8 Helpful Hundred Chart Activities and Tools for First Grade

One of the things I like to focus on from the very first day of school is the hundreds chart: counting, finding patterns in it, and many other counting activities. 


I wanted to share 8 of my favorite activities and resources with you for the back to school season! 


100 chart activities for back to school 




Hundreds Chart Book


I have been making Hundreds chart books for 11 years now, in both Kindergarten and first, and my students always enjoy it. 

Each month has a new page, and they set a small goal each time. 


For the first few months it is only 20 or 50 for most. However, by November most of them are well on their way!


            September hundreds chart page


We continue on, and at the end of the year they turn it into a book! They are able to see their progress with counting, as well as writing their numbers. 



October's hundred chart




This year, I updated it to include a student book that goes up to 120. I want them to start focusing on what comes after 100 a bit earlier this year. 





100 chart and 120 chart book with monthly pages


This resource also includes 25 scaffold hundreds charts

There are 5 sheets for: 

  • 0 - 20
  • 0 - 50
  • 0 - 75 
  • 0 -100
  • 0 - 120

These sheets make differentiating for your class simple!


25 scaffolded hundreds charts



Click here for a closer look at this resource.


Hundreds Chart Puzzles


120 chart puzzles


Later in the year, when my students have mastered the hundreds chart, we move onto these puzzles


solving a puzzle from the hundreds chart


They each have a different portion of the chart, and my students love the challenge of filling in the missing numbers by moving 10 more, 10 less, 1 more and 1 less!


using a completed hundreds chart to see the pattern



Some of my students use dry erase hundreds charts to help them isolate the pattern on the chart for a bit of scaffolding.


Click here for a closer look at this resource. 



Dry Erase 120 Charts


I like to keep our arrival activities social (and simple) and these dry erase charts are perfect for that block of time. I love that they are double sided. This allows them to use a completed side too if they are still learning the pattern. 


         practicing the 100s chart at arrival time



This year I am upgrading to these dry erase charts that go to 120!


dry erase 120 chart



They also work well as an independent math center when someone is waiting for their partner if they are finishing an assignment or in a binder conference. 



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Pattern to 100


One of their favorite Math centers is building the hundreds chart.  



I separate my cards into containers: 1-25, 26-50, 51-75, and 76-100 at the start of the year. This lets them decide if they want to focus on the whole chart, or just a portion of it. 




The only downside to using a pocket chart is that it does not have enough rows to build to 120 - so they improvised last year!




The different colored rows allow them to isolate the patterns in the chart easily! 



Poppable Hundreds Chart


our hands-on math shelf


This poppable hundreds chart is another great independent center activity, it has the numbers on it so they can read them as they count!


poppable 100's chart with numbers


My students also love to turn it into a game by saying a number that someone has to be the quickest to pop down!



Rainbow Abacus


I always wanted an abacus for counting to 100, and this one by Hand2Mind is exactly what I needed!


rainbow abacus to practice counting to 100


It is the perfect tool for early counters: they do not get confused as to whether or not they already counted a bead because they slide it along as they go!


It also comes in handy for skip counting later in the year too.


Interactive Hundreds Chart Website


We use this interactive hundreds chart website a lot throughout the year, for many different skills. 


3 options, up to 99, 100 or 120!


You can set the screen up 3 way:  up to 99, 100 or 120.


it makes a fun partner game too

In the beginning of the year we play Find My Number: I say a number and they highlight it with the colors. Then they give a number and the next person has to find it. 


It also becomes a partner game activity for Math centers once they understand how to use it.



you can highlight the different patterns


It is also is another great way to help your students see the patterns found in the hundreds charts. 

Later in the year we use it for adding coins, and adding 2 digit numbers. 


Counting to 100 Songs


We listen to these songs daily from the first day of school. They really help a lot of my students with the decade switches when they are learning to count to 100. 


Counting Superhero is always a favorite















I hope this gives you some inspiration for your counting to 120 centers this year!


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