Learning to count to 100 

The 100th day of school is the perfect time for counting practice.

Learning Stages

By Shelby Moore

Teacher

Shelby Moore is a kindergarten teacher at an inner-city school in Houston and was recently awarded as one of the East Region's Campus Teachers of the Year.

As a kindergarten teacher, I have been counting each day we come to school and have been growing excited in anticipation for the 100th day. In order to celebrate this milestone, I have provided you with some tips to help your child count to 100.

Learning to count to 100 can be a difficult task for a Kindergartner. Here are some steps you can take to break it down for them and make it a bit easier.

  • First gather 100 items that are easily accessible at your home that your child could count (Q-tips, beans, Cheerios, etc.)
  • Group the items into a number that your child can easily count to. 10 is a great place to start. Most Kindergartners should be able to easily count to 10 by this time of year.
  • Teach your child to count by 10's by grouping the items into ten groups of ten.
  • Group the items into 5's and teach your child how to count by 5's all the way to 100.
  • Then, group the items into groups of 2 and teach your child how to count by 2's. This can gets trickier when you get up past 20.

Grouping the items allows the quantity to look less intimidating. Grouping the items also allows your child to count the 100 items faster. Your child should be able to catch on counting by 10's pretty quicky.

Get creative and try these activities at home

  • Help your child decorate a large piece of paper with 100 items. Get creative and think of a theme. For example, 100 things in the ocean, 100 things in space, 100 things in school, etc.

 

  • Decorate a T-shirt for your child to wear on the 100th day of school. This shirt should have 100 things stuck on it. How you choose to attach the items is up to you. You can use iron on items or simply attach 100 safety pins to the shirt. You can also use puffy paint and write the words: 100th Day of School.
  • Turn a 100's idea into a writing project. Ask your child, "What would you do if you had 100 dollars?" Have them write their response and illustrate it as well.
  • Make a yarn necklace out of 100 pieces of cereal (Froot Loops or Cheerios) Remember to first group the cereal pieces into groups of ten and then string them on their necklace.