Equipment / Materials

• 1 flat-bottomed bowl or pie dish
• 5 dice (traditionally made from plum pits or small wooden pieces; bottle caps also work)
• 50 sticks (use small sticks, craft sticks, or toothpicks)
• Markers or paint for decorating dice

Setup

1. Decorate the dice:

• On three dice, mark one side with a star. Leave the other sides blank.
• On the other two dice, mark one side with an X. Leave the other sides blank.

1. Place the 50 sticks in the center of the play area. This is the “stick pile.”
2. Give the bowl or pie dish to the first player.

How to Play

1. First player rolls the dice: Toss all five dice into the bowl or pie dish.
2. Score the roll based on the following rules:
   • All blank sides up = 1 point.
   • Two X sides up (with any combination of blanks and stars on other dice) = 3 points.
   • Three star sides up (with any combination of blanks and Xs on other dice) = 3 points.
   • All five dice showing a marked side (stars and/or Xs) = 8 points.
   • Any other combination = 0 points.
3. Take sticks from the pile: The player takes a number of sticks equal to the points they scored.
4. Next player’s turn: Pass the bowl to the next player, who rolls the dice and scores the same way.
5. Game ends when the stick pile is empty: Each player counts their sticks. The player with the most sticks wins.

Variations

• Simplified Scoring for Younger Scouts: Only count blanks and marked sides. Skip the combinations of stars and Xs.
• Creative Dice-Making Activity: Scouts can make dice from clay, stones, or bottle caps before playing.
• Timed Game: Set a timer for a shorter game. The player with the most sticks when time is up wins.

Safety Notes

• Use non-toxic markers or paints for decorating dice.
• Ensure sticks are smooth and free of splinters.
• Avoid tossing the dice outside the bowl to prevent them from becoming a choking hazard for young children.

For more information see https://scoutermom.com/1979/hubbub-a-native-american-dice-game/