Dominoes Game for Elementary Kids

Preparation

• Use a black marker on heavy paper to construct a parking lot for a dominoes game for elementary kids. Fold the paper in half so the two long sides meet. Then fold the paper lengthwise three more times, so you have two rows of eight spaces when the paper is open. Number the top row spaces "0" through "6," while the bottom row is spaces "7" through "12."

Younger Directions

• Place a regular set of dominos upside down in front of students with their finished parking lot on paper. Each player counts the total number of dots, or pips, on their entire domino. Then they park it in the parking spot of the same number. After one player parks their domino, the next player selects a domino. The game continues until each child has a set number of turns.

Older Directions

• Challenge older elementary school students by selecting a target sum on the parking lot sheet. For example, choose the number "8" space as the target. It can be selected by throwing dice. Children select dominos upside down from the pile and if they do not form the right sum, they lose. Once the target is found, a new target is selected. One student will tally all of the wins on a separate paper. A variation of the game is to subtract the smaller number from the larger number instead of adding the two numbers.

Notes

• Educators and parents should give younger children who are new to dominoes an overview on the system of dots that make up the numbers. Each domino can be read together in preparation for the game. Allow the children to handle the dominoes and let them feel the indentation of the dots. Once they are familiar with the numbering system, the children can play the games and add the numbers more easily.