Dominoes are more than just a fun family game. They can also teach students about the commutative property of addition, which is important for understanding how to write and solve equations. A domino can also help bridge the gap between using moveable manipulatives like cubes and moving to only symbolic representations of numbers and equations.
The word “domino” originally referred to the result of a roll of a single die, but the markings that identify dominoes as such were first introduced in France in 1750. The resulting markings, called pips, represent the results of different combinations of dice. Originally, dominoes were used only to play games. But they soon grew in popularity as a way to learn the principles of mathematics and other disciplines.
Today, Dominoes are sold in many different shapes and sizes. They are made of clay, plastic, or wood; they can be round or rectangular; and they can even have a metal pin in the center. They are most often painted in bright colors, though some manufacturers offer sets that are bare or natural. In addition to their classic white and black, some are colored in bright shades of red, blue, and yellow.
Most people are familiar with the game of domino, in which players place a series of dominoes so that the ends of each match up. Normally, the game is played on a table, with each player taking turns laying down a domino. The end of each domino must match an end of another, except for doubles, which are placed on their sides. The winner is the first to complete a line of dominoes.
Dominoes have been used in a wide variety of artistic and architectural projects, from simple wall displays to massive 3-D constructions. One such artist, Hevesh, has a YouTube channel with more than 2 million subscribers where she posts videos of her creations. Hevesh creates complex domino arrangements for movies, television shows, and events, including the album launch for pop singer Katy Perry. Her largest pieces take several nail-biting minutes to fall.
As Hevesh explains in one video, she tests out the dominoes before putting them all together. She then films the test in slow motion, so she can see if it works properly. She starts with the biggest 3-D sections, and then adds flat arrangements and lines of dominoes connecting each section to others. She usually makes a separate video for each section of an installation, and she will change the order in which she puts the dominoes if necessary to make sure everything flows smoothly.
Whether you are creating a domino effect in the classroom, or in your daily life, the key is to do something that causes a positive reaction in those around you. Whether it’s making your bed in the morning, saying thank you to a customer, or writing an engaging story that makes readers want to keep turning the pages, the results will be much more dramatic than if you do nothing at all.