Make Math Learning Fun With Hundreds Charts
Math Games and Learning Activities for Building Number Sense
Aug 27, 2009
The traditional hundred’s number chart is a wonderful tool for establishing daily routines that promote number sense and an understanding of number relationships. However, there are a multitude of ways that tool can be extended for deeper learning and fun for students.
Interactive Strategies for Using Wall-Mounted Pocket Number Charts
Wall-mounted pocket charts that count 1 – 100 work well for whole class and small group activities under a teacher’s direction. Pairs of students can follow up with independent practice using the activities and routines learned in the larger groups. Some activities that go beyond the traditional routines include:
- Guess the missing number(s).
- Which number(s) is(are) in the wrong place?
- What’s my pattern? (Ex: turn over or remove every 3rd number, or put a plastic or paper dot in front of every 5th number).
- I’m thinking of a number…that is one more than sixty; one less than thiry-one; whose first digit is a five, its second digit is a nine; that is right before 68; that is is ten more than 15.
Math Learning Games Using Number Tile Boards
Commercial number tile boards are fun for small groups, pairs, and individual students. Students will need adult guidance to learn the games and activities and to learn how to take care of the materials. Then they can be given opportunities to practice independently.
Create number patterns: students can use tiles with the number-side up and with the blank sides to create patterns. They can highlight numbers to count by 5s, 2s, 3s. The blank sides of the tiles can be grouped on the board to express multiplication concepts.
Draw a number, find where it goes: students can draw number tiles from a bag or container and work individually or as a team to place them onto the the board in the correct locations.
Order numbers: hand students 5 to 10 random number tiles. Challenge them to order them onto a single row from smallest to largest.
Play Number Scrabble: Select ten random number tiles and place them in their correct positions on the board. Divide the rest of the tiles evenly among the players. Players take turns choosing one of their tiles to place before, after, above, or below a number tile that is already on the board. Players who have no tiles to place must skip a turn. Play until the first player runs out of tiles; or play until all players use all of their tiles.
Math Activities Using Individual Laminated Number Charts
Laminated 1-100 charts will benefit pairs of students and individuals. Make or purchase sets that have blank charts one side and charts with numbers filled in on the other. Vis-à-vis pens work best for writing on the laminated charts. These generally erase with wet tissues.
Circle my number: students circle the number(s) that…end in zero, come before/after/between a given number(s), have a three it in, is a three digit number, etc. The teacher can focus this activity to practice specific math concepts.
Call and write numbers : using a blank chart, students can call random numbers, their partner then writes the number in the correct location on the blank chart.
Number strings: On a blank chart, outline a series of connected boxes. They can be in a straight line, L-shaped, create steps, make an X…be creative! Students then fill in the numbers that go inside the highlighted area. (Note: after a few demonstrations, children as young as first grade can learn to create their own number string shapes, thus engaging in self-challenges or challenging their friends.)
Number sense is a building block for learning mathematics. And the hundreds chart in it’s various forms is a foundational tool for building number sense. Teachers can make this foundational learning fun by teaching games and activities using the number chart as a tool.
For basic daily math routines and activities using a hundreds chart check out: "Teaching Number Sense Using the 100 Chart."
For information on supporting English language learners math vocabulary development using a hundreds chart read: "ESL Teaching Activities Using the 100 Chart."
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