6 Simple Domino Math Ideas for Early Years

Do your kids love dominos? This age old toy has been enjoyed by generations for competitive games of play, but the truth is you can also use dominos to teach kids math as well!

There are many math skills you can teach with dominos. Grab a box and scroll down to discover six simple domino math ideas for kids.

You might just be amazed at how helpful these little rectangles can be.

Use dominos as their own unit of measurement.

Kids may have measured items in inches and centimeters, but try using dominos as their own unit of measurement. Use the dominos for kids to find the length of their arm, leg, or even their own height. Record your findings on a graph.

Start diving into fractions.

Since dominos are all the same size, you can use them to explore fractions. Line four dominoes up side by side and remove one to show the fraction ¼. Continue clustering up the dominos and removing one or two to create your own fraction combinations.

Use them as a tool to find perimeter.

Have children take a ruler and measure the sides of the dominos in centimeters. You can write down your findings for each side and use this information to find the perimeter of the domino. Practicing on a smaller item will help kids feel more comfortable when moving onto a larger item.

Use the weight of one domino to make predictions about groups of them.

It might be hard to predict the weight of 30 dominos. But, if you find the weight of one first you can make predictions about 30 since all the dominos are typically identical in weight. Weigh one and write down how much it weighs. Then use this information to make predictions about the weight of 10, 20, or even 30 dominos.

Go on a shape hunt to find other items that share the same shape as dominos.

Dominos are rectangles, so why not look for other rectangles in the house? Take the kids on a shape hunt to find other rectangles under your roof. Some examples might be cereal boxes, tables, or bricks. Make a list of the items you find and discuss.

Use dominos to create bar graphs.

Ask each person in the family how old they are. Use the dominos to create a bar graph to show the various ages. Use one domino to represent one year. You can then consult your domino graph to make comparisons. Who has the tallest stack? Who has the shortest? Use dominos to record the answers to all sorts of questions, such as how many glasses of water each person drank that day or how many times they have been to the beach.

Did you ever think dominos could be so helpful? Consider these tips on how to use dominoes to teach kids math and put them to use in your own home.

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Tara

Tara is the brains behind Homeschool Preschool, where her journey from preschool and public school teacher to homeschooling mom of three fuels her passion for early childhood education. With a blend of expertise and firsthand experience, Tara’s writings offer practical tips and engaging resources to support families in creating meaningful learning adventures at home.