Roll and Cover Christmas Tree Math Game for Kids

Roll and cover is the simplest math game you can draw at home. Sketch a Christmas tree covered in empty ornament circles, roll a standard die, and cover that many ornaments with coins or paper circles. Kids practice counting to 20 and one-to-one matching, and the first player to cover their whole tree wins the round.

What supplies do you need?

• One large sheet of paper or poster board per player
• Green marker or crayon for the tree, plus other colors for decorating
• One standard six-sided die
• 20 counters per player: coins, dried beans, buttons, or circles cut from scrap paper
• Pencil for sketching the tree before tracing it
• Scissors for cutting paper-circle counters (an adult cuts, or helps kids who are learning)
• A tray or baking sheet (optional, keeps counters from rolling)
• A kitchen timer (optional, for the race-the-clock version)

Small counters like beans, buttons, and coins are choking hazards for children under 3. Keep them out of reach of younger siblings, and have an adult supervise the game whenever little ones are nearby.

How do you draw the game board?

1. Draw a large triangle tree with a short trunk on the paper. Make it fill most of the page so the ornament circles have room to breathe.
2. Draw 20 empty circles across the tree as ornaments. Aim for circles about an inch wide so counters sit on them without sliding off.
3. Let kids decorate around the circles with crayons: a star on top, garland lines, a few snow dots. The ornaments themselves stay empty so counters show up clearly.
4. Optional numeral version: for kids who know their numerals, write the numbers 1 through 6 inside the circles, repeating across the tree. Players then roll and cover a matching numeral instead of counting.

How do you play roll and cover?

1. Each player gets their own tree board and a pile of 20 counters. Decide who rolls first, then play moves clockwise.
2. Roll the die and count the dots together, saying the number out loud. Touching each dot while counting keeps young counters accurate.
3. Cover that many uncovered ornament circles, placing one counter per circle and counting as you go: one, two, three.
4. If the roll is larger than the ornaments left uncovered, just cover the rest. Agree on this rule before the first round so nobody argues about it mid-game.
5. The first player to cover all 20 ornaments wins. Clear the boards and play again, or switch to the numeral version for a new challenge.

How do you make it easier or harder?

For younger players, draw only 12 ornament circles for a shorter round, and count every roll out loud together. Skip the numeral version until number recognition feels solid. For kids who breeze through it, add a second die and cover the total of both dice, which sneaks in adding practice on top of the counting. You can also race the clock: set a timer and see how many ornaments one player can cover in two minutes.

What goes wrong, and how do you fix it?

• Your child counts too fast and skips ornaments. Slow the count down by touching each counter as it lands. An adult counting along for the first few rounds sets the pace.
• The roll is bigger than the ornaments left. Use the house rule you picked before starting: cover the rest and finish, or roll again until the number fits. Either way works as long as everyone agreed upfront.
• Kids argue over whose turn it is. Roll once before the game to set the order, then keep that order every round. Writing player names along the bottom of each board ends most disputes.
• Counters roll off the table. Play on a tray, a baking sheet, or the floor. Paper circles cut from scrap paper do not roll at all and are the safest pick with mixed ages.
• The game drags past bedtime. Drop to 12 ornaments per board for a ten-minute round. A short game kids ask to repeat beats a long one they quit.

More Christmas fun to try

• Keep the counting going with pumpkin counting mats, a hands-on number activity.
• Roll the dice again in roll a turkey dice game.
• Flip and match pairs in the Christmas matching game.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What age is roll and cover right for?

Kindergarteners, ages 4 to 6, get the most from it. They can count to 20, take turns, and handle the small counters safely with an adult nearby. Kids ages 3 and up can play a shorter 12-ornament version if an adult counts along and uses paper-circle counters instead of beans or coins.

What if my child cannot read numbers yet?

Use the blank-circle board and ignore the numeral version completely. The game only asks kids to count dots on the die and match one counter to one circle, which builds the one-to-one matching that comes before number reading. Add numerals later, when recognizing 1 through 6 feels easy.

How long does one round take?

About 15 to 20 minutes for a full 20-ornament game with two players, including drawing the boards. The 12-ornament version takes closer to ten minutes. Drawing and decorating the tree usually takes as long as the game itself, so plan for that when you sit down.

Are the game pieces safe for little kids?

Coins, dried beans, and buttons are choking hazards for children under 3, so this game needs adult supervision whenever toddlers are in the room. Paper circles cut from scrap paper are the safest counter for mixed-age play. Sweep the table and floor after the game so no small pieces get left behind.

Be safe and have fun!