The Many Uses of Domino
Domino is a two or more person game played using a set of domino tiles. Each player takes turns placing down dominoes according to the rules of the game being played; once all their dominoes have been laid out according to those rules, the first person who manages to clear away all theirs wins the hand. Dominoes may originally have been created by ancient Egyptians or Chinese in the 12th Century before spreading across Europe during the 17th Century.
Dominoes offer many opportunities for entertainment, from simple to complex games. Some popular options are dominoes 101, double-blind dominoes and chicken foot. Each game has its own rules but the basic concept remains similar – each domino is marked with dots to help form chains leading to your “winner” tile.
Dominos have also become a tool of artists who use them to craft works of art. Many domino artists have used them to craft curved lines, grids that form pictures when dominoes fall, three dimensional structures like towers and pyramids and other creative designs; those who specialize in this technique are commonly referred to as domino artists.
David Wildstein has created one of the most iconic domino art pieces with The Domino Effect sculpture. It comprises over 40 giant white and black dominoes that create the impression that someone has fallen on top of them, creating a dramatic display when displayed publicly. The piece will draw much-deserved attention when seen displayed for all to admire!
Education can use dominoes as a learning tool to demonstrate the commutative property of addition. Students can demonstrate this concept by placing two dominoes with matching ends on a table (one touching another domino, two touching another etc) before counting each dot and creating an addition equation that links them.
Domino can also be used as an effective teaching tool to assist students in developing spatial awareness, visual perception and fine motor skills. Placing dominoes at appropriate spots will sharpen a child’s spatial awareness while teaching them color recognition; managing small pieces of cardboard will increase manual dexterity and fine motor abilities as well.
The term domino can also refer to a theory regarding human and social behavior that describes how one individual’s actions can have ripple effects throughout society, for instance when cutting in line at a grocery store checkout can prompt other shoppers to join him/her in cutting line causing an exponential chain reaction of cuts by other customers in line.
Dominoes have long been seen as a symbol of social interaction and community in both city squares and quiet village homes alike, reflecting our need to connect with each other as human beings. They serve as a reminder that we all share similar humanity experiences.