A Primary Expectation in my classroom is the important countdown to the 100th day. We love celebrating everything in school and this is one of my favorites. Here are some of the centers I have used.
Pre-day activities, because it may not be enough to do in one day
100 Hats - There are a variety of hats to make on Teachers Pay Teachers I use one I found in the Teacher’s Mailbox many years ago. They color, cut, and assemble on sentence strip to wear on the 100th day.
100 Collections – This starts a few weeks before children are asked to collect 100 small items, which
they are willing to share. (So I don’t encourage Lego Mini-figures.) In the past we have seen pennies, straws, toothpicks, glass pebbles, poker chips, Jolly Ranchers (no unwrapped foods) etc.
I have a poster size 100 chart that I made on a regular size sheet of paper and enlarged and laminated it at FedEx/Kinko’s. Two children would get a turn each day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. They count alone on the carpet area. Than they pose for a picture which the write about on the 100th day.
100 Reasons Banner – A large portion of banner paper write out 100th Day post in the hall ways with hanging pens. All school students and staff are encouraged to write about a favorite/memorable thing(s) during the first 100 days.
More 100th Day Celebration Ideas
100 Collective Collection – Remember the 100 collections of things? Now they share them out so everyone has a collective collection from their classmates. To determine what is passed, divide 100 by total I would make the difference. So usually students were only sharing 3-4 pieces of their collections with each other. You may or may not want mini 100 charts or use 10 frames for them to count out at their table. They would decorate a lunch bag to keep it in.
100 Piece Puzzle Race – I picked up a few 100 piece puzzles at the dollar store. (Garage Sales don’t always have all the pieces.) The students would count-off to make group. You want at least 4 in a heterogeneous group if not more. I use my phone as a stopwatch to track the time. 3 -2 -1 - They are off to assemble their puzzle as a team. It’s not over until every team finishes. You may or may not have the early finishers start the centers.
100 Day Hash-. The children get 10 items from each bowl. I laminated 10 frames laid out two on
each side of the table by each bowl. Possible snack choices: popcorn, pretzels, m&ms, Smarties, Gummi Bears, mini marshmallows, raisins, skittles, fruit snacks, gold fish, Teddy Grahams, or Chex cereal. You can make this a math graph the day before to determine what to use.
100 Day Monster – (My personal favorite) A large piece of banner paper. First cut a piece of year 100 inches to form a closed shape outline. This can be glued or traced on the paper. Next I have a bucket that has 10 strips that say feet with 10 toes, 20 strips- hands with 5 fingers, 50 strips – pair of eyes This can be drawn or use googly eyes if you prefer. I’ve also tried eyes stickers I found somewhere once.
Students draw a slip (1 foot with 10 toes, 1 hand with 5 fingers, 2 eyes) and add to the monster until all strips are drawn.
100 Day Counting – A basic 100 chart that can be differentiated – all numbers in trace format; skip numbers, or many missing numbers.
100 Sticker Collections- If you are like me you have lots of chart stickers. They get them all they time but think it a special treat that they get to pick out 100 to fill their sticker chart.
100 Necklaces – String
Froot Loops cereal on a lanyard. I tried yarn and even with tape it would keep getting frayed. I also learned it was easier if I’d tape the one end of lanyard to their table with masking tape to prevent loss while counting. You may or may not want to use a small 100 chart to track their cereal before stringing. When they finished me or a helper would tie the lanyard double knot and use the masking tape that was holding it on the desk to keep the two loose ends together and write their name.
I also started using 1 inch squares with a hole punch as a spacer for every 10. I have also made a 100 chart for them to count out their cereal first. When counted students would get their lanyard. Some tried patterning. Some would want to take it off after a while the sugar gets itchy on their neck.
100 Signatures – A sheet to collect 100 signatures in the classroom, other kindergarten rooms or ask if they can use a clipboard and ask student body and staff during lunch /recess.
100 Coins - Make $1.00 with pennies, nickels, dimes, and/or quarters.
100 Tile Race – I have several sets of
Learning Resources 100 tiles Board. Students can work individual, partners or teams to fill the board with the tiles. This can also have a number or blank side challenge.
100 Board Race – Laminated 100 chart, 1 die or 2 dice, game pawns. Roll and race to 100.
100 Domino Chain - Link dominoes to equal 100 without going over. Similar to the domino game draw pile in the middle but dot sides up, but each player keeps their own domino chain.
100 Day Class Story – This can vary by classroom enrollment whether it is 10 pages or 20. Each child does a page:
EXAMPLE: I went to the Zoo and what did I see? I saw 100 Animals Looking at me. Here was my story typed on each page but feel free to create your own. The students can work in groups of 10 or 5 to help pick the animals, adjective, and verb if you want to give them more ownership. This is one year’s example:
There were ten tall giraffes, eating from the trees.
Ten silly monkeys, scratching their knees.
Ten sleeping snakes, lying in the sun.
Ten munching elephants, eating peanuts one by one.
Ten leaping tigers, performing in the shows.
Ten pink flamingoes, standing on their toes.
Ten grouchy bears, trying to get some sleep.
Ten happy hippos, in the water deep.
Ten roaring lions, walking two by two.
And ten galloping zebras all living at the zoo.
The bottom of each page said Illustrated by: ______________.
You can do 10 pages with 10 items, or 20 pages with 5 items. You can go to a museum, grocery store, aquarium, etc.
100 Piece Personal Puzzle - This last one is from my son’s room when he was 3rd grade I haven’t tried it with kindergarten, yet.
Writing Prompts:
I could eat 100 _____. (Write on a paper plate.)
If I had $100 … (I would take their picture and put them on a $100 bill for writing.) I even found apps that take the picture and make inserting it much easier.
My son's teacher did this great keep sake for 3rd grade 100th day, I'm not sure if this woudl be as successful in primary. However it could work with a group picture and they coudl work together.
There are probably more than a 100 ways to make this experience more memorable. I have recently added my 100th day forms for counting and colletcing to my
TpT store. Have a great 100th day!
reading. My class is very active and this is a great way to use it a learning advantage. This is perfect for Read Across America Day or any time you notice your students getting a little antsy or sluggish in thei seats. This is great way to get their attention and get them moving and learning.
a musical chairs twist play music while exercise at the spot. When the music stops they move to another spot. Feel free to print enough circles for each child or allow 2-3 students to visit the spot at the same time. 
