Making Counting to 120 Fun
So here's the thing friends... we all know that learning to count to 120 is a MUST in first grade, but it's not always the most exciting activity. This is especially true if you're only using one method to teach your students to count to 120. This can get really boring really fast! So instead, focus on variety.
The more ways you can use to teach your students to count to 120, the more fun they will have learning this skill. You won't have to coax them into practice because they'll actually enjoy it. It will also make it easy to fill out your math centers each week since you'll have a list of trusty activities to learn to count to 120. If your list of ideas is looking a little bare, don't worry! I've gotcha covered with 7 fantastic ideas for learning to count to 120.
1. Use a Number Chart
Do you have a number chart in your classroom? If you're a primary teacher, the answer is surely yes! Charts like this one are so helpful when it comes to helping students learn to count to 120. I like to make sure we have one hanging in the math center at student eye level for easy reference. This will come in handy during centers or other independent learning times in your classroom.
I also highly recommend giving your kids a printed number chart to keep in their journals. This will be helpful to them if they are working at their desks. Finally, I also use printable number charts to practice things like skip counting, number sequencing, ten less, ten more, and so on. These are a very handy tool to use in your classroom when learning to count to 120. Keep a few printed ones and blank ones on hand for last-minute math assignments!
2. Play Counting On as a Class
Counting from a specific number is a great way to learn to count to 120. You can do this in small groups with pencil and paper or, the way that I prefer - as a whole group game! This one is super easy and a great time filler when you've got some extra space in your day. Here's how it works:
Have your students stand up around the room in a circle. Choose someone to start and tell them the number they will be. They say the number and the person next to them will say the next number in the sequence. If they answer correctly, they sit down and the next person goes. If they don't we try again until they do! This is where the number chart will come in handy if a student is struggling.
When you first begin this game, try starting with 1 to make it nice and easy. As students progress in skill level, make it trickier! I love this game because it doesn't require any special materials and can easily be squeezed into our day. You can also use this game as an "exit ticket" to line up as well!
3. Use Counting Videos
Kids love to sing and dance. Use this to your advantage by using songs and videos that will help them learn to count to 120. These are especially great if your students are having a hard time focusing or need a little "brain break" from typical learning activities. Videos like this one will make it fun to learn to count to 120.
Try incorporating a video once a week or so. If you use the same one, the students will quickly learn the words and sing along. Not only will they be getting practice with counting to 120, but they will have fun doing it! On days when you're stuck inside, or things feel a little out of whack, videos can really be a lifesaver to help kids refocus too.
4. Try Pocket Chart Games
A simple center activity that I like to include every week in my room is a "missing numbers" game with a pocket chart. This is super simple to set up and can be adjusted to the skill level of your students. You can start with fewer numbers, or numbers all the way up to 120. All you need is a pocket chart like this one or a homemade version. You can use number cards to mimic the same layout.
Before you send students over to use the chart, you will remove strategic numbers from the sequence. Then, place them in a pile and have students work together or independently to place them in the correct spots. As I mentioned above, you can make this as easy or difficult as you like by varying the amount of numbers included. Have students use a recording sheet to write down the sequence afterward or have them fill in a blank 120 chart. This is an easy activity that will help students work on learning numbers to 120 every week!
5. Use Engaging Worksheets for Counting to 120
As a busy classroom teacher, I'm always happy to include some no-prep printables into our learning activities. The key requirement for me is that these pages MUST be beneficial to student learning. We don't have time for fluff or boring worksheets! That's where these Yearlong Worksheets for Counting to 120 come in so handy!
Inside there are 77 pages of worksheets included that build upon each other. There are activities for numbers 1-10, numbers to 20, numbers to 50, and so on. This is so great because as your students advance in their skills, you can increase the difficulty of their worksheets. This also makes it super simple to differentiate by skill level too.
The best part about these worksheets though is that they are actually fun for students. With a variety of engaging activities, your kids will have a different activity to work on each time. I like to use these for center time, homework, independent learning, and even fast finishers. They make it simple and easy to weave in extra practice for learning to count to 120.
6. Use Fun Manipulatives
Another great way to help students learn to count to 120 is with the use of fun manipulatives. You can use these during center activities, alongside worksheets, or with number cards to practice counting. My all-time favorite manipulatives for counting activities are mini-erasers. You can find them at a low cost and they come in just about every theme and style you can think of.
Place a big bucket of mini erasers and number cards for the numbers you're focusing on at a table. Students can choose a card and count them out. Have them count items in groups of 10 for easy checking after they count. They can work with a partner and check each other's work for a fun center-time activity that everyone will enjoy.
7. Celebrate the 120th Day of School
In kindergarten, teachers often celebrate the 100th day of school. In first grade, we celebrate the 120th day of school! This is just another fun way to get your kids excited about learning to count to 120. There are so many great activities you can do for the 120th day of school to make this fun for your kids!
In years past, we have made decorative paper chains with 120 links, brought in collections of 120 items, strung cereal necklaces with 120 pieces, filled in 120 charts, and more. The idea here is to make it super fun for your students. You can set up activities like stations and allow students to move through each one just as they would during center time.
Another option is to get together with your grade-level team and plan a collaborative day of learning. Each teacher can host 1-2 activities in their room and students will move from classroom to classroom. Either way, this is a celebration that I know your students will absolutely LOVE!
Have Fun Helping Your Students Learn to Count to 120!
Aren't these ideas fun?! I sure think so. The key takeaway here is that when helping your students learn to count to 120, it's best to mix it up. Choosing different types of activities to include in your lessons and centers each week will keep things fun. This will also ensure they practice in different ways and appeal to a variety of learning styles. So have fun with this and plan some variety with your counting activities! Don't forget, you can find the no-prep worksheets I mentioned in my TPT store. Using worksheets like these will help balance out some of your more prep-heavy activities while ensuring students stay engaged in learning. Have fun counting together!
Save This Post
This post has some of my favorite ideas for teaching students to count to 120. Be sure to pin it on Pinterest so that you don't lose track of them.
0 Comments