Math Play *Dandelions*

Wind, wonder and clever moves for curious minds of all ages

Welcome to Dandelions, a beautifully simple two-player game by Math With Bad Drawings that hides a rich web of math just beneath its whimsical surface.

You can download and print the game for free thanks to creator Ben Orlin:

Download Dandelions PDF

How to Play

Dandelions is played on a 5x5 grid and uses a Compass Rose as a tool. Draw both on a piece of paper. (Bonus: use a ruler to make each square 1"x1")

Player One is the Dandelion Player Two is the Wind.

Player One wants to cover the grid with dandelion seeds. Player Two wants to prevent the seeds from fully covering the grid.

Game Play: Player One places a * on any square. Player Two then selects and marks off a direction from the compass rose.

The Wind uses a gust in any one of the eight compass directions (north, northeast, east, etc.) but each direction can only be used once per game. For example if the wind chooses to blow to the SE, all the squares to the SE of all the placed dandelions would be seeded (draw a dot).

Seeds multiply and move with each gust, making each round a small puzzle.

The game ends when either:

• The Dandelions cover all 25 squares, or
• The Wind runs out of moves and the grid is not fully covered.

What unfolds is a gentle but strategic dance of placement, prediction, and pattern.

Where’s the Math?

This game is full of mathematical thinking:

• Spatial reasoning – Visualizing movements, distances, and overlapping patterns.
• Combinatorics – Limited directional moves mean every gust must be carefully chosen.
• Optimization – How can each role accomplish the most with the least?
• Strategy & prediction – Both players must read the board, anticipate, and adapt.
• Emergent behavior – Simple rules give rise to complexity, variation, and new questions.

Ideas for Family, Class, or Solo Play

• Role swap: Play both roles and reflect on what shifts.
• Co-op mode: Work together to cover the grid as efficiently as possible.
• Expansion challenge: Try a 7x7 grid, or make your own variant.
• Reflection prompt: What math surprised you? What strategy worked? What would you try differently next time?

Math Is in the Movement

Math is more than numbers. It's strategy, balance, timing, and the choices we make in motion. Dandelions brings this to life, encouraging us to reflect on those choices in order to grow.

Credits

Dandelions is a free printable game by Ben Orlin, shared via Math With Bad Drawings. Game rules and design are credited to the original PDF linked above. Buy his book, ebook or game kit here.