15+ Unique Ideas to Celebrate the 100th Day of School

If you’ve been in the classroom for a few years, you already know. . .  finding fresh, new, and genuinely unique 100th Day of School ideas gets harder every year. The classics? They feel tired! And while our students love this milestone, it can start to feel like the same celebration on repeat for us as teachers. But not this year! This list is packed with creative, hands-on, teacher-approved activities that are fun, meaningful, low prep, and easy! Whether you’re a first-year teacher or a veteran looking to shake things up, you’ll walk away with engaging ideas you can use right away to celebrate the 100th Day of School!

Making the 100th Day of School Memorable 

Before we dive in, let’s zoom out and think big-picture for a minute. What do YOU want your 100th Day of School Celebration to feel like? Here's my thoughts. . .  The 100th Day shouldn’t just be busy work. It’s an incredible opportunity to celebrate progress, build classroom community, and help students see how much they’ve grown since day one. 

This is why I always looked for hands-on, exciting, and unique ways to celebrate. It should feel like something out of the norm, because it is! The 100th Day of School only comes once per year, and I wanted my kids to feel the excitement! 

Make the 100th Day of School Low-Prep and Engaging 

Many of the activities I am sharing today come from my 100th Day of School Activity Pack. This resource makes it super simple to pull a festive celebration together. You won't have to sacrifice novelty for ease this time, friend! Inside, you get 10 total activities that will WOW your students and actually help them practice essential skills. Inside, you get to pick and choose from:

• Sight word challenges
• Coin flipping games
• Compliment challenge
• Trail mix activity 
• Self-portraits (now vs. 100 years old)
• And so much more!!

And don't worry, this resource balances academic practice, hands-on fun, and memory-making moments your students will still be talking about on day 120. Head to TPT to check out the full resource, or keep reading for a closer look at everything inside, as well as MANY more fun ideas I know you'll love!

Ready to discover some fresh ideas? Here we go!

1. Walk Through the “100” Doorway Banner

Start your morning with a little magic! Use bulletin board paper to create a huge, colorful 100 banner and hang it across your doorway. Cut out the insides of the two zeros, and let students step through the number 100 as they enter the room.

Teacher Tips:

• This activity takes about 10-15 minutes to prep and can easily be set up before you leave for the day, or first thing in the morning. 
• I recommend using bright and fun colors for impact. 
• Take a photo of each child as they step through the zeros and save for memory books. 

2. Friendship Trail Mix

This activity is included in my 100th Day of School Activity Pack. Here's how it works: Send home a Ziplock bag before Day 100 and ask families to count 100 small treats (Goldfish crackers, pretzels, cereal, marshmallows, etc.). On Day 100, combine everything for a giant Friendship Trail Mix!

Teacher Tips:

• This one is super simple to prep, just print the notes from the packet and send them home! It takes less than 5 minutes. 
• Make sure to bring extra snacks and Ziplock bags for students who forget or are unable to contribute. 
• This activity is perfect for morning work or snack time!

3. Dress Up Like You’re 100 Years Old

This one never gets old (pun intended!). Encourage students to dress up as elderly versions of themselves. They can wear shawls, ties, cardigans, suspenders, glasses, curlers, canes, or anything else they think a 100 year old would wear! I always dressed up like I was 100 years old, too. The kids LOVE this!

Teacher Tips:

• Send home reminders well in advance. Do a quick email blast the day before as a reminder, too!
• Have a few props on hand for students who need them. 
• Make sure to take a class photo and get a copy printed for each child. I liked to add these to memory books!

4. The 100 Cup Challenge

This is a fun game to use with your whole group. Split the kids into teams and give each group 100 cups. They get 100 seconds to build the tallest tower or most creative structure!

Teacher Tips:

• This one is super low prep; you just need a few minutes to explain how it works to kids and plenty of plastic cups!
• Set a timer on the interactive whiteboard so students can see how much time is left. 
• Make time to do this a few times and award small prizes like stickers for each group that wins. It's a hit!

5. Make “100-Year-Old You” Photos with an Aging App

There are so many fun apps out there to "age" yourself. Use an aging booth or an AI tool to transform student photos into what they might look like at 100 years old. Just make sure you have parent permission beforehand! 

Teacher Tips:

• Take photos before the 100th Day and don't show the kids. 
• Print them out and set up a secret bulletin board called "When We're 100!"
• On the day of the event, unveil your bulletin board and let the kids have a look. Send these home for parents to see, too! 

6. 100th Day Grocery Bag Vests

Give each child a brown paper grocery bag. Cut it into a vest and let students glue on 100 small items such as stickers, noodles, buttons, sequins, pom poms, anything! These are really fun, and the kids love getting creative. 

Teacher Tips:

• This activity takes about 20-30 minutes total and requires minimal prep. You can cut the vests ahead of time, or have a parent helper do this to save time.
• Do this activity early in the day so they have time to dry. 
• Once they are dry, have kids put them on and walk through the hallways for a 100th Day Parade!

