Olympic Math: Curling Edition

During the 2024 Paris Olympics, I explored how swimming offers rich math opportunities for students. Now, at the height of our winter sports season, let's turn our attention to one of the most strategic and mathematical sports on ice: curling!

Curling might seem like an obscure sport to some families, but it's packed with mathematical concepts that come to life in ways kids can see, touch, and experience. From concentric circles to scoring strategies, curling offers a perfect opportunity to show your children that math isn't just on worksheets—it's everywhere, including in the most unexpected places.

Why Curling and Math?

If you've never watched curling (sometimes called "chess on ice"), it's a strategic game where teams slide granite stones down a sheet of ice toward a target called the house. The house consists of four concentric circles, and teams score points based on which stones are closest to the center (called the button). Games are divided into rounds called ends, similar to innings in baseball.

What makes curling especially great for learning is that the math is visible. Kids can see the circles, measure distances, track cumulative scores, and make strategic decisions based on numbers. For students who struggle with abstract math concepts—including those with dyscalculia—this concrete, visual approach makes mathematical thinking more accessible.

Create Your Own Curling House

Before diving into the word problems, try this hands-on activity with your child:

Materials needed:

• Large paper (poster board or taped-together printer paper works great)

• Compass (or string and pencil)

• Ruler

• Colored markers or crayons

• Coins to use as "stones"

Instructions:

1. Find the center of your paper and mark it as the button

2. Using a compass (or string tied to a pencil), draw four concentric circles with these radii:

   • Inner circle (button): 6 inches radius

   • 4-foot circle: 2 feet radius (or scale down to 4 inches for paper)

   • 8-foot circle: 4 feet radius (or 8 inches)

   • 12-foot circle: 6 feet radius (or 12 inches)

3. Color the circles using official curling house colors:

   • Button (center): White

   • 4-foot circle: Red

   • 8-foot circle: White

   • 12-foot circle: Blue

4. Gather your coins to use as curling stones

Play Your Own Curling Game!

Now that you have a house, try this simplified curling game:

Option 1 - Sliding Game:

1. Each player gets 4 coins of the same type (pennies, nickels, or dimes work well)—one player uses "heads" and the other uses "tails"

2. Players take turns sliding their coins toward the button from the edge of the paper

3. After all 8 coins are thrown, use a ruler to measure which coin is closest to the button—only that team scores

4. Count how many of that team's coins are closer to the button than any of the opponent's coins—that's how many points they score for this end

5. Play up to 10 ends (regulation curling length) and keep a running total score—or play fewer ends for a shorter game

6. The team with the most points at the end wins!

Option 2 - Dice Game:

1. Each player gets 4 coins of the same type (pennies, nickels, or dimes work well)—one player uses "heads" and the other uses "tails"

2. Players take turns rolling a die and using a ruler to place their coin that many inches from the center of the button in any direction they choose

3. After all 8 coins are placed, use the ruler to measure which coin is closest to the button—only that team scores

4. Count how many of that team's coins are closer to the button than any of the opponent's coins—that's how many points they score for this end

5. Play up to 10 ends (regulation curling length) and keep a running total score—or play fewer ends for a shorter game

6. The team with the most points at the end wins!

Both games give kids practice with measurement and scoring—choose whichever works best for your family!

Ready for Some Curling Math?

I've created two sets of curling-themed word problems—one for younger students (grades 3-4) and one for middle schoolers. These aren't just math problems with a curling theme slapped on top. They're designed to help kids experience mathematical concepts through a sport that makes those concepts visible and concrete.

For Elementary Students (Grades 3-4): Problems focus on addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and basic measurement—all tied to scoring, counting stones, and measuring distances in the house.

For Middle School Students: Problems explore circle geometry (radius, diameter, circumference, area), ratios and proportions, statistics, and multi-step problem solving using real curling scenarios.

Download the problem sets here:

• Elementary Curling Math Problems - GRADES 3-4

• Middle School Curling Math Problems

Making It Multisensory

The beauty of these problems is that you don't have to solve them with just a pencil and paper. Use your homemade curling house! Have your child:

• Place coins on the house to visualize scoring scenarios

• Physically measure distances with a ruler

• Draw diagrams to solve geometry problems

• Keep a running score sheet like real curling teams do

This hands-on approach helps build number sense and mathematical reasoning in ways that stick—especially for students who struggle with learning differences.

More Math Fun

Looking for additional ways to make math hands-on and engaging? Check out my free family math games guide for more activities you can do at home.

And if you enjoyed this post, explore how I used swimming to teach math concepts in my Olympic Math: Swimming post.

Is your child struggling with math despite trying traditional approaches? Dyscalculia and other math learning differences are more common than many people realize. If you're wondering whether specialized support might help your student build genuine number sense and math confidence, I'd love to talk with you. Schedule a free consultation to discuss your child's unique needs and how multisensory math instruction can make a difference.