Skill/Objective:
Students will have three books from which to choose that focus on counting to 100 for the 100th day of school in addition to focusing on math as a skill we all use in everyday life. Each student will have each brought in 100 of some object from home to share and count with a partner before or after this station to tie into the theme of these books. This activity does not have to perfectly coincide with the 100th day; the teacher can highlight it in the future or past, if necessary.
(see image of counting activity with objects in a water bottle below)
100 Days of Cool
100 Days of Cool (Math Start 2) by Stuart J. Murphy and John Bendall-Brunello (Dec 23, 2003)
This book provides a wonderful opportunity for students to practice one-to-one correspondence, counting to 100, and thinking about math as "going beyond the classroom" to a part of their everyday life.
The Night Before the 100th Day of School
The Night Before the 100th Day of School (Reading Railroad), Natasha Wing, Author, and Mindy Pierce, Illustrator. (December 2005)
Receiving great reviews, The Night Before the 100th Day of School highlights the same activity as that tied to this station, namely bringing 100 objects from home and sharing them and counting them as a class.
100 Days of School
100 Days of School by Trudy Harris, Author, and Beth Griffis Johnson, Author. Millbrook Press (July 14, 2000)
This book provides many different examples of ways to get to 100, which ties in perfectly to this station and accompanying activity. The review states that "teachers will appreciate the questioning rhymes that illustrate how to count in groups of 1, 5, 10, or 20", which will also help reinforce other concepts the students have been learning in this unit.