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| Domino's: Fun for the whole family! |
Does your family have a hard time finding a game everyone can play? Have no fear. Dominos are here! Of course, you can always play a traditional game of Domino's, but depending on your children's age range, some of your kids could enjoy the game, and some of them could end up chewing on the bones. With the following adaptions, your family could be spending your next Friday night playing a lively game of Math'minos.
Basic Rules to Math'minos:
Each player receives 10 dominos, or enough for everyone to have an equal amount with some still left in the middle. Set a timer. The time may very depending on your child's abilities. Start with the standard 1 minute and adjust to your family's desire. Each player completes their age appropriate task during the time given. If a player completes her tasks before the clock runs out, she may trade for new dominos from the center. After the buzzer goes off, the player with the most completed tasks wins the round. Continue the game for as long as you are having fun.
Here are some examples of Age Appropriate Tasks:
Toddlers
Stacking and Lining:
Children as young as 8 months love stacking blocks. Babies can stack dominos on top of each other like a tower. As your young one grows, she can line up the blocks next to each other. Two year olds will enjoy counting as they stack, and may even like watching the dominos fall.
Preschoolers
Each player preschool level and above should have a writing tool (crayon and paper or wipe board and marker). If your child can’t complete these suggested tasks on her own but is interested in attempting them, team her up with an adult or older sibling. Or modify the tasks to your child's abilities.
Counting and writing numbers.
One to one counting is a developmental milestone for young learners. So is knowing when to stop counting and remembering which dots have already been counted. Writing the corresponding number that is represented on the domino is yet a 3rd skill that can be practiced during this game.
Kindergarteners
Making a math sentences
Each domino has two numbers represented. A domino with 2 dots in one square and 5 dots in the other can be written out as 2+5=7. This is a Math sentence. Remember, every math sentence can be written 2 ways as addition and 2 ways as subtraction! *Older children can write multiplication and division sentences.
Elementary and beyond
Writing opposite problems
Use the numbers represented on the domino's to write an addition problem and a subtraction problem. Using the same numbers to make both an addition and subtraction problem is making opposite problems. It is also a pre algebra skill.
10’s place and 1’s place
Instead of treating each square of the domino as 2 separate numbers, treat them as parts of a double digit number. Before picking the dominos, your child should draw the 10's and the 1's space charts on her paper. When the timer starts, your child should write the digits represented on the domino in the chart on her paper, then show what number that will create.
Each domino can represent two 2 digit numbers.
Adding and Subtracting 2 Digit Numbers
Pick 2 dominos at a time to create math problems using 2 digit numbers. Encourage both adding and subtracting.
As any elementary school teacher will tell you, the greatest challenge in teaching math is making it fun. You can foster your child’s love of Math at home. Always remember that you are your child’s first and best teacher and that learning begins at home.
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