CELEBRATING 100 DAY!

St. Monica Catholic Elementary School
Grade 1: Mary-Jeanne Elizabeth Miller

100’s Day
Students were anticipating the 100^th day of school since early September. Our Grade 1 Class does calendar activities every morning and the students always look forward to special calendar days.

 The concept of place value is introduced by counting the days of school. We use a ones, tens, and hundreds box.  Everyday our calendar student adds a stir stick to the one’s box. We count the stir sticks together and move the corresponding card number to match the stir sticks.  Students can visually see what happens when we have 10 ones that are bundled up with an elastic and put into the 10’s box.

 After working with our ones, tens and hundreds box students write the number on a number line. We use a roll of paper from an adding machine. It is wonderful to see the paper unroll across the wall as we continue to calculate and total “How many days of school?”

 Students enjoy charting and tracking the days of school. They come up with a variety of patterns when counting. For example: Today we are going to clap when we say each group of 10! Groups of ten are circled in red so they can visually see them when we begin counting out loud. Students use a pointer while they are tracking.

There is a lot of discussion and anticipation about the 100^th Day of school and about our big celebration. We read a variety of literature connections to celebrate 100. One of our class favourites is Margery Cuylers’ “100^th Day Worries.” 

Other class Favourites include:

·        Ingrid and Her 100 Hats

·        100 Hungry Ants by Elinor J. Pinzes

·        The Wolf’s Chicken Stew by Keiko Kasza

·        The 100^th Day of School by Angela Shelf Medearis

100-Day Projects

 Students were asked to bring in a collection of anything that totaled 100 for our 100^th day of school. They could choose to display their items in a collage or any other creative art form. It was a wonderful opportunity for students to practice counting by 1’s, 2’s, 5’s and 10’s. A note was sent home to parents 2 weeks before our 100’s Day Party.

Students presented their projects leading to the 100^th day of school. It was a great opportunity for “math talk.” Each student described how they made their project and the materials used. Their classmates were able to ask three questions followed by two positive comments! The students enjoyed presenting their 100’s day projects to the class.

To extend the project approach we had students put their 100’s day projects on their desk and we invited other classes to come and share in our celebration. Students circulated and asked questions about the projects as well as to give positive comments. Our students then visited other classes and repeated the exploring question and positive comment format.

The students were thrilled to see what projects other classes created. They also enjoyed the dialogue and discussions around the concept of 100. It is important for students to verbalize and use “Math Talk!”
 

100-Day Activities

 We had a variety of centers during the day to further celebrate and explore the 100-day concept. One favourite activity was making a necklace abacus with 100 beads! We purchased string and a variety of beads. Students could string groups of ten beads in a variety of colour patterns. The necklaces were well loved and worn by all the children.

 The necklaces also fit in well with our next unit on “Place Value.” Students unhooked their necklaces so they would have a straight string of 100 beads. We then explored and manipulated our beads to illustrate “2” tens and “1” one for the number “21.” Students enjoyed exploring place values with their necklaces.