Spill the Beans Math Game: Free Addition & Subtraction Printable

Looking for a fun way to practice addition and subtraction without another worksheet? This Spill the Beans Math Gameis a simple, hands-on activity that gets kids adding, subtracting, and thinking about numbers while they play!

All you need is the free printable game board, a few dried beans, and a small cup.

Kids spill the beans onto the numbered game board, solve the math problems, and work toward getting their score down to zero.

It’s an easy addition and subtraction game for homeschool math lessons, elementary math centers, or a little extra math fact practice at home.

And if you’ve been around Teach Beside Me for a while, you know how much we love learning through games!

Why Play Spill the Beans?

One of my favorite things about math games is that they give kids repeated practice without making it feel like a drill.

Spill the Beans combines several important math skills in one activity:

• Addition facts: Add the numbers where the beans land.
• Subtraction: Subtract each answer from a running total.
• Mental math: Practice calculating without always writing everything down.
• Number sense: Think about how numbers combine and how much remains.
• Strategy: Decide how to approach the next calculation as the total gets smaller.

It’s also easy to adapt for different ages and math abilities.

You can start with basic addition and subtraction, then introduce multiplication when children are ready for more challenging problems.

Supplies for the Spill the Beans Math Game

You only need a few simple supplies:

• Free Spill the Beans Math Game Printable- Download Below!
• 2–3 dried beans
• Small cup
• Paper and pencil for keeping score
• Optional: Laminator or page protector

I laminated our game board so we could use it again and again. It’s not necessary, but it does help the printable last longer!

For younger children, you can substitute larger counters for dried beans to avoid a choking hazard.

How to Play Spill the Beans

This game is easy to learn and doesn’t require much preparation.

Step 1: Print the Game Board

Start by printing the free Spill the Beans math game.

Place the board on a flat surface where everyone can reach it.

Step 2: Spill the Beans!

Place two dried beans in a small cup.

Give the cup a gentle shake, then spill the beans onto the numbered game board.

Look at the numbers where the beans land.

Step 3: Add the Numbers

Add the two numbers together.

For example, if the beans land on 4 and 7:

4 + 7 = 11

For an additional challenge, you can multiply the numbers instead.

Step 4: Subtract from 50

Each player starts with a score of 50.

Subtract the answer from the player’s running total.

For example:

50 − 11 = 39

On the next turn, subtract the new answer from 39 rather than starting over at 50.

Keep track of the running total on a sheet of paper.

Step 5: Race to Zero!

Players take turns spilling the beans, solving their problems, and subtracting from their remaining totals.

The goal is to reach zero!

For a simple version, the first player to reach zero or below wins.

For a more challenging version, require players to reach exactly zero. If a subtraction would take the total below zero, that player skips the subtraction and tries again on their next turn.

Choose your rule before beginning so everyone knows how to win.