Dominoes chords

I found these mini dominoes and thought I could use them to teach chords.  I flipped them all over (I don't actually use the dominoes part I just liked having good strong tiny shapes to manipulate) and started writing the letters needed for the primary chords in C, F and G.  I have them play a C scale to figure out what sharps and flats they will be using.  They then play a chord on the first note of the scale then manipulate the dominoes.  The goal eventually is to not use the piano.  We then count to the fourth note of the scale and they build the chord, then the five chord and then we add the seventh.  I love watching them have to think and figure it out!  They eventually get really fast at it.  I introduce it with the C scale and then immediately do it in G so they learn about using the key signature.  

I also love that we can use these to play with inversions as well.  After everything is in root position I have them rearrange the dominoes and then have them play it on the piano.  Still the same chord!

I keep them in a small tupperware and pull them out all the time.  I put a nickle next to one of the dominoes to give you an idea how small the dominoes are - you really can use anything small!

The first two times it seems to take quite awhile to explain it all so it works especially well on those weeks that they didn't practice as much!  Or if I know I want to teach it to them we go a little faster through the lesson to have extra time at the end...I would plan on probably 10 minutes the first time but I feel like my students have become so much stronger not only with their understanding of chords but also why we learn scales and key signatures!