100th Day of School: Activities and Ideas

The 100th day of school is a big milestone, especially for kindergarten and first-grade classes. It's a chance to celebrate how far children have come and to have fun with the number 100. These activities are full of counting, crafts and silly challenges that work at home or in class.

Why celebrate the 100th day?

Counting the school days helps children understand large numbers, place value and the passing of time. By day 100, they've learned so much, and it's a great moment to look back and celebrate.

Counting collections

1. 100 things project. Each child brings a bag of 100 small items: buttons, pasta, stickers, cereal pieces or pom-poms. Count them in groups of ten.
2. Group in tens. Sort the 100 items into ten groups of ten. This is a perfect introduction to place value.
3. 100 snack mix. Combine ten each of ten different snacks (check for allergies).
4. Counting chains. Make a paper chain with 100 links, alternating colors every ten.

Crafts

1. 100th day crown. Decorate a paper crown with 100 stickers, dots or stamps.
2. 100 fingerprints. Make a picture with 100 fingerprints, like a tree full of blossoms or a caterpillar.
3. "When I'm 100" portrait. Children draw what they'll look like at 100 years old and write a sentence about what they'll do.
4. 100 cup tower. Build a tower with 100 plastic or paper cups.
5. Gumball machine. Draw a gumball machine and fill it with 100 dot stickers.
6. Coloring. Color a numbers page or a color-by-number design.

Math challenges

• Count to 100 by ones, fives and tens. Our skip counting worksheets are perfect.
• 100 chart. Find patterns on a hundred chart: all the numbers ending in 5, all the tens.
• Mystery picture. Color numbers on a hundred chart to reveal a hidden picture. Try our mystery picture worksheets.
• Estimation jar. Fill a jar with items and guess whether there are more or fewer than 100.
• 100 cents. How many ways can you make a dollar? Try money worksheets.
• Comparing numbers. Is 100 bigger than 99? Than 101? Try comparing numbers.

Physical challenges

• 100 exercises. 10 jumping jacks, 10 hops, 10 squats and so on, ten times.
• 100 steps. How far can you walk in 100 steps?
• 100 seconds. How many things can you do in 100 seconds: write your name, stack blocks, hop?
• Balloon keep-up. Can the class keep a balloon up for 100 taps?

Literacy activities

• 100 words. Can the class list 100 words? Try sight words first.
• If I had $100. Write and illustrate what you'd buy.
• 100 books. Count how many books the class has read this year.
• Writing prompt. "I am 100 days smarter because…"

At home

Not in school, or homeschooling? Celebrate at home with a 100-piece puzzle, a 100-item scavenger hunt, baking with 100 sprinkles on top of a cookie, or counting 100 steps to the park.

Ideas by grade

Pre-K and kindergarten: counting collections, crowns, fingerprint pictures and counting by tens.

Grade 1: hundred charts, estimation, mystery pictures and writing prompts.

Grade 2: money challenges, place value, 100-word lists and timed challenges.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Counting 100 one by one, every time. Grouping in tens is faster and teaches place value.
• Too much at once. Choose three or four activities rather than all of them.
• Expensive collections. Encourage free items like pasta, buttons or paper pieces.

Frequently asked questions

When is the 100th day of school?

It depends on your school calendar. It usually falls in February in the US, but count your own school days to be sure.

What can kids bring for a 100 collection?

Small items like buttons, pasta, stickers, cereal pieces, paper clips or coins.

What's the best 100th day activity for kindergarten?

Counting a collection of 100 items into groups of ten is simple, hands-on and teaches an important math idea.

A 100th day schedule for class or home

• Morning meeting: count to 100 by ones, fives and tens.
• Station 1: counting collections into groups of ten.
• Station 2: 100 fingerprint art.
• Station 3: 100 cup tower challenge.
• Station 4: "When I'm 100" drawing and writing.
• Snack: 100 snack mix, counted in tens.
• Afternoon: 100 exercises, then a hundred chart mystery picture.
• End of day: wear the 100th day crowns home.

Ideas for children who find counting to 100 hard

Count to 100 together in tens with tens frames or bundles of sticks, and let them focus on smaller challenges like counting their own collection in tens.

How can parents help at home?

Help children choose and count their 100 collection, and talk about how much they've learned since the first day.

Can we celebrate the 100th day at home if we homeschool?

Absolutely. Count your homeschool days and celebrate with 100 collections, crafts and challenges.