Domino patterns
What patterns can you make with a set of dominoes?
Problem
We love playing with dominoes! There are so many patterns you can make with the dots on them.
You could ask some questions:
- How many dominoes are there where both ends are the same?
- What different totals are there, if you add all the dots on a domino?
- Using only dominoes with different totals, can you make a line of dominoes where the ends that touch always match?
- Using a whole set of dominoes, what's the longest chain you can make where the ends that touch always match?
Once you've explored the dominoes, make some patterns with them on the table or floor.
What ideas do you have? Email us with your ideas - you could describe your patterns in words or take pictures and send them to us.
If you haven't got any dominoes you could print a set of your own from our resources page.
Getting Started
What do you notice about the dominoes?
Have a look at two or three dominoes. What is the same and what is different about them?
Student Solutions
Alistair and Jessica at Randlay School in England said:
We did this by finding the largest number 6/6 and then finding another domino with six and any other number on it. Over to Jess.
We found interesting patterns and also played a game of dominoes. Alistair wasn't sure at first but I soon taught him!
Ronan and Varun from the International School in the Seychelles sent us a picture:
They have made touching dominoes add to seven, although, as they explain, they have added dots rather than using the 'standard' domino set. Thank you for telling us about your work.
Teachers' Resources
Domino Patterns
We love playing with dominoes!
There are so many patterns you can make with the dots on them.
You could ask some questions:
- how many are there where both ends are the same?
- can we make lines of the ones that add up to different numbers?
- what's the longest chain I can make where the ends of two dominoes match?
Once you've got to know all about the dominoes, make some patterns with them on the table or floor.
What ideas do you have? Send them in - you could describe them in words or take pictures and send them to us.
If you haven't got any dominoes you could print a set of your own from here.
Why do this problem?
This activity encourages children to explore the structure of a set of dominoes in their own way and to think about ways of constructing different patterns. Young children may well respond to the colours of the dots - if you want them to focus on number you might choose to print off a black and white version from this print out.
Possible approach
Key questions
- What do you notice about the dominoes?
- Tell me about your pattern.
- Why have you arranged them like that?
- Which one would go next/on top/by the side of this one?
- Are there any more that would go in that line?
Possible extension
Missing Middles and Domino Sorting extend the ideas of pattern. To children who are very confident you might like to offer Domino Sets.
Possible support
Next Domino and Domino Sequences offer ideas about possible patterns.