100th Day of School Math Activities

The 100th day of school is always so much fun!  This year I tried several new actvities that I am excited to share. We start our activities the day before the big 1-0-0.

On the 99th day of school we make hats for the 100th day.

The students decorate a sentence strip. They also decorate and cut out the number 100.

Then I give them 10 different color strips of construction paper. They draw 10 things on each strip. We count to see that each hat has 100 things on it. I got this idea from a co-worker, who I believe saw it on Chalk Talk.

On the 99^th day we also practice counting to 100 by filling out a hundreds chart.

On the 100^th Day of school all of our math centers revolved around the number 100.  Students rotate through 5 centers  in teams of four. 

This year we made a 100 link paper chain. I saw this idea on Chalk Talk. I had my students work in teams to make sections of the chain. As each team rotated through the paper chain center they added 20 links to the chain. Once each table had rotated through this center we had created a paper chain with 100 links!

Another idea that I saw on Chalk Talk was to have the students make 100 paper snowflakes. I showed my students a sample snowflake, and asked them if they thought they could make 100. Then they got to work. They loved the challenge. After all the  teams had  rotated through this center  I put ten paper snowflakes in each of ten Ziploc bags. Then we counted by tens to make sure we’d reached 100. We did it! 

Making necklaces with 100 Fruit Loops is an activity my classes do each year. In this center I give each student a number chart with 100 numbered squares. They have to put one Fruit Loop in each square. Once they have counted 100 Fruit Loops they put them on a string.

100^th Day Snack Mix is one of my favorite activities. Prior to the 100^th Day I ask each student to bring in one item for the snack mix. I put each of the ten items in a bowl. Then, as each team rotates into the snack mix center, I give them a plastic bag.

I have the bowls arranged in a semi-circle around the table. The students start at one end of the table, and work their way around to the other. They put ten of each item in their bags. When they are done they have 100 pieces in their snack mix bag!

Another center I used this year is a 100 piece puzzle center. In this center students work with their teammates to put together a 100 piece puzzle. This is a fun center that the students really enjoy!

 We had a great time on the 100th Day!

Something Fun

I know it’s been a bit since I’ve posted, and I have so much to share. In the next week I hope to post our activities from the 100^th and 101^st days of school, as well as our Chinese New Year activities.  For my first new post, however, I’m going to start with something that I do to add a little flare to the day.

I love to use fun pointers!  My students love them too!  They’re a great tool for getting and holding students’ attention. They’re also a good motivator, because once my students have mastered skills, like the calendar or the alphabet, they get to use the pointers to lead class activities.

I have been collecting pointers for awhile. A number of them come from the Dollar Tree, the Dollar Spot at Target, and Michael’s. Some of them are hand made. Some were gifts from students and other teachers.

This is one of my favorite pointers.

I used to use a plain wooden rod to reach the alphabet. A co-worker made this for me last year. How fun!



This is our counting stick. We use it to count during calendar. I saw a presenter use it at a kindergarten conference and just had to get one  My students love to watch the colors and glitter swirl around. Plus, it's the perfect size and shape for pointing to our number chart.

I have so many pointers that I could fill up several entries . I have some that are specific to the holidays and units we study.  I'm sure they will make appearances in later posts.



Color Word Aprons

At the start of each year we work on color words. We spend a week working on each color. After noticing how much attention my students paid to what I was wearing I came up with the idea to put the color words on canvas aprons.  

 I wear the aprons all week. The students love them!

I've also noticed that my students have picked up the words faster since I began using the aprons.

 

These worked so well, that I am trying to come up with ideas for more wearable words.

Note: I would love to take credit for the fantastic artwork on these aprons, but I am not that good. A parent in my class saw my attempt at this project, and took pity on me. She decorated all of these aprons, and I am forever grateful.

Fall

I know that fall is over and done with. In fact, I am at home because the winter snow and ice have caused school to be cancelled. However, I figure that while I have  the time I'm going to back track a little.

