Giant Math Dominoes Relay

Each team builds a giant domino chain on the ground where every tile has a problem on one end and an answer on the other. The tiles are far away and must be fetched relay style, so students combine running, mental math and group decision-making.

How to play

1. Make 5 teams of 5 lined up behind a starting cone. About 50 feet away, each team has a pile of 12 cardstock tiles face up with addition problems and answers (2 min).
2. Place the starting tile in front of each line, such as "START | 7". Explain that a tile fits if its problem equals the open number at the end of the chain: after 7 comes "3 + 4 | 9" (2 min).
3. On the whistle, the first runner in each line sprints to the pile, picks one tile they think fits and runs back to add it to the chain.
4. They high-five the next runner, who goes. If the team sees the tile does not fit, the next runner returns it to the pile before bringing a new one.
5. The first team to place all 12 tiles in a correct chain wins the round; the teacher checks it by reading each match out loud (7 min).
6. Round two uses subtraction or doubles-and-halves tiles, and teams switch piles (5 min).

Rules

• Carry only one tile per trip.
• Nobody leaves the line before the high-five.
• Stay in your own lane, and set tiles down by hand instead of tossing them.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the student stays by the chain as the builder and checks each match while teammates bring the tiles.
• Visual impairment: use large high-contrast numbers and a sighted guide who runs alongside holding the student's elbow.
• Math level: give each team a pile at the right difficulty without making it obvious to others.

Learning goals

• Solve addition and subtraction problems mentally while staying active.
• Run with changes of pace and controlled stops in a relay.
• Make team decisions while respecting turns.

Equipment for a class of 25

• cardstock: 60
• cones: 10

Teacher tip

Make the tiles ahead of time on two colors of cardstock, one per round, and number the backs so cleanup is fast. If a team gets stuck, let the next runner bring back the last tile of the chain as a hint.

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