What can you use to teach children not only numbers but also how to add, subtract, count mixed coins, understand numbers in base 10 and more? It's one of my favorite math teaching tools: a simple 100 chart!
I've used 100 chart mystery pictures to help my students learn numbers to 100 for a LONG time... since the mid 90's, but this year I've come to see more and more possibilities. Download a blank 100 chart AND a mystery picture in this FREE resource, then keep reading to learn new ways to use them!
Counting
What do you do when your students can count to 20, but can't consistently count beyond that? You count to 100 while looking at each number you say, to support their developing number sense! You can count to 100 with Jack Hartman, in more than one way, or with Finny the Shark in Super Simple Songs. Do your students prefer a hip hop beat? Try Harry Kindergarten I Can Count to 100! Give your students a blank 100 chart (like the one in the free resource listed above) and have them stand up, move their bodies, and point to the numbers along with one of these songs. This is a great time to walk around and evaluate how well each student is doing, and to help them get back on track if they're struggling.
The next logical step is to take away the music video and have students point and count to 100 without the visual and audio support. Can they do it? They know how to count to 100! Not quite? Keep practicing, they'll get there!
Recognizing and identifying the numbers
Even if students can count to 100 while pointing to each number, do they
REALLY know the numbers, or just rote order? We can find out by mixing it up! This is when I start using
100 chart mystery pictures, like the one featured in the free resource above, with my students. I do this in 2 very different and distinct formats: pocket hundred charts and printed hundreds charts.
Hundreds chart mystery pictures used to only be printables, a mystery to discover by coloring by number, like these images below (yes, there are a kazillion):
When I started making hundreds chart mystery pictures very few of them were differentiated. Sometimes I could find them with a choice of a numbered or completely blank 100 chart, but even that wasn't a guarantee - so I started making my own, with options for students with various skill levels. Almost all of my printable 100s charts come in 3 versions:
Level A: fewer squares to identify and color, larger text, and the numbers usually in order.
Level B: 100 squares to identify and color on a pre-numbered chart. Number clues in random
order.
Level C: 100 squares to identify and color on a completely blank chart, with number clues in
random order.
My students loved them, and so did other teachers, so I made 100 charts for a LOT of themes! (These aren't all of them).
Later I realized that 100 charts are also wonderful for other skills besides numbers - but I'll get to that!
My real brainstorm invention was:Pocket hundreds chart mystery pictures
Pocket 100 charts have one incredibly important feature that printed mystery pictures don't have: they can be a small group activity! I believe I was the first person to make these awesome math centers! See how they work in this short video pin!
Hundreds pocket charts are awesome for a hands on learning center, and I LOVE that students can work in small groups and help each other to solve them. Pocket chart versions are also great for those students who don't like coloring, or don't have the fine motor strength to complete a whole page of coloring. It's wonderful to listen to students try to guess what the mystery picture is as they work, and if anyone puts a card in the wrong pocket its an easy fix - unlike trying to get colored pencil off the printed page on the worksheet versions!
The more I used my 100s pocket charts, the more I realized how many ways I could use the larger space for each number that the pocket chart provides:
Let's explore some of these ideas further:
Numbers in base 10
Like so many skills, this one takes some practice to master, so why not practice in a fun way that our students will enjoy - as a mystery picture!
Have you seen a numbers in base 10 printable 100 chart? There's so little room in each square, so the only way to make one would be to have clues on multiple extra pages. If you need 4 pages per student for a printed version, and have 22 students, that's 88 sheets of paper for ONE math assignment. What if you could let every student for years use it, and only needed about 10 pages? So much better!
To make my hundreds pocket charts I've sorted my cards by the color they need to be so I can print them out on card stock, then trim them with a paper cutter. Boom! Math center I can use for years! (This set makes a cockatoo).
I love how quickly students usually catch on to expanded form - I usually chant the problem and solution, ie: fifty plus one is fifty one - so I've only made a few charts as expanded form so far. LMK if you need one for a theme I haven't covered yet, I love to hear your requests!
Did you find yourself wondering what the picture would be when you saw this video? Your students will be intrigued too, and keep working to find out!
Counting mixed coins
Can we be real for a minute? Counting mixed coins is hard for kids! They have to identify the coins, know their value, and be able to count by 25, 10, 5 and 1 from any number, and switch between those counting forms. If you've taught this skill you know how hard it can be for many students! This year I'm using my hundreds chart to support counting coins.
How? A 100 chart makes an awesome visual support! You'll still need to teach the value of each coin, but try also counting by each amount on the 100 chart. Your students already count by 1's, so that's a breeze. What do they notice when they count by 5's (or nickels)? Try putting nickels on the 5s and 10s as they count, to reinforce the connection. What about dimes? When they count by 10s the next number is always directly below the previous one... does it work if you count on from 25? What about from 36? Do you always just go down one space on the hundreds chart to add 10? Can you count by 10s starting at any number now? Quarters are also fairly easy - they just have to learn and remember 25, 50, 75, one dollar. Not sure what I mean?
Check out this short video!
Once students can count the coins separately, start combining them! I know a lot of people start with pennies and nickels because it's easy for students to count by 1's and 5's, but I prefer to start with quarters because I want my students to always start counting from the coin with the most value. Once they can count quarters and dimes, I add in nickels, then pennies.
I LOVE using a 100 chart to support math learning, and I hope you've found a few new ideas about how you can use them too! Next week I'll cover EVEN MORE ways to use them - I hope you'll subscribe so you get notified when it posts. Thanks for joining me, have an awesome week!
