How to play literacy Dominoes

This literacy version of Dominoes helps develop visual discrimination skills.

The game consists of a set of cards that can be placed end to end in a row so that images on the right and left halves of the cards match.

There are many ways to play dominoes. This module gives you one idea to start with.

One to six players can play literacy dominoes.

Here are the materials needed for literacy Dominoes:

The game requires a set of 10 to 15 rectangular cards having the following features:

• Each card is divided in half by a vertical line.

• Each card is different from the others, with a different image on its two halves.

• One card has a star on its left half. Its right half has some other image.
• For every image on the right half of a card, there is one card with the same image on the left half.
• One card has a dot on its right half.

• Images on the cards, except for the star and dot, may be any kind of visual images that new readers need to distinguish:

  • Colors
  • Letters
  • Numbers
  • Pictures
  • Shapes
  • Syllables
  • Symbols
  • Words

1. Spread the cards face up on a flat surface.
2. Put the card with the star in a position where other cards may be placed to the right of it to form a row of cards.

   Illustration

3. The players compete to see who can be the first to find the card with the image that matches the image on the right half of the card with the star.

   Illustration

4. As soon as a correct match has been made and the card added to the row, the players compete to find the next matching card for the row.

   Illustration

5. Play continues until all cards have been played and the card with the dot completes the row.

   Tip:	If the row reaches the edge of the table, move the last card in the row to a position under the card with the star and continue.

6. Repeat the game until the players can quickly find the matching cards.

1. 1. Give each player a complete set of cards in an envelope.
   2. At a signal, the players empty out their cards and match them as above.
   3. The first player to correctly match the cards wins.
2. Be creative and make up your own cards and rules.

• Brown, G. 1984

• Task module: How to play literacy Dominoes
• In task module: Playing literacy games
• In task module: Developing literacy skills, by Martha A. Lane (contributor), Delle P. Matthews (contributor), Leah B. Walter (contributor), Glenys Waters (contributor), Anne Klaassens (editor), and Trudy K. Stewart (editor, contributor)
• In task module: Teaching people to read and write, by Carole P. Spaeth (compiler)
• In task module: Implementing a literacy program, by Carole P. Spaeth (compiler)
• In modular book: Implement a literacy program, by Carole P. Spaeth (compiler) and Leah B. Walter (compiler)
• In bookshelf: Literacy

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 4.0, published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 1999. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 16 March 1999

© 1999 SIL International