I use dice and counters everyday for games and activities so I've had to come up with some guidelines for their use.
I don't know about you, but I was sick of students rolling their dice across the table or floor and throwing it up a little or even behind them! Arrghh it drove me mad! So, the number 1 rule I have for dice is that the dice must be in your hand OR in the bowl. It's not allowed anywhere else! I've just got home from school and unfortunately don't have any photos but I'll try to remember to take some tomorrow. I just use the black Lean Cuisine (frozen meal) bowls or noodle bowls. Students pick up the dice and roll it into the bowl. Simple and free! You could also simply use paper or plastic bowls.
My favourite dice - blank dice that I can write on and make them any dice I need! Today I used blank dice that I had written 'er', 'or', 'ir', 'ur' and 'ar' on for a game involving r-controlled vowels.
Other favourite dice? Place value dice
and 0-9 (10-sided) dice. I looove these dice for mental computation games.
Now, I also use counters... A LOT! Either as pawns to move around a board or for bingo games etc. I've literally got 1000s of them and I try to keep the right amount of counters included with the game so that students do not have to find the counters they need. This is easy with film canisters! I just add the numbers of counters needed for each game and/or each player to the film canister and add to the bag the game is in. I found clear film caniseters at the Science Bob Store.I write on the caniseter how many counters there should be and students are responsible for ensuring the right amount go back in!
