100 Days of School Ideas for Upper Elementary - Your Thrifty Co-Teacher (2024)

by Cristina

100 Days of School Ideas for Upper Elementary - Your Thrifty Co-Teacher (1)

Why don’t we get to celebrate the 100th day like the little kids? That’s what a few of my 4th and 5th grade students asked last year. Honestly, I didn’t have an answer, but now there will be no excuse. I’ve put together some fun 100 Days of School ideas for upper elementary together, so we can all have fun this year.

Here are a variety of fun ideas you can incorporate into your classroom to make the day memorable and a day full of valuable lessons.

(This blog post contains Amazon Affiliate links. That means that if you buy a book using a link, Amazon will throw a few pennies my way at no cost to you.)

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100 Days of School Classroom Set Up

No need for anything extravagant, but setting up the stage to engage can get students excited for the day.

  1. Bring in #100 balloons.
  2. Put up a Happy 100th Day of Schoolposter on the front door or banner on the board.

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Theme Ideas

Kids love a good theme and this day will be the perfect excuse to have one.

  1. T-Shirt: Have students create t-shirts with 100 things on them (ex. buttons, stickers, etc.), and have them come to school wearing it.
  2. Happy 100th Birthday: Students show up to school dressed as if they were 100 years old.

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Snack Ideas

Kids get really excited about snacks, so here are a few fun snack ideas. (As always, make sure your students do not have an allergies to these foods.)

  1. 100 Grand Candy Bar
  2. Nabisco 100 Calories Snacks
  3. 7 packs of Smarties per student (about 15 in each pack making 105…close) and add a note that says 100 Days Smarter.
  4. a sandwich bag with 1 graham cracker and 2 fudge strip cookies (looks like the number 100) and add a note that says You’re a Smart Cookie … Happy 100th Day of School. You can also substitute for something a bit healthier such as mini bagels with a pretzel stick or crackers.

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Game Ideas

Infusing some brain break games or indoor recess games will make the day fun and memorable. Have students play any of the following games in pairs.

  1. Stack 100 plastic cups like a pyramid
  2. Build a 100 piece puzzle
  3. 100 seconds challenge – challenge students to different tasks for 100 seconds (ex. standing on one leg, stand like a statue)

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Read Aloud Book

I don’t know about you, but I will use any excuse to share a read aloud with my upper elementary students. The 100th day of school is no exception. Many of the picture books that center around 100 are very primary, therefore, today I am sharing a short chapter book. It takes about 40 minutes to read, so you want to split it up. It does have a strong theme about discrimination and is a perfect book for this age group.

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Student Gift Ideas

  1. 100th Day of School bookmarks
  2. A school supply that come in 100s such as notebook paper, stickers, sticky notes, etc.
  3. Any of the snack options listed previous

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100 Days of School ELA Activities

As an upper elementary teacher, we know how important it is to tie the activities to standards, especially with state testing right around the corner. Below are some fun 100 Days of School ELA Activities.

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  1. Have students work with hyperboles. Choose one that has 100 in it. (ex. one hundred and one things)
  2. Introduce students to the root cent(i). Have them define different works that include the root in it. (ex. century, centimeter, etc.)
  3. Challenge them to make a list of 100 parts of speech: 20 nouns, 20 verbs, 20 adjectives, 20 adverbs, and 20 conjunctions. etc.
  4. Challenge your students to find 100 synonyms for commonly used words such as said, good, and bad.
  5. Have them write about what they would spend $100 on if they were gifted the money.
  6. Challenge the class to read 100 books. This can be done in one day by having each student choose a handful of picture books to read. Another way to implement this is to have students start recording books that they are reading and have see if the class can reach 100 books by the end of the year.

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Brain Break or Just for Fun Ideas

  1. Have students participate on the “Not a 100” drawing challenge. Have them draw a large 100 on a paper and turn that 100 into something else in a drawing.
  2. Challenge them to see how many words they can come up with by using the letters in ONE HUNDRED DAYS. Want to make it more challenging? Give them just 100 seconds.

