100th Day of School

Newsletter update on the special day:

This week we celebrated the 100th day of school.  Where this is an annual elementary program event, we wanted to take some time to explain our thinking behind this unique day of the school year.  We want to first stress what the 100th day isn’t.  It isn’t a count-down of school days till summer break.  This is completely contrary to how we view learning and school at WCDS.  Instead, we see this as a unique learning opportunity that allows for a practical application of mathematical thinking, problem solving, and creative expression.

In teaching, we often look for learning opportunities, where students are more open to key ideas or concepts.  For example, on the first snow it is fun to read a short book about the science behind the creation of snowflakes.  Along these lines, as part of our daily morning meeting, the younger students conduct a numerical count of school days as a way to work in some simple mathematical applications and a regular practice of hierarchical values.  The number 100 then quite naturally becomes an exciting moment in that it is when we get to use three place values!

Taking this naturally occurring event, as an elementary school building we then design a wide variety of activities that celebrate the number 100.  We come up with activities that touch upon all aspects of our Montessori learning experience. Here are just some of the events from this year:

• Read 100 books as a school in reading pairs with upstairs students
• Can you do 100...(jumping jacks, push-ups, jumps, or other physical activity)?
• How far is 100 steps?
• Making a paper chain with 100 strips of paper
• Problem solve: on what day of school did we spend 100 hours of school?
• Collect 100 cans/perishable of food to donate
• Write a poem using only 100 words
• Journal Prompt: You are given $100.00 how do you spend it?
• Name 100 verbs
• What does 100 (paper clips, sheets of paper, pencils, etc.) look like?
• Design an abstract piece of art using 100 pieces of (rice, pasta, or beans)