Dominoes Game

If your kids love to do math and patterns the fun way, they are going to LOVE this dominoes game!

I’ve been playing dominoes games since I was just a kid. Now we use our favorite colored dominoes to play all kinds of educational games. They are a staple in our learning closet.

For this fun activity we actually made our own dominoes using this FREE DIY Dominoes Template and dot markers. We’ll show you how we did it and tell you some of our favorite dominoes games to play with them.

How to Make DIY Giant Dominoes

Supplies Needed:

• FREE DIY Dominoes Template
• Colored Dominoes
• Dot markers (in corresponding colors to the dots on the dominoes)

* Readers often ask where we get the supplies we use in our activities. I’m now including easy links for you to find them in seconds. They may even give us a small commission when you purchase through our links.

Lay out all of your supplies on a table or tray. Your preschooler is sure to be intrigued by the inviting set up. The colored spots on the dominoes and dot markers will appeal to visual learners, and those who simply love learning by doing. 

Instructions:

1. Choose one domino from the pile and place it in front of you.
2. Copy the color dots from each side of the black line onto the paper domino using the dot markers. Encourage counting out loud.
3. Allow the dominoes to dry before playing your game.

There are so many key skills being developed when doing this activity. Color recognition and counting skills are used to ensure that the domino is accurately replicated onto the paper. Fine motor skills and mark making are in full swing during this process too.

Dominoes Game Ideas

Trains

This is one of my favorite dominoes games. In our preschool/kindergarten version, you would start with a double six domino in the center. (If you are using traditional dominoes you can start with a double nine or double twelve domino.)

Each player draws 4-6 dominoes, depending on how many people are playing. On their turn, they can find a domino with a side that matches the original domino. For our version, that would be a domino that has a side with 6 dots. They place that domino up against the center domino, with the sixes touching.

The next player goes, starting their own train with a matching domino. On the next turn, they have to find a domino with a side that matches the side sticking out of their train.

If they do not have a matching domino, they have to pass and draw another domino. If they didn’t have to pass on the previous turn, they can also add a domino to another player’s train.

The game is over when one player gets rid of all of their dominoes.

Block Dominoes Game

In this two player game, each player draws 7 dominoes. Place a double 6 domino in the center. Each player takes a turn placing a matching domino side against one of the edges of the line. If a player can not go, they must pass.

The game ends when one player runs out of dominoes or neither player can play. If both players have to pass, the game ends and the winner is determined by counting the total number of dots left on the dominoes you were unable to play. The player with the lowest number of dots wins.

For more popular dominoes game ideas, visit this page.

Educational Dominoes Game Ideas

DIY Paper Dominoes Addition

1. Add the total number of dots on the domino, turn the paper over and use the pencil to write the sum on the back. Take this opportunity to use Math vocabulary such as ‘add’, ‘plus’, ‘sum’, and ‘equals’.
2. Continue the process, taking different dominoes from the pile each time.
3. For an extra challenge you could turn this into a subtraction or multiplication activity.

Dominoes Counting War Game

For this two player game, have each player draw 10 dominoes, stacked in a pile, face down.

Have both players turn over their top domino at the same time. Count the dots. The player with more dots on their domino gets to keep both dominoes. If it is a tie, set both dominoes to the side. Turn over the next two dominoes. The winner of that set wins all 4 dominoes.

When you get to the end of your pile, shuffle your pile of dominoes and keep going.

Play until one player has all of the dominoes.

Here are some more fun educational dominoes game ideas.

Domino Addition Towers Game

Uno Counting Dominoes Game

Thank you for stopping by to check out these fun dominoes game ideas. We hope you found them helpful, and be sure to print out your FREE Printable DIY Dominoes template.

This awesome idea is the genius of Lucy Baker, from Find the Little Mind. Find her sharing amazing ideas on Instagram @findthelittlemind.