Lots of learning and fun with a snowman roll and cover dice game! Such a great way for young kids to explore early math concepts. Add it to your collection of math activities for preschoolers.
Related: Free Preschool Printables
Kids love dice games. At least, that’s been my experience when teaching kindergarten and preschool. There’s just something about rolling a die that gets the kids excited.
So it’s fun to take that interest and attach it to a learning game like this one. The children get to have a blast tossing dice around as they practice early math concepts.
Snowman Roll and Cover
Creating a preschool theme around snowmen is always fun in the winter.
Couple that theme with the kids’ love of dice games, and you have this snowman math game.
Grab your own free printable snowman game and set it up for the kids. It’s perfect alongside a weekly snowman theme in the preschool or homeschool classroom.
Related: Winter Activities for Preschoolers
Materials for the Snowman Dice Game
Here’s what we used for our snowman roll and cover (I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post):
- Printable game (get yours at the end of this post)
- Dice
- Snowman mini erasers
- Snowflake sequins
- Printer
- Laminator (optional)
You can use the printable number cube that comes with the game, or you can use real dice. That’s up to you and the kids.
Prepping the Snowman Roll and Cover
Print out the snowman roll and cover – one copy per two kiddos. I tend to use these during center time, so I like to have four or five copies on-hand for the kids to play with.
For durability, I’d suggest laminating the game board. You can also place the game in a dry erase pocket. If durability isn’t a concern, then skip that part.
You can use regular dice, or print out the ones that come with the game. One of the printable dice has the numerals 1 to 6 on it, while the other has the usual dice dots for the quantities 1 to 6.
Grab whatever the kids will use for the game pieces. We loved using the snowmen erasers (I found ours at Target, but Amazon has some alternatives) and large snowflake sequins. Other possibilities include bottle caps or coins.
Related: Roll A Snowman
Snowman Roll and Cover Directions
This game is meant for two players.
Player 1 rolls the die or number cube, and then covers up the appropriate numeral on the snowman. Player 2 takers her turn and does the same.
Players go back and forth until all of the numbers are covered up. At that point, they count their pieces. Whoever covered up the most numbers is the winner.
When we play, if a player rolls a number that’s no longer on the board, they lose that turn. I tend to teach this in a funny way, exaggeratedly snapping my fingers and saying, “Maybe next time!” in a silly voice. This takes away the sting of not being able to cover up a number on that turn.
Related: Free Winter Printables
The game is easily played with just one person, too. Kids are often very happy to roll a die and cover up numbers all on their own. I’ve known kids to play the dice game on their own over and over (and over!) again.
Other Ways to Play
Another way we like to use number games like this is with bingo dot markers, crayons, or markers. In that case, I print out extra copies of the game board. I don’t laminate them if we’re playing this way, of course.
When the kids play this way, each player chooses one color. They use that color dot marker (or crayon or regular marker) to color in each number as they’re playing.
Whoever has the most at the end of the game gets to take the paper home (for homeschooling families, whoever wins can put it up in their bedroom).
You can also turn the printable into a count and stack game. Have the kids identify the numbers and try to stack the appropriate number of manipulatives on top of that spot. This works well with Unifix cubes or mini erasers.
Would your kiddos enjoy this simple snowman roll and cover game? If you play it, I’d love to hear what the children think.
Printable Snowman Lesson Plans
Let Preschool Teacher 101 make your teaching life SO MUCH easier! We have hundreds of done-for-you resources that will make planning a snap.
A week’s worth of snowman-themed lesson plans for the preschool classroom and homeschool preschool. Includes weekly lesson plans centered on hands-on learning activities, themed book list, and additional printables.
More Snowman Fun
Melting Snowman Activity with Real Snow | Fun-A-Day
Snowmen at Night Art for Kids | Still Playing School
Ripped Tissue Paper Snowman Craft | Where Imagination Grows
Easy Paper Snowman Art | Fireflies and Mud Pies
Popcorn Snowman Counting | How Wee Learn
Get the Snowman Roll and Cover Printable
This free printable is available to members of Fun-A-Day’s free email community. If you’re a member, enter your information in the form below. You’ll then receive an email with the download links.
If you’re not a member yet, that’s okay! Enter your information in the form below to join us. You’ll get access to the snowman dice game as a welcome gift.
Please be aware that some computers (especially those belonging to school systems) block access to forms like this. If that’s a problem that you’re running into, I suggest using a personal computer at home instead.
If you can’t see the form above, click here to access it.
Originally published January 2017.
Love this
Thank you, Jeni! 🙂