Math Concepts to Teach Using a Hundred Chart

Math Concepts to Teach Using a Hundred Chart
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Hundred charts can be used to teach many math concepts in the primary grades. Copy a class set onto card stock and laminate them so that you will always have them handy for games and class activities. You’ll also want to keep some paper copies on hand that the children can write on.

Number Order

Use a hundred chart to help students learn how to count to one hundred.

For students who are just learning to count to one hundred, display a large hundred chart and use a pointer to point to each number as the children count out loud. Students who have a hard time following the large chart can use a smaller copy at their desks. Place a large chart and pointer in your math center so that the students can take turns “being the teacher.” One uses the pointer, while the other reads the numbers.

To help students become familiar with where numbers are on the hundreds chart, give each child a chart and a snap cube, penny or other small object to use as a game piece. Put the numbers 1 to 100 in paper bag or small bowl. Draw a number and have the children find it and place their game piece on it. Then pull out another number. Ask the children to think about whether they will have to move forward or backward on the chart to find the number. Continue to call out numbers and letting the children find them and cover them. Keep asking questions about where the number will be found: near the beginning, the end or middle? As the children become more familiar with where the numbers are ask them to think about which column or row the numbers will be in.

You can also use the charts to play a bingo type game. Give each child a chart and a bowl of pennies or snap cubes. Give each pair of children a spinner with the numbers 0 to 9 on it. On his turn the first student spins the spinner two times. The first spin represents the tens place and the second represents the ones. If he spins a one and then a seven, he would cover 17 on his hundreds chart. Then his partner spins. The first to cover four numbers in a row is the winner. For a whole class version call out clues such as “any number with a five in it, “any number where both digits are the same,” or “any number with a five in the tens place.” This is a good game to play when you are practicing place value too.

Skip Counting

Hundred charts are a great tool to use when teaching young children to skip count. Initially give the children a hundreds chart to use as a reference when they are counting by twos, fives or tens. They can point to the chart with their fingers and count ahead if they need to in order to find the next number.

As they become more proficient at skip counting, have them color in all the numbers when you count by twos, fives, etc. As they color in the numbers they will begin to notice patterns, like when you count by fives all the numbers end in 5 or 0. This will not only make skip counting easier, but it will also lay the groundwork for learning multiplication in later grades.

Students can also use a hundred chart to solve problems with skip counting. Ask the children to find the numbers of ears in the classroom or the number of legs under their table. Show them how to start at one and cover two numbers for each person until they find the answer.

Counting to 100 and skip counting are just a few of the math concepts to teach using a hundred chart. Once your students have mastered these you can move on to more difficult concepts like place value, addition and subtraction.