Are you looking for a fun way to incorporate more counting and number identification into your daily routine? Look no further than your hundreds chart! In this post, I’m going to share how themed hundreds chart puzzles can bring a bit of fun to your kindergarten math practice.
A hundreds chart isn’t just a wall decoration! It’s a tool that you can use in your kindergarten classroom frequently! Here are just a few reasons why teachers frequently turn to their hundreds chart:
As you can tell, I think hundreds charts are a must-have in the kindergarten classroom. But there is one more way that you can use a hundreds chart to make it even more exciting for your students: Hundreds chart puzzles.
A hundreds chart puzzle is a blank chart with the numbers 1 to 100, along with 100 numbered puzzle pieces. Students can choose a puzzle piece, identify the number, and then find the correct location on the blank hundreds chart. A mystery picture will gradually be revealed as the students add each piece.
There are so many ways that you can use hundreds chart puzzles in your classroom. Here are five of my favorite ideas:
Each hundreds chart puzzle comes with an individual response sheet. These are differentiated, so you can choose a hundreds chart that meets the needs of each of your students. When students arrive in the morning, they can fill in the missing numbers on the hundreds chart response sheet.
Once the numbers are all filled in, students can color in the mystery picture according to a code, which they can find on slides using a classroom device.
Students might not be able to finish all of the coloring during morning work time. Instead, they can tuck it into their desks and use the puzzle as an early finisher activity for the rest of the day.
A hundreds chart puzzle is also a great option for an engaging math center activity! It can be done independently or with small groups of students.
Students can place a large printable hundreds chart mat on the floor and then place the colored squares on the corresponding numbers. To increase accountability for this center, you could give students a recording sheet to color in once the puzzle is complete and they can see which color belongs in each square.
You can also use a hundreds chart puzzle to enhance your targeted math practice during small group time. You could use the puzzle to help you focus on counting, number identification, patterns, or even skip counting.
For example, you could place the puzzle pieces for one or two lines to help students practice counting a specific sequence of numbers. Students could also choose a puzzle piece and then the group can practice counting on from that number before placing the puzzle piece on the mat.
Students LOVE math games! Hundreds chart puzzles are easy to turn into fun games for your students. You could give each student a few of the printable squares and they can add them to their group’s puzzle as a relay race.
Students could also answer comprehension questions before adding their pieces to the puzzle. You could also choose a puzzle piece and give clues to help the students guess what number it is. The student who figures it out can place the number on the chart. There are so many ways that you can turn a hundreds chart puzzle into a game. SO. MUCH. FUN!
You could also use a hundreds chart puzzle as a whole-class incentive! The pocket chart version of this puzzle is perfect for this, but you could also use the hundreds chart mat. Just hang it up somewhere in the room and hand out the puzzle pieces to students who are showing good behavior.
Once the puzzle is finished, students will receive a class party or reward. Then you can easily swap it out with a fresh picture to keep your students excited about working toward the next reward!
This incentive is simple and straightforward, which substitute teachers appreciate! You can just include the brief instructions in your sub binder.
If you want to start using hundreds chart puzzles in your classroom, you’ll definitely want to check out this year-long bundle! You’ll find twelve different puzzles for each season, for a total of 48 unique hundreds chart puzzle designs that will last you all year.
This bundle includes both printable and digital puzzles so that you can use these activities in the way that works best for your classroom. You’ll have everything you need to use any (or all) of the activity ideas that I shared in this post.
Just click below to take a closer look at everything included in this bundle of hundreds chart puzzles for the whole year!
Are you interested in using these puzzles, but want to take one for a test spin? Just fill out the form below and I’ll send a free hundreds chart puzzle directly to your inbox!
My teaching career allowed me to experience teaching in different classroom environments and grades. My heart belongs to early childhood education. My job is to make teaching FUN, ENGAGING, and EASIER. Welcome!
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