is the shape of a regular icosahedron — it has 20 triangular faces and 12 vertices.

📈 The average (expected) roll for a fair D20 is 10.5, right between 1 and 20.

🔁 The more times you roll and record results, the closer your experimental outcomes usually get to the true probabilities (Law of Large Numbers).

🐉 D20s are famous in role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons, where rolling a natural 20 often means a critical success.

How do I make and use a paper D20 to explore probability?

To make and use a paper D20, print a 20-sided die template on cardstock, cut along edges, fold on scored lines, and glue tabs to assemble. Decorate faces or numbers, then roll the die many times (try 50–200 rolls). Record each result on a tally sheet, count frequencies, and draw a simple bar chart. Calculate the average by adding all results and dividing by the number of rolls, then compare your experimental mean to the theoretical mean (10.5).

What materials do I need to create a paper D20 and record results?

You’ll need a printable D20 template, sturdy paper or cardstock, scissors, craft glue or double-sided tape, and a ruler or blunt folding tool for crisp edges. For decorating, use markers, colored pencils, or stickers. Bring a notebook or tally sheet, graph paper or a simple spreadsheet app to chart frequencies, and a calculator or phone for averages. Optional extras: clear tape to reinforce corners, colored pens for categories, and stickers for rewards.

What ages is this paper D20 activity suitable for?

This activity suits children about 6 and up with adult help for cutting and assembly; ages 8–12 can typically fold, glue, roll, and record results independently while learning averages and basic charts. Teens can explore deeper probability concepts and spreadsheet analysis. For preschoolers, simplify by letting them decorate and roll while an adult records outcomes; focus on counting and colors rather than averages. Always supervise young children around scissors and small parts.

What are the benefits, safety tips, and fun variations for a paper D20 project?

Benefits include practicing counting, data collection, averages, probability thinking, fine motor skills, and creativity. Safety tips: use child-safe scissors, supervise glue and small parts, and reinforce seams with tape. Try variations like changing the number of rolls, color-coding ranges, comparing multiple dice, testing a weighted die to see bias, or turning results into pie charts or line graphs. Encourage kids to make hypotheses beforehand and discuss surprising results afterward.

Ready to create?

All Activities

Roll a D20 Dice

Make a paper D20 die, decorate it, roll it many times, record results, and explore probability and averages with simple charts.

Table of contents

Step-by-step guide to make a paper D20 die

0:00/0:00

Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

Probability of Dice

What you need

Paper, scissors, glue or tape, coloring materials, ruler, pencil, notebook, pen, calculator, adult supervision required

Step 1

Gather all your materials and set them on a clear table so you can work without losing anything.

Step 2

Find a D20 icosahedron net online and print it or draw a D20 net on your paper using a ruler and pencil.

Step 3

Cut out the D20 net carefully along the outer edges using scissors.

Step 4

Fold every triangle edge sharply along the crease lines so the net can form the 3D shape.

Step 5

Number each triangular face from 1 to 20 using your pencil, assigning each number once.

Step 6

Decorate each face with colors or small pictures so your die looks awesome and easy to read.

Step 7

Apply glue or tape to the tabs and assemble the net into a sealed 20-sided die.

Step 8

Give your finished die one gentle test roll to make sure it is sturdy and rolls freely.

Step 9

Open your notebook and draw a simple table with two columns labeled "Roll number" and "Result."

Step 10

Roll your D20 exactly 60 times and write each result in the table one row at a time.

Step 11

Tally how many times each number from 1 to 20 appeared using marks or counts in your notebook.

Step 12

Use your tally counts to draw a bar chart on a page showing the frequency for each number from 1 to 20.

Step 13

Add all 60 roll results together and divide by 60 to calculate the average (mean) roll.

Step 14

Write one short sentence about whether the results looked fair compared to the idea that each number should come up about equally.

Step 15

Share a photo of your decorated D20 and your chart on DIY.org so everyone can see your experiment.

Help!?

What can we use instead of printer paper, glue, or a pre-made D20 net if they aren't available?

If you can't print a D20 net or lack printer paper, draw the icosahedron net with a ruler and pencil on cardboard or an old cereal box and use strong clear tape instead of glue to assemble the tabs.

What should I do if the net won't fold into a clean 20-sided die or the tabs won't hold?

How can I adapt the cutting, rolling, and recording steps for younger or older kids?

How can we extend or personalize the experiment beyond rolling 60 times and making one bar chart?

Watch videos on how to make and use a paper D20 die

0:00/0:00

Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

Math Games for Kids - Math Challenges for Kids

4 Videos

Facts about probability and statistics for kids

🎲 A standard D20 shows the numbers 1–20 and on a fair die each face has a 5% chance to come up.

🔺 A D20 is the shape of a regular icosahedron — it has 20 triangular faces and 12 vertices.

📈 The average (expected) roll for a fair D20 is 10.5, right between 1 and 20.

🔁 The more times you roll and record results, the closer your experimental outcomes usually get to the true probabilities (Law of Large Numbers).

🐉 D20s are famous in role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons, where rolling a natural 20 often means a critical success.