I love the fall! What a great time to cover science objectives. During the fall we learn about bats, pumpkins, and spiders. We read books about each topic. I usually try to choose one or two factual books and one or two fictional stories.

          

These are a few of my favorites.

The students write facts about each topic. They also draw pictures to go with their writing. I use the storybook writing paper that leaves space for their pictures at the top.

I also like for the students to complete an art project to go with each topic. This is fun for them and makes a nice fall display in the hall. It also gives them the chance to really think about the structure of each plant or animal.

This is a really simple project. The students use a foam web as a stamper. I create the sparkly gray color by mixing black paint, white paint, and silver glitter. I pre-cut the strips for the legs. I also pre-cut large and small circles for the bodies.

The students have to use their knowledge of spiders to put them together. They have to recall that spiders have 2 body parts and eight legs. The students glue their completed spiders to a piece of ribbon, which they then glue to the web.



Each year we visit the pumpkin patch at Tate Farms. Each student brings home their own pumpkin, and I bring one back for the class. After reading about pumpkins, we make observations about our class pumpkin using our five senses. First we observe the outside of the pumpkin and then we cut it open and look at

the inside.

After we've completed our observations we make a pumpkin model. This project takes several days to complete. First, we paint the outside of two paper plates orange. The next day, after the outside has dried, we paint the inside peach. Then we glue peach yarn and pumpkin seeds inside. Next, we label the inside parts of the pumpkin-flesh, seeds, and pulp.  Finally, I staple the tops of the pumpkins so that they can still be opened up.

I stole this bat project from a co-worker. It really gets the students to think about the parts of the bat that we have learned about. My talented co-worker made patterns for feet, wings, and ears (it looks like the little guy in the picture lost his ears). The students trace and cut out the body parts, then they glue them to paper bags. Originally, the plan was to stuff the bags with newspaper so that the bats would stand up. However, in the end we decided  that the bats work better without stuffing the bags.

I like to let my fall projects hang in the hall until we begin Thanksgiving projects. When they're done being displayed I glue them next to the students writing on construction paper. I staple each student's papers together, and they have a nice fall book to bring home.   

Our Celebration of the New Year

In preparing for our celebration I did a little shopping. I bought a few signs at Party City. I also bought the 2011 napkins that are pictured below.

I also went to the Dollar Tree and bought horns for our class celebration.

I made the hats, pictured below, so that they would be ready for my students to decorate

After writing about the New Year, filling out a January 2011 calandar page, and decorating our hats, we had our class celebration.

We counted down from 10, and shouted Happy New Year!

The children were so excited to blow their horns!

We had so much fun welcoming in 2011.

Welcome 2011

I like to begin the first week back after Winter Break by celebrating the new year. Since, we write the date in our journals each morning and discuss it during calendar time each afternoon, my students are always very excited when the year changes. We will begin by discussing how the children celebrated New Year’s Eve at home. Then we will spend a little time over the next few days on projects.

On the first day back the students will decorate New Year’s party hats. I usually

make the hats beforehand, using construction paper. Then I have the students decorate them with sequins, fuzz balls, etc… The only rule is that they have to write the year on their hats.

On the first day back we will also write about the New Year.  In the past we’ve written about celebrating the New Year. However, I am planning on changing my prompt this  year. The students will have to finish the statement “In 2011 I will…” I can’t wait to see what they will write!  

On the second day back we will have a little party during snack time. The students get to wear the hats they made the day before. I also buy blowers at the Dollar Tree. We will all blow our blowers together and say “Welcome 2011” Then we will have a special treat for snack.

After our party I will collect their hats. I usually flatten them down and glue them next to their writing in their Kindergarten scrapbook. I also include a picture of them wearing their hats.

Additionally, we will practice writing the year. This year the timing is perfect, because we are about to do some work with the number 11 in Math.  This will make it super easy to work New Year’s into our math centers.

I will post pictures of our activities soon.