How Domino Can Help You Teach Math and Science
Domino, the game of matching one end of a tile to another end of another tile and then laying them down in a line, is fun for kids and adults. Its simplicity and ease of learning can make it a powerful tool for demonstrating the commutative property of addition or the distributive property of multiplication, for example. It is also a popular choice for teaching fractions.
A domino is a flat, thumbsized rectangular block that has one face marked with an arrangement of dots or pips (similar to those on a die) and the other blank or identically patterned. There are seven doubles—tiles that have the same number on both ends, ranging from a double blank to a double six—and 21 singles in a standard set of 28 dominoes.
The rules for most domino games vary, but the basic premise is that each player places his or her tiles on a table in front of him or her so that the numbers—or blanks—on adjacent tiles match each other, either side up or side to side. Then a player or team plays a domino from his or her hand, adding to the score by counting the number of dots on the tiles in the opponent’s hands. The person or team with the lowest count wins the hand.
When playing, it’s best to play on a hard surface so the dominoes don’t slip and fall over. Also, make sure you have enough room on the table to place your tiles in a line of play. If you don’t, you may run out of space before you’re finished and have to stop.
Many people enjoy making domino art—creating lines and curved shapes that form pictures, grids, or 3D structures like towers and pyramids when they fall. Others use the pieces to create intricate patterns. You can even find a site where you can plan out and print your own designs to use in the game.
While Domino is often referred to as a board game, it can be played in any setting where there are two or more players. In family settings, it can be a great way to spend time together and build communication skills.
As an educational tool, domino can help students understand the commutative property of addition by showing how the same addends can be added in any order. The teacher can demonstrate this by placing a domino with 4 on one end and 2 on the other and having the class name an addition equation such as 4+2=6.
In a study of the distribution of pips on a domino, researchers found that if a single pips falls over the edge of the table, it will cause all other pips to slide over until they reach the bottom of the stack. When this happens, the stack is considered to be blocked, and the player or team who blocks it can not continue play until they remove the blocking domino from the bone yard.