7. How Many Licks to Get to the Center?

Next up, let's answer the age-old question. . .  How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop? Your kids will love this activity, and I've included a printable to make it easier in my 100th Day of School Packet! Give each student a Tootsie Pop and the included hundred chart. Students color one square for each lick.

Teacher Tips:

• Expect total silence... kids get super focused with this one!
• Remind the kiddos not to bite the lollipop.
• Set aside time to compare charts after the activity. 

8. Hershey Kiss Hunt (1-100)

Here's a SWEET idea that your kids will love! Label the bottoms of 100 Hershey Kisses with numbers 1-100. Students search for kisses and match them to a hundred chart. After they are found, give each child one to enjoy and add the rest to your treat jar for later! 

Teacher Tips:

• This is the perfect after recess activity because it gives you time to "hide" the kisses. 
• Explain the rules of how it works BEFORE kids enter the room and have them quietly "hunt for kisses" and add them to the chart. 
• You can play some fun sleuthing music like this to dial up the excitement!

9. Write 100 Teeny Tiny Sight Words

This is another idea from my 100th Day of School Activity Packet! Challenge students to fill a grid of 100 squares with 100 sight words. The twist is that they will have to write them teeny tiny to make them fit! This activity is great to "calm down" after a more boisterous activity, blends maths and literacy, and encourages stamina among your group!

Teacher Tips:

• This one is truly no prep, just print and go! 
• It takes about 20 minutes to complete, depending on the skill level of your kiddos. 
• Let students use mini markers for more fun!

10. Collect 100 Cans for a Food Drive

I love this idea because it turns Day 100 into a kindness challenge! Work with families to collect 100 canned goods for a local food pantry. You can do this over the course of a month, so there's plenty of time to collect the cans. 

Teacher Tips:

• Send out a letter in advance asking for donations. 
• Make a progress poster on a hundred chart. 
• Set the goal of 100 cans by the 100th Day and celebrate when you reach it! 

11. 100th Day Crown 

Everyone needs a crown on a celebration day, so I included one in my resource. For this activity, students will create a celebratory crown with 20 sets of 5 tally marks, counting by 5's to get to 100. 

Teacher Tips:

• This is super low prep! Just print the crown and pass them out. I like to use bright paper to make it more fun. 
• After making their tally marks, students can decorate their crowns with markers and stickers. 
• This is perfect for a 100th Day of School photo!

12. Fruit Loop Necklace - Count by 10's 

For this activity, students will sort Fruit Loops cereal into groups of 10 and string them until they have 100 total. In my activity pack, I included a sorting mat to make this super simple. Print one for each student and let them get to work!

Teacher Tips:

• Prepare the strings ahead of time by cutting them to size. Be sure to use lacing string!
• When you're ready to have students start stringing, tape them to the counting mats to make them more manageable. 
• This is the perfect math or fine motor station if you plan to do rotations!

13. Flip a Coin 100 Times 

For this activity, students will flip a coin 100 times and color heads red and tails blue on a hundred chart. I've also included a printable in my resource pack to make this activity no-prep!

Teacher Tips:

• This is great for rotations as well, since kids can be independent. 
• Encourage predictions before you start, and have kids see if they were right. 
• Pair kids up with a partner for support. They can take turns flipping and coloring. 

14. Morning Meeting Slides & Movement 

If you're looking for a way to weave in some movement and brain breaks, you'll love these 100th Day of School Morning Meeting Slides. There are 11 different slides included that you can use throughout the day, or use them all week long to build anticipation as you lead up to the 100th Day of School. 

Teacher Tips:

• Display these slides on your Smartboard.
• Alternatively, print them off and use them with a document camera. 
• Perfect for weaving in short breaks to refocus between activities. 

15. 100th Day of School Skip Counting Puzzles 

I've got one more resource for you to try as you celebrate the 100th Day of School in your classroom. . .  Skip Counting Puzzles! These puzzles let students practice skip-counting by 10's either up to 100 or down from 100. 

Teacher Tips:

• Easy to prep! Just print, cut, and laminate!
• Great for independent math centers
• Perfect fast-finisher, or partner activity, too! 

Ready to Celebrate the 100th Day with Something New?! 

I hope you found some fresh ideas to try in your classroom this year to celebrate the 100th Day of School! These activities are unique, teacher-tested, and FUN for students, so I know they will be a hit. Want the easiest way to bring these to life in your room? 

Grab these resources today:

• 100th Day of School Activity Pack: 10 Low Prep Activities & Games 
• 100th Day Morning Meeting Slides: Make it simple and fun to weave in brain breaks and movement!
• 100th Day Skip Counting Puzzles: These are perfect for math centers all week long! 

Together, these activities will help you plan a stress-free, high-engagement 100th Day of School Celebration that your students will remember long after it's over. Grab these resources and use them right away in your classroom. Have fun planning your celebration! 

Looking for More? 

Check out these posts next for more primary classroom inspiration:

• January Literacy Centers You'll Love!
• 10 Fantastic February Centers 
• Low-Prep Poetry Pocket Chart Centers

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