15 Easy 100th Day of School Celebration Ideas: 1st Grade Activities & Craft

I will admit it. Sometimes my head would spin with all the things I wanted to do to celebrate the 100^thday of school with my 1^st grade students. Finding useful 100^th day math games, searching for relevant writing prompts, or psyching myself up with caffeine and courage – 100^th day of school celebrations can take a lot of work.

Creative, purposeful 100^th day activities take time.

The 100^th day lands sometime in late January or early February. It’s the perfect time of year. With established routines, children can demonstrate their progress and abilities to read, write, and do math.

Why Celebrate the 100^th Day of School?

• Students count to 100 and develop number quantities knowledge in 1^st grade
• A way to reflect on everything learned this year
• Skill-focused and fun
• Builds community
• A welcome diversion from everyday scheduled activities

100^th Day Ideas & Tips

Ideas to help you plan for your 100^th day celebration in first grade:

1. 100^th Day Collection Homework Project

Kick off the 100^th day or week with a fun homework project. Students can use their creativity to create a collection of 100 things. They can choose to put their chosen objects into groups of 2s, 5s, or 10s.

Invite parents and siblings to help to get the family involved in the project.

Then, put aside time for groups of children to share their creations with their classmates in small groups or with the whole class. After, display the collections throughout the room or on a math bulletin board.

Not only does the homework project spark conversation, but it helps to build number sense.

2. 100^th Day of School Writing Activities

Writing Prompts

Incorporate the 100^th day activities into your daily routines. Include whole group, small group, and independent activities. It’s an easy way to differentiate practice when students can work with a partner or small group and help each other. Begin with this list of fun writing prompts:

• When I am 100 years old . . .
• If I had 100 dollars . . .
• Our 100^th Day of School Celebration
• 100 years ago . . .
• Our First 100 Days of School
• What I’ve Learned in the First 100 Days

Students can write lists of 100 items. Students work on the lists whole class, in small group brainstorm sessions, with a partner, or for independent work. Place them in a writing center for easy student access.

• I can write 100 words.
• I can write 100 nouns.
• I can write 100 verbs.
• I can write 100 names.
• I can write 100 animals.

Kids practice their writing skills as they interact in this thought-provoking activity.

Making Words

Open-ended writing activities support students at different levels and increases participation. 

Making words allows students to think of their own words without the pressure of one right answer. Students make words from the letters in “ONE HUNDRED.” It’s a fun way to exercise the brain. 

• Work on this when you have an extra 5-10 minutes of class time. Students can add to a class chart of words. Challenge the class to come up with 100 words by the end of the week. 
• Students can work with a partner. It helps to build community. Students help and support each other in this way.

3. 100^th Day of School Math Activities That Go Beyond

Hands-On Math Tools

Add some pizzazz to your 100^th day of school math activities with themed-math tools created for the 100^th day. Special hands-on math tools help to keep students engaged.

Some ideas:

• 100 charts
• Counters
• Skip-counting number lines (Count by 2s, 5s, & 10s)
• Tally charts
• 100^th Day of School ten frames

Meaningful 100^th Day Math Activities

Focus each day of the week with meaningful 100^th day math activities. Children can demonstrate their progress.

1. 100 Chart Activities

Students fill out a 100^th day chart. Have 100^th day partially-completed charts available. Students fill in the blank spaces to complete the chart. These can be printed sheets, laminated printables, or 100 charts placed in sheet protectors for repeated use. 

Games ranked as a favorite in my class. Create a “Race to 100” game. Then, students can play on their own or with a partner. 

• First, players throw 2 dice. 
• Second, they add the 2 numbers on the dice. 
• Third, players move the number of spaces on the 100 chart. 

The first one to get to 100 wins.  

2. Create Skill-Based Activities

• Estimation Activities 
  • Students estimate the number of buttons in a jar. First, have students estimate on answer sheets. Then, graph the estimations. This can be a whole class activity.
  • After, students count and tally each button shape and complete a bar graph to show the number of each button shape. Then, ask questions about the graph. 
  • How many round buttons? How many square buttons? How many heart-shaped buttons? How many more square buttons than round buttons? 
  • Last, students can add all the buttons together. This activity provides the perfect opportunity for math talks. Is it more efficient to count the objects by 2s, 5s or 10s? Why?
  • And of course, the total of objects in the jar add up to 100.
  • Rich in math skills as students count, estimate, graph, add, etc.

• Measurement Activities – Create 100^th day-themed objects or printables students can measure with nonstandard units (ex. paper clips) or a ruler. Or create different sized cards and post them on the walls of your classroom. Students move around the room with an answer sheet to measure the cards on the wall. A fun, hands-on way to practice measurement skills. 

• 100^th Day of School Word Problems – Create word problems with 100 as the focus. Present a different word problem each day with the whole class. The word problems lend themselves to math talks and thoughtful strategies to solve the problems. Perfect for morning work.

3. Challenge Students with 100th Day Math Activities

• 100^th Day Crack the Code – Give your students a 100^th day crack the code activity where they complete math equations. The answers correspond to letters of a 100th day of school mystery sentence. Highly engaging!

• 100^th Day Mystery Picture – Students solve each math problem. The answers correspond to a number on the 100 chart. They color each number according to a color code. Students engage and focus as they complete this activity, because they get immediate feedback as they solve the problems. I’ve found that students love this activity.

4. 100^th Day of School Craft Activity

Give your students a creative outlet with a 100^th day of school craft activity. Display the craft on a 100^thday of school hallway, bulletin board, or throughout the classroom walls with a paired 100^th day writing activity. 

5. 100^th Day Extras Your Students Will Appreciate

• Treat Bags – Create 100^th day treat bags filled with erasers, pencils, crayons, glue sticks, etc. Add a fun snack for good measure.
• 100^th Day of School Crowns –  Crowns can be as simple as a sentence strip with a 100th day colored picture stapled to the middle. Staple the strip together to fit each student head.
• Certificates – Congratulate students on the 100^th day of school milestone with a “100 Days of School” congratulations message on a certificate. A big first grade accomplishment.

100^th Day of School Celebration Management Tips

Whether your celebration lasts one day or one week, use these tips for an enjoyable and less chaotic day.

1. Include both active and calm activities.

2. Vary individual, small group, and whole class activities.

3. Use the activities in rotation schedules, with early finishers, and transitions for flexibility.

4. Provide activity choice for children.

5. Use the activities for both practice and informal assessment.

6. Pick and choose activities best suited to your schedule.

7. Have a mix of literacy, math, and creative fun for a memorable and special celebration.

Everything You Need for the 100^th Day Activities

A plan for the 100^th day of school activities doesn’t mean you have to sift through and create activities that take hours. This 100^th Day of School Activities & Craft resource for 1^st grade brings everything together. You can pick and choose what works with your class.

This done-for-you resource includes a homework project, literacy activities, math activities, a 100^th day craft, and more!

Use the resource with flexibility for a fun, academically-focused celebration. 

Grab the 100^th Day of School Activities & Craft for 1^st Grade to plan your celebration!

Have fun with a celebration of the progress and growth of your students in the first 100 days.