1. Overview

Sight Words Dominoes is simply the classic game of Dominoes, but with sight words on the dominoes instead of various numbers of dots. This game uses only 10 words per set of domino cards, so this is a great way to focus attention on a small set of words.

sight words dominoes
Sight Words Dominoes

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2. Materials

The only requirement for this game is a set of Sight Words Domino cards.

  • Domino Cards
  • Printer
  • Cardstock paper (approximately 110 lb / 200 gsm)
  • Scissors

Use the Domino Card Creator to create your own set of cards. Print onto cardstock paper and cut along the dotted lines.

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3. Activity

The goal of Sight Words Dominoes is to build a string of domino cards by matching a word on your domino to one of the words on the domino path. This game can be played with two to four players.

Video: How to Play Sight Words Dominoes

Shuffle the domino cards and then deal them all out to the players. (It’s okay if the players don’t have exactly the same numbers of cards.) The first player selects one of their cards and puts it, face up, on the playing surface (a table or the floor). Because this is Sight Words Dominoes, this player must read aloud the two words on the card. If they don’t know a word or can’t say the word in less than 10 seconds, then we pause play for a few seconds to do a quick correction to help them learn the word.

Then the second player takes their turn. They scan their own cards for a word that matches a playable word on the already-played domino card. When they find one, they add it to the playing field, reading both words on their card aloud.

Because our focus is on reading and practicing sight words, we are not that concerned with “official” dominoes rules. If there is no play at the end of the domino path, it is totally okay to play a domino from the middle of the path, creating a new “branch.”

sight words dominoes branch
You can connect a domino card to a matching word in the middle of the path to start a new branch.

The game finishes when all the domino cards have been played. There is no particular winner in this version of the game. Just have fun and practice reading those sight words!

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4. Printable Domino Cards

This game uses only 10 words per set of domino cards, so use this as an opportunity for your child to practice and get a lot of repetition with a small set of words (i.e., all the words beginning with “th”).

Use the Sight Words Dominoes Card Creator to create your own custom set of cards. This app lets you select from both existing sight words lists (e.g., Dolch and Fry) as well as allowing you to add custom words (e.g., current vocabulary words, names, etc.).

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15 Responses to “Sight Words Dominoes”

  1. Debbie Randolph

    Thank you! You have just made a busy job much easier. I am grateful!

    Reply
  2. T Chapman

    Thanks!

    Reply
  3. C Glz

    Thank you a lot

    Reply
  4. tiarra

    it is so fun

    Reply
  5. Carlotta

    Thank you so much!!!

    Reply
  6. Ed

    This is a wonderful site with so many wonderful ideas. Thank you.

    Reply
  7. Jennifer

    Thank you so much for this.. My daughter will love to play this game!

    Reply
  8. Andrea

    I have just discovered all of the amazing resources and printables you offer. These activities will definitely enhance my language programming and the kids are going to love it! Thank you 🙂

    Reply
  9. Zita cumberbatch

    Very very interesting way to teach Sight Words.

    Reply
  10. Lollka

    Oh Wow! I stumbled across this via a google search as my 7yr od wanted a snakes and ladder game he could colour in (and for me to laminate after LOL)! I found that AND so much more. Thank you. I will certainly be adding some of your fun interactive learning sight word games for my younger lot.

    Reply
  11. gutierrez

    WOW!!!! I love this website. This just made my entire year! As a new teacher I cannot tell you how cumbersome putting together literacy centers can be. Now I have a GO-TO place for helping me get my students on the right path to learning. Thank you to whomever made this FREE and available for teachers. I am forever grateful.

    Reply
  12. Sharon

    I just love this website. It is so useful. Let me know if you come up with more ideas.

    Reply
  13. nancy

    This site is AMAZING!!!!!
    Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!

    Reply
  14. Alex

    I love this. Just made learning Spanish sight words fun!

    Reply
  15. Rosemarie

    So helpful! Thank you so much.

    Reply

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