Dominoes hit the spot when it comes to helping develop maths abilities, and they are must-haves for any classroom.
There are a variety of games and activities to play with them.
Fives and Threes is a great starting point. Each player draws seven tiles and the object of this game is to score points by laying dominoes so that the open ends of the line add up to multiples of five andor three.
So, if the total number of dots on the open ends of the dominoes is 10, which is a multiple of five, that player will score 10 points.
If the total number of dots is 12, which is a multiple of three, that player will score 12 points. If the total number of dots is 30, a multiple of three and a multiple of five, that player will score 60 points (30 + 30).
Another game is Race to 400. Mix the dominoes and spread them face down on the table.
Take turns to choose a domino. Now make two two-digit numbers and add the numbers together. The total of the two numbers is your score and the first person to reach 400 is the winner
John Dabell is a numeracy consultant and teacher trainer
