How to Plan the Perfect 100th Day Celebration in Under an Hour

Congratulations – you’ve made it to the 100th day of school! This milestone definitely calls for a 100th day celebration! Just think about all that you and your students have learned and accomplished so far. I know it probably seemed like you’d never get to where you are now back in August when school started, but you did! If you’re wanting to plan the perfect 100th day celebration for your class, but you’re running short on time (like most of us teachers are!), I’ve got you covered with a step-by-step guide to plan a fun day of learning in under an hour!

With these simple steps, you’ll be able to have a 100th day celebration that boosts classroom morale and community, reinforces learning, and acknowledges the accomplishments made so far. Limited time and tight budgets don’t have to hold you back. These 100 days activities and ideas will help you create a fun and educational celebration to remember!

Why Should You Have a 100th Day Celebration?

The 100th day of school is a great opportunity to reflect on and celebrate how much students have learned and grown so far. This is important for boosting student confidence, establishing a sense of pride, building community, and creating a classroom culture that values hard work and problem-solving. 

While teaching children to be humble and kind is important, it’s okay for students to brag on themselves and celebrate these milestones and the progress they’ve made. 

It’s also a fun way to look back on the memories and fun times you’ve had as a class so far. Since this special day tends to fall towards the end of January/beginning of February, it’s the perfect boost to keep you going through the winter months.

What Makes a Perfect 100th Day Celebration?

Planning a perfect 100th day celebration isn’t about Pinterest-perfect decor, snacks, and activities. It’s about planning a special day that you and your students will love and get the most out of. 

If you’re anything like me, I’m looking to throw a 100th day celebration that is:

• Fun and engaging using activities that excite students without adding a ton of prep work to the teacher’s to-do list. 
• Educational and reinforces learning and key skills. 
• Low-prep and easy-to-plan with ready-to-use resources. 
• Cross-curricular and covers multiple subjects, such as math, ELA, and writing. 

Luckily, I’ve created a 100th Day of School Activities Party Pack that checks all of these boxes!

These 100 days activities include:

• Math challenges such as mystery pictures, roll and color, race to 100, and more. 
• A creative writing booklet with 100th day themed prompts.
• ELA activities such as 100 parts of speech and word searches. 
• A “This is Me in 2125” class book.
• 100th Day hat template.
• And so much more!

Steps to Planning a 100th Day Celebration in Under an Hour

Are you ready to plan the perfect 100th day celebration in under an hour using these 100 days activities?! Start your timer and let’s get started!

Step 1: Download the 100th Day Activities (3 minutes)

Download your 100th Day of School Activities Party Pack and rotation directions to get your hands on 20+ ready-to-use activities. No need to worry about complicated prep – just print and go! 

You can get a free set of rotation directions for your 100 days activities below – just fill out the quick form.

Step 2: Choose Your 100 Days Activities (10 minutes)

Next, choose 5-7 activities to use during your 100th day celebration based on your class’s interests and curriculum needs. I know it can be tempting to want to try and do it all, but be realistic with what your kids can handle and what you’ll have time for. 

I like to use a must do/may do approach when selecting activities like these.   

Choose 5-7 activities that you for sure want to get done that day. Pick 1-2 extra things IF you have time to fill. Remember, the 100th day celebration doesn’t have to just be one day. You can always do a few other activities in the surrounding days or throughout the week. 

To help you choose your activities and make a plan for when you’ll use them, divide the day into sections using a simple schedule like this: 

• Morning: Kick-off with a fun warm-up, like the number of the day. 
• Mid-day: Focus on educational activities that focus on math, ELA, and/or writing skills. This is a great time to use some of the math games, ELA activities, or writing prompts. 
• Afternoon: Use this time to use one of the fun crafts or activities, like the 100th day sticker hats. 

Step 3: Grab Materials for Printing (3 minutes)

Once you’ve decided which activities you for sure want to do (and maybe an extra or two), print your materials on colored paper to give it more visual appeal. You can make each activity a different color OR make all math activities blue, all ELA activities green, all writing activities yellow, etc. Organize them in either a labeled folder or basket and group them together based on the time of day you’ll use them.

Step 4: Make Copies (15 minutes)

Next up, secure the copy machine in the teacher workroom and make copies of all the selected activities for all of your students. This is honestly the most time-consuming part of planning your 100th day celebration. Anybody else have a love/hate relationship with the copy machine?! 

Step 5: Laminate Rotation Directions (10 minutes)

Laminate your rotation directions next so they stay intact (and you can reuse them for years to come). If you’re using a personal laminator or your teacher workroom has one, you can work on this while your copies are running to save time. 

Step 6: Sort Copies & Add to Rotation Baskets (10 minutes)

Sort your copies into piles and add them to the rotation baskets alongside the rotation directions. 

Step 7: Add Remaining Supplies to Baskets (10 minutes)

Add any extra supplies you need to your rotation baskets. This might be dice, stickers, etc. Alongside a few very basic items, this resource pack has everything you need!

Check out how I set up my 100th day stations in a quick, easy, and organized way in this blog post. 

Tips for a Stress-Free 100th Day Celebration

The 100th day of school always seems to sneak up on me (and maybe you too!). Here’s a few tips to help you plan a stress-free 100th day celebration that keeps the learning going and brings fun and excitement into your classroom. 

• Start early: Download and prep materials a day or two in advance (even the week before if you can!). 
• Delegate tasks: Kids love to be involved, so have them help with set-up, transitions, and clean-up on the big day!
• Be flexible: It’s okay if you don’t stick to your schedule 100% or get through every activity. Adapt as needed and don’t be afraid to use the activities throughout the week. 

Ready to Plan Your 100th Day Celebration?

Planning the perfect 100th day celebration for your class doesn’t have to be stressful, expensive, or time-consuming. With the 100th Day Activities Party Pack and this step-by-step guide, you can create a fun, educational, and low-prep celebration in under an hour! 

Grab it in my website store or on TPT!

I’d love to know what your class’s favorite activity is – let me know in the comments below!