Make planning easy with this 100thDay of School ELA Activities Pack!

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    100 Days of School Ideas for Upper Elementary - Your Thrifty Co-Teacher (2024)

    FAQs

    What to collect 100 of? ›

    Collect 100 items

    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.

    How do you greet someone on the 100th day morning meeting? ›

    100th Day of School Activity: Morning Meeting

    Also, you can have students pass a greeting around the circle and say, “Happy 100th Day, (name)!” To make it even more fun, create a handshake like touching 1 finger, and then make a zero with your hand and bump hands twice, to make 100!

    Why do we celebrate 100 days of school? ›

    This marks a point in the year where students are more than half-way through the 180 day school year. It is a time to reflect on all the learning that has taken place so far. The celebration began by a California teacher in 1979 who was trying to help her students understand the concrete lesson of the number 100.

    What day is 100 days of school? ›

    For most schools, the 100th day falls sometime in February or early March. Many teachers use the countdown in their lessons by having children tally the days on a whiteboard or by filling a countdown chart with numbers or stickers. Many wear special t-shirts to celebrate the 100th day of school.

    How to make a 100 day celebration? ›

    Some classes celebrate with 100-themed parties, craft projects that involve the number 100, collections of 100 objects, dress-up days where kids are asked to wear a costume that makes them look 100 years old or drawing and writing assignments that prompt them to imagine what the world will be like when they're 100.

    What is the 100 days of school thing? ›

    The 100th day of school is an important milestone in the school year because it roughly marks the halfway point for the academic year. At this point of the year, students can reflect on what they have learnt so far, test their knowledge to see how much information they've retained, and celebrate all of their hard work.

    What is the objective of the 100 days of school? ›

    Overall, the 100th day of school is a fun and engaging way to celebrate student progress and create a sense of community within the classroom. It gives you an opportunity to infuse number sense and mathematical concepts in creative ways.

    What is the significance of 100 days? ›

    It is traditionally believed that the first 100 days after the child's birth is the most vulnerable period for both the mother and the newborn. Therefore, they are advised to stay home to avoid contracting diseases. This is why making through the first 100 days is the perfect time to celebrate.

    Do you bring a gift to a 100 day celebration? ›

    Gifting on the 100th day is a way to convey blessings and good wishes to the baby and their family. Traditional gifts often include red envelopes (Hongbao) containing money or thoughtful gifts such as gold jewellery, which symbolise prosperity, luck, and protection for the little one.

    What is 100 days of prep? ›

    100 Days of School (also known as 100 Days of Kindy or Prep, depending on the state), is held on the 100th day of lessons for a school's littlest learners, placing it in the final week of term 2 or the start of term 3.

    Who celebrates the 100th day of school? ›

    Teachers, students, and families can get in on the fun of celebrating the 100th day of school activities. The 100th day of school is a fun opportunity to recognize student progress and honor all of the hard work as a community.

    What is the meaning of 100 days of May? ›

    The "100 Days of May" is a term that aptly captures the flurry of activities that occur as schools approach the end of the year. From final projects, exams, recitals, prom and graduation ceremonies to end-of-year parties, the calendar fills up quickly with events both celebratory and stressful.

    Why do couples celebrate 100 days? ›

    Yes, some people do celebrate 100 days of a relationship. In some cultures, especially in East Asia, it is quite common to celebrate this milestone. It is seen as a significant moment in a relationship, similar to celebrating the first month or first year anniversary.

    Why do we celebrate Teachers Day in 100 words? ›

    Paragraph on Teachers Day 1 in 100 Words

    Teacher's Day is a special occasion dedicated to honoring the incredible educators who shape our lives. On this day, we express our heartfelt gratitude to the teachers who inspire us, guide us, and impart knowledge that lasts a lifetime.

    Why is it important to celebrate special days? ›

    The coming together of friends, family, colleagues or even strangers to celebrate an occasion brings a sense of belonging and community spirit. Laughter, singing, dancing, smiling and connecting with others are all essential elements for optimal quality of life.

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