Using Dominoes to Teach Math and Science

A domino is a tile with a number of dots or blanks, which can be used in games of chance and skill. The tiles are typically molded or drilled, and they may be white with black spots, black with white spots, or colored. The most common set contains a double-twelve (91 tiles) or a double-nine (55 tiles). More recent sets include larger numbers of pips on each end, increasing the total number of possible combinations of ends.

Dominoes can also be used in the classroom to help students learn about basic math. For example, the commutative property of addition can be demonstrated by having students place two dominoes next to each other with the same number of dots on both sides. This helps students understand that the number of dots is not a factor in determining how many other tiles should be played.

In Dominoes, players score points by laying down dominoes that touch each other end to end. The exposed ends must match: a single domino must touch a double, and a double must touch a single. The first player to get all of his dominoes on the table scores that amount of points.

Using dominoes to teach the commutative property of addition is a great way to reinforce the concept for young children. It is important to introduce this concept early so that children can internalize it before learning about more complex concepts such as multiplication and division.

Hevesh, who is a professional domino artist with more than 2 million YouTube subscribers, creates elaborate domino installations for movies, TV shows, and events—including an album launch for pop star Katy Perry. Some of her largest setups take several nail-biting minutes to fall, but once they do, they are breathtaking. Hevesh makes test versions of each part of an installation to make sure it works before putting them all together.

If you’re a writer, using dominoes as a metaphor for scenes can help you stay on track with your story. For example, if you have a scene that doesn’t move the plot forward or raise tension, it could be a “domino” that doesn’t fit into your narrative.

When you’re writing a book, dominoes can also serve as an excellent model of the “domino effect.” A domino that’s laid down has to impact the scene following it in order for it to work. This is how the domino effect can help you keep your novel on track and create a coherent story.

Creating an email list, updating social media daily, and hosting live events can all be seen as your business’s lead dominos. They all have the ability to lead to new clients, which means you’re one step closer to growing your company and bringing in more income. When you start a new project, identify which of these dominoes is the most important to help you reach your goals. Once you have your lead domino in place, all you need to do is lay down the rest of your plan.