Circus Roll and Cover Math Games

Motivate your student to practice counting, simple addition, and simple subtraction with this set of free circus roll and cover math games.

Benefits of the Circus Roll and Cover Math Games

Roll and Cover is an effective educational tool that can help kids learn basic math skills. Students will add, subtract, and manipulate number quantities in order to cover their boards.

Roll and Cover Games are easy to use. A student can use these games for independent math practice or the games can be used for cooperative learning.

If you are looking for our entire selection of roll and cover games, try this page.

Supplies Needed for the Circus Roll and Cover Math Games

Your student will need one game board, dice, and a small manipulative to use to cover the spots on the board.

You can use a variety of manipulative to cover the dots on the game board: pompoms, popcorn, circle counters, buttons, or even playdough pieces.

Before giving your student a game board, you may wish to laminate it or put it in a sheet protector.

How to Play Single Player Roll and Cover Addition

Let the student choose one of the circus themed game boards.

Give student the dice and manipulatives.

Player throws the dice and adds the sum of both. For example, if the player throws a 3 and a 4, the total is 7.

The player can then cover anything equal to the sum, seven. So, the player could cover 3+4, 2+5, or 7.

The player chooses whether she wants to roll one die or both. This becomes important as more numbers are covered.

If the player cannot use the throw to cover numbers (i.e. if the player’s dice total is 7 but the 3, 4, 2, 5, and 7 are already covered), the player should re-roll.

Player continues until all of the spots on the game board are covered.

How to Play Single Player Roll and Cover Subtraction

Player throws the dice and subtracts the smaller number from the larger number.

The player can cover any spot equal to the difference.

If the player cannot use the throw to cover a number, the player should re-roll.

How to Play a Multiplayer Roll and Cover Game 

Print the same circus themed board for each player.

Players take turns throwing the dice and covering the numbers on the board.

If a player cannot use the throw to cover numbers, the player loses his turn and the next player rolls.

The first player to cover every number on the board wins.

Alternatively, players could use one board to work cooperatively to complete the entire board.

What’s Included in the Circus Roll and Cover Game Set?

The Circus Roll and Cover Math Games file includes four game boards:

• Circus Tent Roll and Cover Addition Game
• Circus Balloons Roll and Cover Addition Game
• Circus Scene Roll and Cover Subtraction Game
• Ferris Wheel Roll and Cover Subtraction Game

Each game board comes in a full color version as well as a black and white version. For the black and white versions, your student could roll and color instead of roll and cover.

Get Your Free Roll and Cover Games

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More Printables for a Circus Theme

If you are building a fun circus theme for your students, consider trying some of these additional activities and printables.