100’s Chart Benefits, Classroom Uses, Activities and Centers!
What is a 100’s Chart
The hundreds chart is an amazing tool for representing numbers up to 100. With it, students can explore and discover number patterns and connect them to arithmetic.
Referring to it when counting objects so they can start to relate the number values to others. Say you count 30 objects.20 is a large number when you have mostly been counting within 10, but it is still far from 100.
Hundreds charts are also a great way for students to start to recognize patterns in our number system, noticing things like all of the 10s end in zeros, if you look across a row, all of the numbers start with the same number (except the last), down a column they all have the same number in the ones place, etc.
The choral counting number sense routine is a great way to discuss those number patterns, writing the numbers in such a way that the students will focus on the pattern you would like to highlight. If you’d like to learn more about choral counting you can read this Choral Counting blog post. Although it is through the lens of Kindergarten, the routine works for all grade levels!
Problem Solving with the 100’s Chart
The 100 Chart Thief Series
There are so many activities you can do with the 100’s chart. Problem-solving is one of my favorites! In this activity series, 5 thieves are taking numbers from the 100s chart.
But they always take the numbers in a specific pattern! Your students are tasked with figuring out which numbers are missing! There are opportunities to solve several puzzles and choose the difficulty they would like. Try one of the 100 Chart Thief Series Tasks for free!
100’s Chart In the Classroom
Games and activities in morning meetings are a great way to build community and have fun with your students. Here are some games you can play as a class with an emphasis on the 100’s chart.
Counting to 100 Around the Circle
In this activity, students sit in a circle and one starts to count. Each student says one number and the next says the next number and so on. For example, Student A says 1, Student B says 2, Student C says 3 and so on. You can decide if a student can ask for help if they are stuck and see if as a class they can get to 100.
Guess My Number
This game is great for thinking about numbers in relation to each other. In this game, you have a mystery number in your head from 1 to 100. Ask the students to ask for clues to guess what your mystery number. Some students may ask questions like “Is it 100?” while others may start to understand that that is not an efficient strategy. If needed you can prompt them to ask questions like is the greater than 50? Does it have a 0 in it? Does it have a 3 in the ones place? It’s helpful to
100 Chart Activities and Centers
100’s Charts are not just a tool, they are great for math centers as well! The centers I share with you are low or no-prep, and are perfect not only for math centers but for early finishers, extra practice or morning work!
100s Chart Puzzles
A great way to support students in learning how the number system works is to get familiar with the 100’s chart. An easy and fun way to work with the 100s chart is with 100s chart puzzles.
To make one you simply cut up a 100s chart and have your students put it back together. You can change the difficulty by making the pieces smaller or bigger. You can get a 120 chart included in any of the centers listed below!
Fill in the Missing Number: Spin and Fill
In this Spin and Fill Missing Numbers center, students spin the tens spinner and then the ones spinner to get their number. Then they choose a place to write the number. Afterward, they then write the numbers around it on the play mat.
Fill in the Missing Number No Prep Worksheets to 120
If you’re looking for a no-prep way to practice missing numbers these 100 chart worksheets with 14 different print-and-go are for you! Some are missing the same number patterns and some are a variety so students can start to recognize how numbers work in the number system.
Fill in the Missing Number Puzzle No Prep Worksheets
For these no-prep 100 chart puzzle worksheets, students will get small pieces of the 100’s chart with a few numbers filled in and invite them to figure out which numbers are missing using the number patterns they know. This set includes a full 120 chart if needed for reference!
You can get the 100’s Chart bundle here!
BONUS
Did you know that if you draw a rectangle on any point of the 100’s chart and add the two numbers in the corners on the diagonal, like 1+ 23 and 3 + 21, both equal 24? That blew my mind! You may have known that you may not, but that would be a great question to pose to your students and see why they think that is!
Digital 100 Chart Activites
Math playground is a great resource for math games on so many different topics! Here are the links to some 100s chart games; interactive 100s chart, 100’s chart patterns, and 100s chart treasure chest! The interactive 100s chart has all the numbers filled in, the patterns have a few numbers filled in in a section of the chart that they need to fill in, and the last gives the students a target number and they need to choose where it goes.
You can also use a play-and-go video like this one, where students a prompted to figure out what the missing number is. The best part is it's a few minutes you can hit play and your kids are busy figuring out the 100’s chart puzzle before time runs out!