Domino Problem Solving

Students will have to really think about dominoes as they solve Garage Sale Dominoes.  A sample solution using an orderly list is included in the pdf file.


After students have solved Garage Sale Dominoes, challenge them to solve More Garage Sale Dominoes in which they must figure out how many different dominoes there are in a complete double-nine set.  A sample solution using an orderly list is included in the pdf file.

Enrichment on the Internet:

• Challenge students to solve Math Forum's Domino Activities.
• Amaze students with your psychic abilities using the Domino Trick.
• Challenge students to solve the Domino Maze from Games magazine.
• Check out examples of Domino Artwork.

Domino Facts Template

Students insert the template into a sheet protector and use dry erase markers to reproduce the domino, then add in the appropriate numbers.  Finally students, write four number sentences for that fact family.


This activity is easily incorporated into daily lessons as a warm-up or do now! activity.  Teachers may post the domino of the day or use an overhead domino.  Teachers may also elect to distribute dominoes, differentiating the difficulty level to accommodate the needs of varied learners in the class.

Download the Domino Facts Template for student use.


This activity is also an effective math center activity.  Provide tubs of dominoes, domino facts templates and/or have students use the Domino Record Sheet to record the sums of dominoes they select to practice basic facts.


Read more about using the Domino Facts Template on Mathwire.com.

Domino Flash Game

Play Domino Flash to help your students master the domino patterns.  Each student needs a domino mat and counters.  Teachers may use overhead dominoes or Domino Flash Cards, copied on card stock, cut apart and laminated for classroom use.


The teacher shows a domino for a count of 5-10 seconds, depending on the ability level of the students, then covers it.  Students look at the domino as it is shown, then build the domino from memory, using a domino mat.  Students may use round chips to recreate the domino.  Alternately, if the mat is inserted in a sheet protector, students may use a dry erase marker to draw the pips.


The teacher circulates around the room as students work, to observe student performance,   After some time, the teacher asks students to describe the domino they saw and how they remembered the patterns to build.  Finally, the teacher shows the domino again so that students are able to self-correct.

Center Activity:  make the Domino Flash Game materials available for students to play as pairs or triads at center time.  Students love to rotate playing teacher for this game!

Domino Parking Lot

Students use a set of regular dominoes and a domino parking mat.  Each student selects a domino, counts the total number of dots (pips) and places the domino in that parking spot.  Dominoes with the same number of dots may be stacked on top of each other in the parking spot, if necessary.


Center Activity:  Teachers may use craft foam and a sharpie marker to create the parking lot mat or download the Domino Parking Lot game mat, copy it on card stock, and laminate the mat for student use.  Provide sets of dominoes for pairs or small groups of students to sort.


Challenge:  As a variation of the game, select target sums and give students a point for each domino they find to park in those spaces.  This motivates students to search for those particular combinations and heightens interest in finding those dominoes to win the most points for the group.  Have one member of the group use a Domino Parking Lot recording sheet, write in the day's winning numbers, then draw in the dots of the dominoes the group finds for those numbers.

Domino Flash Game

Play Domino Flash to help your students master the domino (and dice) patterns. Each student needs a domino mat and counters. Teachers may use overhead dominoes or Domino Flash Cards (copied on card stock, and cut apart) for this game. 

Domino Patterns:  The teacher shows a domino for a count of 5-10 seconds, depending on the ability level of the students, then covers it. Students look at the domino as it is shown, then build the domino from memory, using a domino mat and counters.  The teacher circulates around the room as students work, to observe student performance. After some time, the teacher asks students to describe the domino they saw and how they remembered the patterns to build. Finally, the teacher shows the domino again so that students are able to self-correct. 

Fact Family Practice:  The teacher shows a domino for a count of 5-10 seconds, depending on the ability level of the students, then covers it. Students look at the domino as it is shown, then build the domino from memory, using a domino facts template inserted in a sheet protector.  Students use dry erase markers to write the fact family for the given domino.

 

Center Activity: make the Domino Flash Game materials available for students to play as pairs or triads at center time. Students love to rotate playing teacher for this game!

Domino Parking Lot

Students use a set of regular dominoes and a domino parking mat. Each student selects a domino, counts the total number of dots (pips) and places the domino in that parking spot. Dominoes with the same number of dots may be stacked on top of each other in the parking spot, if necessary. 

Center Activity: Teachers may use craft foam and a sharpie marker to create the parking lot mat or download the Domino Parking Lot game mat.  Copy the game mat on card stock, and laminate the mat for student use or insert the game mat in a sheet protector. Provide sets of dominoes for small groups of students to sort. 

 Challenge: As a variation of the game, select target sums and give students a point for each domino they find to park in those spaces. This motivates students to search for those particular  combinations and heightens interest in finding those dominoes to win the most points for the group. Have one member of the group use a Domino Parking Lot Recording Sheet write in the day's winning numbers, then draw in the dots of the dominoes the group finds for those numbers.

Domino Fact Families

Dominoes may be used to introduce students to fact families. Students need a Domino Facts Template inserted in a sheet protector, dry erase marker, and some dominoes for this activity. 

The student selects a domino and draws it on the template (or uses counters to build the domino). He/she then counts the number of dots on each side of the domino, writing the numbers in the squares above the domino sides. The student figures out the total number of dots and writes this number in the rectangle below the domino. These three numbers are the number family the students will use to write the 4 number sentences for that fact family. 

Alternately, the teacher may display a Domino Flash Card and have the whole class use the same domino for the introductory activity. In this case, the teacher should use an overhead of the Domino Facts Template.   NOTE: inserting the overhead in a sheet protector allows the teacher to use dry erase markers and preserves the life of the overhead. For storage, many teachers elect to keep these often-used overheads in a binder. 

Differentiation: Vary the complexity of the dominoes students use to accommodate the varied needs of learners in the class. 

Center Activity: Make the materials available in the math center so that students practice fact families on a regular basis.

Do Now! Transition Activity: Many teachers opt to have students keep the Domino Facts Template in their desks so that they can use this activity as a daily part of math class, beginning or ending math class with fact family practice.