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As educators, you are constantly seeking creative ways to engage your young learners and make every day of school a memorable experience. One milestone that holds great significance in many preschools is the celebration of the 100th day of school. This special occasion not only marks a major achievement for your little ones, but it also provides an opportunity to reinforce essential early learning concepts.
Remember that your children might not quite understand the concept of 100, so it’s important to find age-appropriate activities to help them process this milestone. Get creative!
Need some inspiration? Try the following hands-on projects, games, and interactive activities that will captivate children's imaginations as you celebrate the 100th day of school.
Math activities
Since the day's theme is all things 100, you can use your celebration to further develop your children’s early math and counting skills. Here are some activities to consider:
100 snack pieces
The 100th day of school cannot be complete without a tasty snack. Instruct your children to separate their snacks into groups of ten, then demonstrate how these groups add up to 100 pieces.
Collect 100 items
Inform families of the big day, then ask them to help you collect 100 small items by sending their child to school with a certain amount. For example, you can ask them to collect 100 buttons, pieces of candy, stickers, cheerios, spaghetti noodles, paper clips, pretzels, or any other small item.
Glue the items to a poster board to help your children visualize what the number 100 looks like.
100 hungry ants
This is a perfect group activity for children. Hide 100 fake, plastic ants in different areas in the classroom, then ask the children to retrieve them.
Make the hiding places easily accessible so children can find the ants. Consider areas like the sink, under the potty, within their toys, or any areas available to children during classroom time. As they collect the ants, tally the growing number on the whiteboard.
Snack and party
Turn the big day into a celebration with a 100 theme. Bring balloons, buy cups or napkins with 100 printed on them, or serve snacks in groups of 100. Focus on small finger foods like jellybeans, M&Ms, grapes, and cheese cubes. Split the snacks among the class.
Alternatively, you can ask parents to send children to school with pretzel sticks and circular crackers (like Ritz or Oreo.) Create the number 100 by placing two crackers next to a pretzel stick.
Scavenger hunt
Embark on a scavenger hunt with your children and help them find 100 items. Include anything like candies, pencils, or crayons. Instruct the children to work in groups to help them build their social, counting, and teamwork skills.
Reading and movement activities
The 100th day of school can also be an opportunity to help children practice their emergent literacy skills. Incorporate music and movement to promote physical development and reinforce language skills. Here are some activities to try:
Read a 100 days themed book
Several children's literature authors have come on board to help children celebrate their 100th day of school. Initiate a circle time session with the children, then read some themed books focused on this day. You can also ask questions at the end to test their comprehension skills.
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Take 100 steps in the classroom
Ask the children to take 100 steps around the classroom. Make fun predictions about how far across the room they can get. You can also try hopping or dancing for 100 seconds.
Write a 100-word story
Create a collaborative story as a class. Have each child contribute one word at a time until the story contains 100 words.
Sing preschool songs
Singing songs can be a simple way to engage your class and teach new concepts at the same time. Incorporate 100 days of school-themed songs or try other educational songs that help children memorize vocabulary or count to 100.
Sight word challenge
Create a list of common sight words. Have the children read words until they reach 100 sight words.
Hands-on activities
Children often learn best through doing. With hands-on activities that involve touching and manipulating items, children can practice their fine motor skills and express themselves creatively.
Fruit loop necklaces
This is a great fine motor challenge. Provide 100 fruit loops to each child and have them lace them together on a string. Separate every ten fruit loops by color to make it easier for children to count to 100.
Make a 100th day of school poster
This is a great fine motor challenge. Encourage the children to decorate a poster board with you. Make it as colorful as possible while incorporating the concept of 100. Decorate the classroom entrance with your poster. Check out these posters for inspiration.
Photo booth
Create a simple photo booth backdrop using a foam or poster board decorated with the number 100 and other symbols. You can also create or purchase props for the children to hold while posing.
Coloring
Cut out 100 shapes from pieces of paper or poster board, then have the children decorate or color them throughout the day. Next, attach these shapes to a large poster, then hang your new art piece in the classroom.
Handprints
Get a large piece of paper or poster board that can fit 100 handprints. To practice, give the children smaller pieces of paper to trace their hands or practice making a handprint using paint.
One by one, instruct the children to make prints on the larger piece of paper. Use different paint or pencil colors to make your poster colorful and bright. Teachers can join in as well!
Pom pom butterflies
Draw a giant butterfly on a big piece of paper and ask your children to stick pom poms onto the drawing. Count the poms in advance to ensure they add up to 100.
Partnering with families
Collaborating with families to celebrate the 100th day of preschool can be an exciting way to enrich the educational experience and foster a strong connection between home and school. Inviting parents and guardians to participate in the festivities can create an inclusive and supportive learning environment for your young learners.
Sharing the planned activities for the 100th day with families in advance is one way to involve them. This enables parents to discuss and reinforce the concepts with their children, ensuring a seamless transition between home and school. Additionally, it allows them to witness the excitement and enthusiasm that fills the classroom, strengthening their connection to the school community.
Celebrating the 100th day of school is a wonderful opportunity for families and schools to unite and enhance every child's educational journey. This partnership can take many forms, such as shared reading activities, collaborative crafts, or simple conversations about the milestone's significance. By actively participating in their child's early education, families can instill a sense of pride and belonging in children, nurturing a sense of unity and shared purpose between school and home.
Celebrate this big milestone with exciting activities
The 100th day of school is a significant event that can make learning more exciting and memorable. By involving your preschoolers in creative activities that focus on this special milestone, you can create lasting memories and teach valuable skills and knowledge in a fun and engaging way. These activities, ranging from counting to storytelling, will encourage a love for learning that will remain with your children long after the day has ended.
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